How to be a leader in your everyday life

For as long as I can remember, I’ve experienced this deep calling to make a difference in the world. I want to share and help and give. As part of that, I feel called to teach and lead.  

I didn’t always know what I should teach or how I should lead—it took time to discern what that meant for me—but all along, I knew I wanted to be of service to others.

And I’m not the only one who has felt this calling. I am seeing this dedication to service and leadership more and more among my millennial generation as well. We are sharing inspirational posts and informative articles on social media. We are volunteering at (or starting our own!) charity organizations. And we are acting as sources of positivity and support for our friends on a daily basis.

I am proud when I look around and see such inspiring individuals making a difference in the world, one act of love at a time. Especially in today’s society, the world needs leaders and teachers who want to share their love and light and impact others.

Those moments of love will spread and teach others how they can also be leaders in their everyday lives. Sometimes we think that being a leader or teacher means we must stand up on a podium and present to a large group of people. But it doesn’t have to look like that at all.

Being a leader just means being the best version of yourself in every given moment.

I now challenge you to be more of a leader and teacher in your everyday life—whether that means sharing a motivational message in an office meeting, donating your time to help the less fortunate or simply giving someone a hug or a smile. You may not think that those small acts of love will make a difference in the world, but in each of those moments, you are being more of a leader than you will ever know.

These are a few ways I act as a leader and teacher in my everyday life:

Become a thought leader. The term “thought leader” has become a bit of a buzzword and a part of our daily conversations. A thought leader voices his or her opinion, inspires others and serves as a trusted resource for knowledge in a specific area or field. If we can have more thought leaders in the world stand up for good and choose love over fear, we will see a huge shift in the world’s consciousness!

Be confident. Being a leader requires confidence to share your voice. I don’t know about you, but too often, I compare myself to others, and the mean girl in my mind tells me I’m not good enough, I’m not smart enough, I’m not worthy, so why would anyone want to hear from me? But remember, what makes you unique is that there’s no one in this world who has your exact gifts! Believe in yourself and know that your one voice is changing the world in both small and big ways.

Focus on giving, rather than getting. By shifting your mindset from “How do I get?” to “How do I give?,” your whole perspective (and world!) will change. It’s not about you; it’s about being of service to others. (But the amazing thing about giving is that it benefits more than the person you’re helping. You get a boost too—even if your act of generosity is as simple as giving a handwritten card, saying a quick prayer or paying for the person in line behind you at the coffee shop.) And you may even inspire the other person to pass on the good deed to someone else. In all of these moments of love and giving, you are being a true leader.

Utilize your reach. With technology, we now have the power to reach thousands of people in a matter of seconds. This is a huge advantage when it comes to being a leader. You can now share an inspirational quote, a positive experience you had, a beautiful photo or a quick message to let others know you are thinking of them. By using technology to amplify your voice, you have the opportunity to positively affect more people.

So tell me, how do you act as a leader or teacher in your everyday life? How will you carry out this calling moving forward?