Do you consider yourself a leader? We are all leaders in some way, shape or form. So, the better question might be, how do you lead?

There’s an ongoing debate about whether leadership is an art or a science. While I might argue that it’s both, we might also consider tools to help us become more effective leaders.

As an Army veteran, I often refer back to the principles of military leadership. Interestingly, many of them apply in the civilian world as well. I think you’ll find that they’re fairly universal and full of good advice, regardless of whether the context is the military, a non-profit, or any part of the private sector.

For example:

1. The first leadership principle is: “Know yourself and seek self-improvement.” Knowing yourself is about presence and recognizing your own strengths & weaknesses. When I was a young soldier in the Army, I tried to copy and emulate the leaders I admired. And while modeling positive behaviors and learning from mentors and examples can be useful, I eventually realized I needed to cultivate my own leadership style and stay true to myself. So, self-improvement is about building on your strengths and overcoming weaknesses, and in so doing, increasing clarity, competence and confidence as a leader.

2. Another leadership principle is: “Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.” Leading always involves responsibility. And seeking responsibility means taking the initiative. When you see a problem that needs to be addressed or an issue that needs to be fixed, don’t wait to be told to take action. Like the Nike ad says, “just do it.” Take action. Seeking responsibility also means continuing to challenge yourself. Don’t be complacent. Don’t get too comfortable. Continue to do better each day and strive for excellence.

3. The third leadership principle I’ll share today is: “Set the example.” Just because you’re “in charge” doesn’t make you any better than anybody else. We all have a role to play, so let’s do the best we can. Show up as the best version of ourselves. Take action with integrity. Choose the hard “right” over the easy “wrong,” even when (especially when) no one’s watching. It’s more important to WALK the talk and set the example.

I’ll leave you with some final thoughts.

It’s important to focus on WHAT we want to be, and WHY. Continue to be open to new possibilities and take action while keeping these leadership principles in mind. Know yourself and seek self-improvement. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions. Set the example. In addition to the WHAT and the WHY, let’s also reflect on WHO you want to be.

What KIND of leader do you want to be, and how do you want to make an IMPACT?