“Be a leader.” It sounds great in theory but sometimes mysterious in practice. It is a title that is often bestowed on people who then fail to behave in a way that is representative of what a leader should be. And for the purposes of this blog post, I am using the term leader and great leader synonymously, realizing that anyone can be a leader but not necessarily a great or positive leader.

For those of you who are striving to be a positive, impactful leader, I want to provide 3 things that the best leaders do to leverage their platform in the most effective and practical way:

• Create Culture – Great leaders create a culture that raises the level of performance of everyone around them. They are selfless in their desire to serve others, and they work to create environments where others can thrive. Whatever your leadership platform is, the key for you is to identify the strengths of the people you lead and discern the roles and opportunities that will help them perform at their best and make the most impact. Another critical factor is developing core values and cultural norms that become the standard by which the team and organization live by and become the guiding principles for decision-making, collaboration, and teamwork. Key questions to ask yourself are: What am I doing to create and contribute to the culture around me and what kind of culture am I creating?
• Nurture – Great leaders nurture, grow, and develop the talent around them. They are intentional and consistent in how they train and coach the people they are responsible for. If you look up the word nurture, you will see words like “feed and protect” and “support and encourage,” which are great phrases for you to understand your nurturing role as a leader. You must ensure you are feeding information and insight to your people, positioning them in roles that stretch them, and supporting and encouraging them through the process. It is also important to understand that a leader who nurtures is not a micro-manager or a helicopter leader who flies in to save the day. Nurturing is a methodical mentor who helps others become the person they were designed to be.
• Engage – Great leaders are engaged and fully present and bring the best version of themselves to the people they lead and influence. They are not preoccupied with deadlines and distractions, thereby becoming transactional in their interactions with the people they lead. They understand that people are critical to the success of the project and/or goal and become transformational in their leadership style and approach. The best way to apply this character trait is to make sure that you are present for your people. Be available to meet with them when they have questions and concerns. Do things to let them know you are involved, engaged, and excited about their development. Work with them to accomplish the goal, and share in their success. Give credit to those who contribute, and reward and recognize achievements. Be there, and be aware!

Every one of us is a leader, because we have influence based on our unique strengths, gifts, talents, and opportunities. The question is not if we will lead in our lifetime but how will we lead. Decide today to lead in the right way, and apply these principles to go beyond the theory of leadership to the daily practice of leadership.