Lets face it: the media’s coverage of our current political environment is no example of leadership. It’s an example of pandering, sensationalism and knee-jerk reactions designed to steal moments and confuse issues. Maybe it’s just me, but the very people deemed “leaders” in our country all too often demonstrate an epic failure to lead.

Look, leadership is a choice. It is not a knee-jerk reaction. We count on leaders to maintain a level head when those around them panic. Leaders aren’t the ones to create frenzy and division–they are the ones to calm it down. Leaders possess the ability to make a connection others miss, to lead, to inspire, to unite when others choose to blindly react. If you say “Well, you can’t choose to react!” I would agree. You don’t choose to react, you choose to respond, and in the failure to make that choice (which is a choice) you default to reaction.

Genuine leaders will stop and question with compassion before they react, not for sensationalism but for solution and possibility.