The little big things we do for our boss
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." Vincent Van Gogh
I served once under an Army three-star general. He was in command of an Army Corps which numbers in the tens of thousands. I was a younger officer, born on the day he was commissioned as an Army officer in fact. The assignment was a period of substantial personal and professional growth. He told and taught me numerous things. One thing he told me early in our tenure struck me as strange – “Rob, it’s the small things which bother me, not the big.” The corps headquarters could be ablaze at 2 in the morning, and he would receive that news as if you were sharing the weather forecast, but if documents were stapled and placed in a three-ring binder simultaneously he would get agitated, angry even, especially if it happened repeatedly. There were other small things which I once thought petty, however, as I matured, I came to realize little things do matter.
Indeed, leaders must display tolerance and patience. The worst ones fly off the handle at the smallest things creating environments which are psychologically unsafe. My general was not like that, but I made damn sure I paid attention to the little things. Good subordinates do that – indeed, good leaders who have bosses of their own do that. By little things I’m talking about things such as cleanliness around the office, the functionality of phones, locks, and coffee makers even. By contrast, big things are engaging in problem solving and offering solutions to your boss or trying your best to get into his or her head thinking strategically. Big things are more prevalent as they get more attention and require us to work harder mentally and physically. Small things often take little effort beyond our attention and or a few moments of labor.
Leaders must be free to think big – to focus up and out (with stakeholders) instead of down and in (with tactical, insignificant tasks). Of course it is appropriate from time to time for leaders to roll up their sleeves and take out the trash or clean the bathroom. However, when bothered by the little things – stapled documents in a three-ring binder for instance, their mind is taken off the big things where it needs to be. If they walk by a messy office kitchen or an overflowing trash can, they may begin to question the care and discipline of individuals and teams. They may begin to believe that they are the only ones who truly care and this is not where we want our leaders to be physically and mentally.
When you have a leader who is deserving of your loyalty, who forms and fosters a challenging yet fun work environment, and who genuinely cares for you and others, take care of the small things. The small things are actually big.
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell