Small change: the little things predict the big things

In business, small, everyday behaviours often illuminate larger themes. Do your meetings routinely run late? This predicts an endemic lack of organisational discipline. Do job candidates get treated with courtesy and respect? Actions like this can indicate that an employer is likely to behave well towards its people in general. Did anyone remember your cleaner’s birthday? This predicts care for the individual (or a lack thereof).

‘Broken Windows’ theory suggests that the best way to address crime in a society is to start by replacing smashed glass and cleaning up graffiti. Partly this is a matter of restoring civic pride. But it also points to a broader truth: small changes create a sense of possibility around transformation and help establish positive momentum.

Something to consider: what tiny tweaks could we make right now in how we work together?

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