You can make a meaningful impact as a leader, even if you run a solo operation or you don’t oversee a team. Leadership isn’t about having a specific title or direct reports — it’s about taking initiative and driving positive outcomes.

Paul Thornton, a management and leadership expert, says that effective leadership comes down to the 3 Cs: challenge, confidence and coach. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share Thornton’s thoughts on how you can apply these 3 Cs in your role.

1. Challenge. Being a leader means challenging people — and yourself — to keep striving. If you think about the leaders you most admire, they probably held you to a high standard and inspired you to aim for stretch goals. You can do this by aiming for constant improvement. What new skills can you learn? What new technologies can you help your team implement? Thornton says exceptional leaders recognize everyone’s potential and they help bring people out of their comfort zones with ambitious goals. He recommends setting a positive example by challenging yourself to evolve.

2. Confidence. The best leaders believe in people’s potential. They’re confident in what their co-workers and team members can achieve. They also believe in themselves. Thornton says you can embrace this essential “C” in leadership by highlighting people’s past successes, affirming their talents and offering opportunities for greater responsibility. Be sure to give plenty of positive feedback and make sure it’s sincere.

3. Coach. According to Thornton, leaders also play a crucial role as coaches. To be the most effective leader, think about how you can provide the kind of encouragement and feedback that helps other people grow and succeed. He says many of his coaching sessions involve helping the other person determine what they need to stop doing to be more successful. What if you sense that someone isn’t open to coaching? Ask them. Thornton recommends saying something like, “Are you open to some feedback?” or “Do you realize you could be more effective in XYZ?”

You can lead by influence regardless of your role. Start by embracing the 3 Cs of leadership. When you do, you’ll not only build trust and inspire people, but you’ll become the kind of person others look forward to working with.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Paul Thornton taught college courses in management and leadership for more than 25 years. He’s also an author and has produced more than 20 YouTube videos on various management and leadership topics.