Popular group, with leader away, failing to perform (8)
I believe the answer is:
inaction
'failing to perform' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'popular group with leader away' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'group' becomes 'faction'.
'with leader away' means to remove the first letter.
'faction' with its initial letter removed is 'action'.
'in'+'action'='INACTION'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inaction that I've seen before include "Stasis" , "Failure to exert oneself" , "lack of engagement" , "This is not working" , "Dormancy" .)