10 little Things That Will Make a BIG Difference In Your Leadership

“To be really great in the little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization” –Harriet Beecher Stowe

There are leaders, and then there are LEADERS.   The ones that truly inspire, and exemplify the very definition of “lead’ – showing the way.

In studying these extraordinary people one is tempted to look at the grand gestures, the big gambles, the life-altering speeches, or the game-changing ideas that characterize the best of the best, but to really understand the differences between good and great, we need to dig deeper.

We need to look more closely at the “little” things – the things that, more often than not, are rarely acknowledged or discussed – but are certainly remembered.

In my experience, I’ve observed 10 of these little things that have made the biggest difference:

1. Good Manners – Starting with “Please” and “Thank You”,  good manners are a show of respect that set a tone of civility and kindness.
2. Posture –   Nothing sends the message of  “I’m the leader, so follow me” better than standing and sitting with good posture. This may seem trivial, but think about it – what goes through your mind when your boss is slumped in a chair, or is slouching up a hallway?
3. Knowing Names -  This can be such a difference maker in larger organizations – it may seem like an impossible task, but remembering a name sends another subtle caring message.   One of my great mentors, the late Bill Bresnan, set a wonderful example for me that I’ll never forget.
4. Knowing One or Two Personal Details - This is taking name knowing one step further, but it too can be a critical element in strong team building.  I read a great example of this the other day in an article about Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and how he “studies up” on new teammates.
5. Positive Attitude – I’ve called it “turning grey into great” – the ability of a leader to be able to look at the literal world in a favorable way.  Great leaders bring that energy into every room they enter, and infuse it into every dialogue they have.
6. Vocal Tones & Inflections – Sometimes you can say the most inspiring thing, but yet it falls flat – why?  Because your tone and inflections didn’t match the words.   The best way to work on this is to record yourself, or practice speeches in the mirror.
7. Smiling (at the right times)  – Joy is infectious, and there’s no better way to spread it than from a bright and sincere smile – one that telegraphs the sense that the work and the effort should be fulfilling AND enjoyable.
8. Repetition – Sounding “like a broken record” is really a complement, because it’s a clear signal that your message has been listened to, and comprehended.   Saying it once or twice just isn’t going to cut it in today’s workplaces.
9. No “Can’t” -  “Can’t” is the most useless word, ever.   If a leader can eliminate it from his or her vocabulary, they’ve taken a major step towards success. (Yep, sometimes it’s that simple)
10. Humility -  “We”, instead of “I”.  Giving credit to others for success, and blaming yourself for failures.  Of all of what I call the “higher level” attitudes of great leaders, this (along with positivity) is also worthy of  “little thing” status, because it can be such a subtle thing (like just the use of the right pronouns, for example).

Lead well!