The leader demands errands (5)
I believe the answer is:
tasks
'errands' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'the leader demands' is the wordplay.
'leader' says to take the initial letters.
'demands' becomes 'asks' ('ask' can be a synonym of 'demand').
The first letter of 'the' is 't'.
't'+'asks'='TASKS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tasks that I've seen before include "Missions" , "Assignments" , "Chores, jobs" , "Jobs to be done" , "various jobs" .)