It’s The Little Things That Count

In a season that encourages us to pause, reflect, and treasure the blessings of others in our lives, make a special point this year to extend that consideration to your professional relationships as well.  Through our interactions with others, we learn, grow, and excel in ways that we could never accomplish alone.  Yet do we fully appreciate those relationships?  Do we purposefully spend the necessary time and energy to nurture those relationships and give back?

Author Stephen Covey once observed “in relationships, the little things are the big things”.  Reflect on your experiences.  Don’t we know this to be true?  Yet often we don’t make the ‘little things’ a priority.  Sometimes we recognize the shortfall and attempt to make a grand gesture instead, to make up for the deficit.  However well intended, we soon realize we have completely missed the mark. 

In my journey, I’ve been most impressed with the leaders that recognized and committed to doing those little things exceptionally well.  Here are a few best practices I’ve gleaned from them over the years:

• Time is precious.  It is the only commodity in our lives we can’t create more of.  How we spend it is a direct reflection of who we are and what we stand for.  It is also recognized as a true gift by others.  To spend a few moments with others, shows you sincerely care and value your relationship with them.  In those moments, focus on being truly present, with no distractions from phones, clocks, and other distractions.

• Recognize efforts and reward results.  Both are important.  To recognize and respect diligence, commitment and sacrifice toward important objectives encourages us.  Doing so in front of the team is powerful recognition of an individual’s contributions and motivates all. 

A colleague of mine, widely recognized for her outstanding leadership, handed out gold star pins to recognize excellence.  A simple gesture that rekindles the feeling from our early elementary school days in a lighthearted but meaningful way.  ‘Corny’ you might think?  But I saw firsthand the pride in her team members in receiving these.  It wasn’t the value of the award; it was the recognition that mattered.

• Impromptu check-Ins with your team members.  Be aware of and ask about key interests in team members’ lives from previous conversations.  Showing sincere interest in the things that matter most to us is powerful.  It may be as simple as inquiring about a hobby or passion we enjoy in our lives.  US President Theodore Roosevelt once remarked “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”  Experience has shown me that truer words have never been spoken.

• Ask others, ‘what do you think’?  This simple phrase provides us important perspectives and details we may have lacked when facing decisions.  It also conveys a sense of trust and respect in their knowledge or viewpoint.  As a rather junior leader, I experienced the power of this firsthand.  I’m not sure how helpful my input was, but just being asked had a lasting and powerful impact on the kind of leader I wanted to become.

• Listen, period.  Too many times, we find ourselves listening to respond, not “seeking first to understand, then be understood”.  Intently listening, fully engaged and absent of distraction is too often in very short supply.  Looking at people when they speak, with appropriate eye contact and positive body language, conveys respect, appreciation, and sincere interest.  It shows we care and appreciate the person with whom we are interacting.  There is no greater compliment per unit time than being truly listened to.

• Say ‘thank you’ often and in meaningful ways.  While technology facilitates many ways to do this, such as emails and texts, I’ve found the time-honored practice of handwritten notes to be the best.  Yes, it takes more time.  But the recipients understand that the giving of one’s time is a gift as well, which adds to the depth of the recognition.  And, if you are like many of us, those handwritten notes are still with us many years later, serving as a proud remembrance.

None of these best practices is complex or difficult.  But, if you have personally experienced these from a leader in your professional journey, you immediately recognize the impact and profound effect they have.  It truly is all about the ‘little things!’

Authored by: Jeff Boyer, Managing Director

Wisdom shared on "sacrifice" by Mike "Loco" Uyboco

Mike completed a 20-year career as a Navy SEAL leading high performing teams in dynamic environments. He began his leadership journey just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, garnering experience from the battlefields of the Middle East to the jungles of the Pacific. Throughout his military career he was mentored by some of America’s finest leaders which helped develop his own unique style of servant leadership.

Mike spent the last six years of his Naval career in a COO-equivalent role, helping senior leaders navigate complex decisions, developing actionable processes and procedures to ensure performance in crisis conditions, developing strategic partnerships within DOD, and managing the day-to-day operations of diverse 400-person organizations. The techniques he developed can be utilized to help any individual or organization achieve their full potential.

Mike excels in coaching for peak performance. As the top graduate in his SEAL training class, he understands the mindset required to achieve physical and mental mastery. Additionally, he spent over four years at the SEAL training center applying his hard-won knowledge to the assessment, selection and training of the next generation of elite warriors. He is passionate about sharing these best practices with individuals and teams from every fabric of society.

Today, he is determined to improve the lives of others by utilizing the tools he developed through his naval career. After retiring in June of 2020, Mike embarked upon a one-year RV trip around the USA, learning from the stories of others, reconnecting with over 70 families, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the country he defended for two decades. Upon return from that trip, he and his wife started a small business that was inspired by their personal journey, providing care packages for cancer patients. Mike also spends time as a personal trainer, a board member for a non-profit, and a volunteer for a disaster relief organization.

Michael is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and received his MBA at the University of San Diego.