One in every two or more individuals excels above the others. Every single step, we come and continue to come across different
kinds of people, having different personalities, unique traits and ways, and each with their "leadership qualities".
Contrary to the saying "Leaders are born, not made", "Leaders are made, not born". Leaders can be nurtured, molded
and fine-tuned to lead their followers. Leaders are brought to the forefront by circumstances and time, beliefs
and causes and by the environmental effects. If not for these, leaders can never be leaders.
With our naked eyes, we see leaders being followed by their followers and followers being led by their leaders.
In fact, this is the bond that ties a leader and a follower as one. Therefore, one cannot be very wrong to say
that "Everyone is a leader of everyone; everyone a follower of everyone". We can also put it as "Every leader
is a follower and every follower a leader". This is to be the theme of our writing here.
It would also be great a pleasure to provide you with something to help you scratch your itchy head -
"Is there a possibility of a person being a leader and at the same time not and never be a follower of another?"
In the meantime, excuse me. Let me share with you some of the thoughts that have been bugging my head for quite
a time now. These thoughts have something to do with leaders and leading, followers and following. For some
of you, you may even try to whisk it away as a whole lot of misconception. Nevertheless, the more I let my
head brood over it, the more I see the truth in it.
There is a general apprehension in the mindset of the society. We seems to take it for granted that leaders are
immune to temptations, invincible, perfect in all respect in carrying out their work and duties, good in deeds,
an expertise in speaking and writing, soft, silent and understanding listener, having answers to all the problems
that we face. All in all, we expect and look up to them as though they are "everything". With these outlooks and
the importance we gave to our leaders, we also expect them to be as such. Thus, the end results are all regrets
for putting them in the hot seats. It also further extends to unnecessary whining and inflammatory remarks that
does nothing but painfully afflicts and bring chaos to whom but our very own society. Rather than the leaders,
the followers are the one to be held responsible for the mistake in choosing their leaders.
Like their followers, leaders are like children. They are in need of encouragement to keep the fire going on in them.
They need to be patted on their shoulders every now and then, for their every good deed done. They need new challenges
to explore, invade and bring it to the feet of their followers. And the followers can only provide these challenges.
Leaders need to be led by the followers themselves in order to be led by the leaders. If the followers do not take
that step to lead their leaders, no leaders can be leaders of their followers. The followers need to sow the seed
in their leaders, to reap the harvest in their leaders. The followers need to guide their leaders in achieving the
goal of their causes. And I believe this to be the true essence of democracy. For, Democracy is the "Government
of the people, by the people and for the people".
Like the planeteers, who ever remind us in the "Captain Planet" cartoon series, "The Power is Yours!"
The fall and rise of our leaders are in our hands. The final verdict on the fate of the leaders
lies entirely on the shoulder of the followers.
Thus, "Everyone is a leader of everyone; everyone a follower of everyone".
Lalremlien Neitham contributes regularly to e-pao.net.
This article was written on Wednesday, February 12, 2004.
He can be reached at [email protected]
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