Treat the 'soft things' as the hard things

The small things are the big things.

In life and I would also argue, at work. Correction, the small things done consistently are the big things. It’s that simple.

And it’s that hard.

The people in my life I will always remember are the ones who showed up for me consistently. Who checked in on me, took the time to teach me something, gave feedback that was actually useful, didn’t take credit for my work, and understood I am a human being, not just a human resource.

How would people you work with remember you in 10 years time, if at all?

The small things are the big things, yet, so are often overlooked. For example:

Do you have weekly 1:1s with your reports focusing on the person (not their job)?

Do you check in with others regularly, and not just when you need something from them?

Do you ask for their opinion when they seem hesitant to speak up in meetings?

Do you praise publicly when credit is due?

Do you stand up for them when they are being treated unfairly?

You are already making an impact on others, possibly helping them to grow and become a better human being. And that’s a pretty big thing.