SMART Leaders Don’t Wing It: The Power of Practicing Leadership Behaviors Before You’re on Stage

Written By Cari Borden

Great leaders aren’t just great in the moment they’re great in the prep.
Before the coaching session, the feedback loop, or the meeting that could shift a team’s momentum, leadership shows up quietly… in the prep work.
And that’s exactly where SMART comes in.

If you’ve been around me for a while, you’ve heard of the SMART Leadership Behaviors a model built not on theory, but on the real, gritty, people-first qualities that drive trust, results, and growth.

Here’s the thing no one tells you: the best time to practice being a SMART leader isn’t when you’re under pressure. It’s in the prep.

Let’s break down the behaviors and how to prep like the leader your team needs.

S – Show Empathy

Practice it before: A tough coaching session or performance review
How to prep:

Ask yourself: What might this person be feeling right now?
Jot down 2 non-work-related questions you could ask to connect personally.
Remind yourself: “This isn’t about fixing them. It’s about seeing them.”

Pro tip: Empathy doesn’t delay accountability it deepens understanding.

M – Model Accountability

Practice it before: Any team meeting or feedback session
How to prep:

Start with your own report card. What did you miss or mishandle this week?
Prepare to share that openly. “Here’s where I dropped the ball…”
Set the tone that accountability is a mirror, not a weapon.

Pro tip: Practicing humility before others are expected to change sets the stage for true collaboration.

A – Align Actions with Values

Practice it before: Planning a new project, initiative, or change
How to prep:

Revisit your stated values or team purpose.
Ask yourself: Does this decision honor those values?
Be ready to explain why this move supports the bigger picture.

Pro tip: Values aren’t posters on the wall they’re the lens you use to lead.

R – Reinforce Growth

Practice it before: A 1:1 or team huddle
How to prep:

Identify one specific win or improvement for each person.
Be intentional: celebrate effort, not just outcome.
Prepare a growth-based question: “What’s something you’re proud of that no one’s noticed yet?”

Pro tip: Growth flourishes when leaders water it with intention not just praise.

T – Talk with Transparency

Practice it before: Delivering updates, addressing concerns, or setting expectations
How to prep:

Say it to yourself first: What’s the real message I need to deliver?
Choose words that are direct and respectful, clarity over comfort.
Anticipate questions and prep answers honestly, even if the answer is, “I don’t know yet.”

Pro tip: Practicing transparency ahead of time prevents defensiveness in the moment.

The truth is, SMART leadership doesn’t happen in the meeting it happens before the meeting.
The prep phase is where you wire your brain to act with integrity, not react out of habit. It’s your leadership warm-up.
And like any pro, the warm-up matters.

So next time you’re headed into a coaching session or leading a team huddle, take five to run through SMART. Not just as a checklist but as your pregame routine.

Because great leadership isn’t about performance.
It’s about preparation.

💡 Want to dig deeper into the SMART model and how to apply it to your own leadership? Follow the blog, subscribe for updates, or find your leadership mentor on Fiverr link.