Stop Waiting For Big Moments
Want to build a great team? Start with how you do the little things this week.
Read time ~1mins
Being great has very little to do with the big stuff.
One standout presentation. One all-in meeting with all the right slides. One flash of charisma.
None of it means much if Monday to Friday is a mess.
The best leaders don’t wait for magic moments or rely on one hit wonders.
They create momentum rep by rep, brick by brick. Because that’s how winning is done.
The little things aren’t so little
It’s the small stuff that makes a team feel safe, seen, and keen to do good work.
Daniel Pink wrote in Drive that it’s intrinsic motivators, not just cash or perks, that create lasting long-term job satisfaction.
That means doing things like:
Learning your teammate’s partner’s (or dog’s) name.
Saying thank-you (and being specific why).
Replying to messages promptly (even just “Got it, thanks, will loop back soon”).
Celebrate the good stuff
When someone does something well, offer a handshake, look them in the eye and say, “I saw that, and it was good”.
Wrap the week with a simple note to the team: what went well, what matters next week.
And every now and then let Friday finish early and with a beer before home time.
You don’t need a title to lead this way
This stuff isn’t very hard, but it can be rare.
And maybe in your team you don’t always see it.
But the good news is you don’t need the captain’s armband to show leadership.
You just need to show up, look around, and care enough to act.
That’s how great leaders create great weeks.
And great weeks?
Well…stack enough of them together and they tend to build into great careers.
P.S. I write this as a reminder to my current self, and advice to my younger self.
P.P.S. I’ve just launched a new website to bring all things Dan Grant and The Deal Space together.
Would love your take on it - have a look and let me know what you think.
Great writeup, I fully agree.
Just want to add a little nuance that you mean, but that will probably be misunderstood by learning leaders reading this: It's not about "remember some detail about each subordinate", but "be interested in the full person in your team, not only the function performed".
When you are genuinely interested, everything will be smooth.
And if you are interested in advancing their goals, they will be interested in advancing yours.
That’s a very pragmatic and impactful advice mate, not only for leaders with titles but also for people who lead by their heart, attitude and authenticity. Send my warmest regards to Ollie and Leo 😊