Shows initiative and steals metal? (5,3,4)

'shows' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with creating things as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'initiative and steals metal?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'initiative' could be 'lead' (I've seen this before) and 'lead' is located in the answer.
'steals' could be 'takes' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'takes' is present in the answer.
'metal?' could be 'th' (Th is an example) and 'th' is found within the answer.
A single letter 'e' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?