Some of our biggest people challenges can be traced back to surprisingly small things.

Andy Andrews, author of The Noticer Returns, wrote:

“When you ignore little things, they often turn into big things that have become a lot harder to handle.”

I’m sure you’ve experienced this somewhere along the way. I certainly have. And I’ve seen it play out many times, particularly when it comes to the people part of leadership.

Someone who’s checked out. A team that’s not as on board as you’d like. Team members and peers who aren’t taking ownership or following through. A relationship that’s become harder than it used to be.

These challenges rarely happen because of a single occasion or event.

Usually, there are a whole lot of smaller things that have contributed along the way.

The one-on-one that keeps getting cancelled. The effort that goes unnoticed. The feedback that doesn’t get given. The conversation that gets put off. The little things that are said or done, or sometimes not said or done.

Individually, they might not feel like a big deal. And that’s probably why they’re so easy to let go.

But let enough of them go and eventually you’ve got something much harder to deal with.

Which is why I believe:

The small things we don’t make time for with our people today often become the big problems we have to make time for tomorrow.

As a leader, why do the small things matter to the people we lead?

Here are a few reasons:

1. They show your people you notice them – their effort, contribution, progress and what matters to them.

2. They help your people feel valued and considered – not just for what they produce, but in the way you think about their experience, needs and circumstances.

3. They help your people feel heard and understood – particularly when you remember and act on what they’ve shared with you.

4. They build connection and trust – through the ordinary, everyday interactions that shape the relationship you have with your people.

5. They influence what you get back – how willing your people are to contribute, engage, speak up, take ownership, follow through and get on board.

Honestly, I could keep going but I have already broken my rule of no more than three dot points, but you get the gist.

When you consistently miss these small opportunities to notice, listen, acknowledge, support and connect with your people, it can contribute, along with other factors, to disconnection, disengagement and some of the other people challenges you face as a leader.

So how do you make sure you don’t let the small things go?

Here are three things I recommend:

1. Protect your regular touchpoints. One-on-ones, informal check-ins and team conversations create the opportunities for the small things to surface.

2. Pay attention when you’re with your people. Get intentional about noticing changes in energy, behaviour, effort, contribution, frustration and progress, and what isn’t being said.

3. Act on what you notice and hear. Give the acknowledgement or feedback. Ask the question. Offer support. Follow something up. Remember something that matters to them. Grab the coffee, tea, kombucha or whatever it is they drink.

In The Connect Effect, I call this BEING CONSCIOUSLY CONSCIOUS – intentional, present and aware of what’s happening with and around your people.

The people challenges we face aren’t always completely our responsibility, but there’s usually something we can do that might make a difference.

So, if you’ve been struggling with people challenges, or you know someone who has, perhaps ask:

What’s one small thing I’ve been letting go of that I could pay more attention to?

Until next week, be well and lead well

Kylie