But being an influencer isn’t really about the number of people who follow you or being verified on social media. It’s about the impact you have on the lives of everyone in your orbit. That means you are an influencer, regardless of whether you’ve adopted the formal title. You have the ability to use your influence to make a positive impact on others.

1. Teach

The primary reason I follow certain influencers is because I learn something from them. Indeed, some of the most influential people in my life have been those who’ve taught me something. The same is likely true for you.

You don’t need to have a big platform to teach others; you simply have to seize the opportunities to share your knowledge when they arise. That might mean teaching your kids how to cook, teaching your colleagues how to be more inclusive, or teaching people in your extended networks how to build personal brands and manage their time better.

No matter what you teach, the aim is to use your experience to help others get from where they are to where they want to go.

2. Elevate Others

In the book Give and Take, author Adam Grant tells the story of PandaWhale founder Adam Rifkin, who has been dubbed “the world’s best networker” by some. According to Rifkin, he was able to become so connected in large part because of his commitment to helping others achieve their own goals.

Rifkin shares with Grant his philosophy of “the five-minute favor,” which holds that you should do whatever you can to help someone else, especially if it will take you five minutes or less. Such favors can be as simple as making an introduction, giving advice, or even sharing someone’s content with your network.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should only elevate others if it takes five minutes or less. You can go as big as you want to. Think, for example, of initiatives like the Google Podcasts creator program, a collaborative effort between Google and PRX meant to help more women and people of color break into the podcasting industry. You may not have the resources of Google or PRX, but you can use your influence to make life better for others by doing your part to surface opportunities, break down barriers, and support people in their quests toward their goals.

3. Lead by Example

I’m a published author because my dad is one. For a long time, I didn’t even know he was a writer, but one day, my parents showed me his book. I was impressed. I was proud. I was inspired.

I had dreamed of writing my own book before I had seen my father’s. Now, I had an example of someone close to me who wasn’t just dreaming about such a goal — he had actually done it. My dad showed me what was possible by blazing a trail with his actions. Seeing him publish his own book made the dream tangible for me...