10 Small Actions That Create Massive Change

Leadership is not always about the sweeping gesture or the major announcement. It is more often about the tiny, intentional acts that shift the mood in a room, the direction of a team, or the belief someone holds about themselves. The Butterfly Effect teaches us that small changes can create major ripples. In leadership, that ripple might be the difference between a team that thrives and one that quietly walks out the door.

Here are ten ways you can start the butterfly effect of good leadership today. Not next quarter. Not after your next offsite. Right now.

1. Say “thank you” to someone who rarely hears it.

Gratitude is a leadership superpower, especially when it is genuine and unexpected. Go beyond the usual suspects and thank someone behind the scenes—the admin, the night cleaner, the quiet contributor who never asks for credit. That one moment of recognition may be the push they need to keep going.

2. Admit a mistake to your team and own it fully.

Nothing earns trust like a leader who is brave enough to say, “I got it wrong.” Not with a half-hearted “mistakes were made” statement. We mean full ownership. Show your team that accountability starts at the top, and they will be more likely to follow suit.

3. Ask a quieter team member for their opinion and actually listen.

You know who I’m talking about. The person who always shows up, works hard, and barely speaks up in meetings. They are often the ones with the sharpest insights. Stop waiting for them to fight for airtime—give it to them. You might be surprised by what they have been holding back.

4. Cancel a pointless meeting and give everyone the time back.

Want to make a team cheer? Hit “cancel” on a meeting that should have been an email. Bonus points if you say, “I trust you to handle this without another meeting.” Giving people time is one of the most respectful moves you can make as a leader.

5. Create a space for anonymous feedback and take it seriously.

If you are only hearing what people think during performance reviews, you are out of touch. Set up a safe, anonymous way for employees to speak their mind. Then, act on it. A black hole of feedback is worse than no feedback at all.

6. Clarify an unwritten rule or expectation—in writing.

Nothing destroys morale faster than moving goalposts or secret rules. Write it down. Make it clear. Share it with the team. Transparency is not optional—it is the minimum requirement for trust.

7. Give credit in public; give correction in private.

This is leadership 101, and yet too many get it wrong. Public praise builds confidence. Public criticism builds resentment. Celebrate the wins out loud and address the mistakes behind closed doors. Always.

8. Follow through on one small promise you made last week.

It might have seemed minor to you—offering to send a resource, check on something, or circle back on a decision. But if you said it, do it. Nothing chips away at credibility faster than dropped commitments, even the small ones.

9. Review your PTO policy and make sure no one feels guilty using it.

Unlimited PTO is meaningless if your team is afraid to take it. Real flexibility is not about what is written—it is about what is modeled. Encourage time off. Take it yourself. And stop glorifying burnout.

10. Stop tolerating the “high performer” who destroys morale.

You know exactly who they are. The one who crushes numbers but crushes people in the process. Every day you keep them around, you send a message that results matter more than respect. That’s not leadership—that’s cowardice. Be better.

Small Choices. Big Culture Shifts.

Leadership is a daily decision. These ten actions are not complicated. They do not require a budget, a committee, or a five-year plan. But they do require courage, self-awareness, and a willingness to stop leading on autopilot.

Start the ripple today. And if you need help sparking the conversation?

Grab my coloring books—“The Butterfly Effect of Good Leadership” and “Dinosaurs Make Bad Leaders.” They are bold, unexpected, and designed to get leaders thinking, talking, and doing better.

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Do better. Be better. Go off the beaten path.