Micro-Leadership: How Small Actions Make You a Stronger Leader

Ria Sharma
19 minutes ago
4 min read

A scrap of paper on the ground. A rumpled up gum wrapper. An empty chip bag. Each of these pieces of litter are often left laying on the hallway floor: unseen, lonely, and forgotten. Until one person decides to pick them up. In those few seconds—not minutes, seconds—that small action made that hallway all the more clean. While sparse trash may not seem significant enough to act upon, it makes it all the more important to do so. Today, we’ll discover how picking up litter can translate to micro-leadership because the small actions actually cause larger impacts than one may expect.

First, what is micro-leadership?

This is a leadership style that highlights the smaller—or micro—actions that leaders can take. These are consistent and repetitive behaviors that have the ability to shape a team environment and culture.

However, micro-leadership should not be confused with micromanagement. This is a management style that carries a negative connotation. These individuals lack trust among their team members, causing them to overwork themselves and double-check everything. This compromises the team as it causes opportunities to be lost and efficiency to be reduced.

The fine line that separates micro-leadership from micromanagement is balance. Micro-leaders must be able to balance being detail-oriented with providing their team the autonomy to complete their delegated tasks. By setting clear expectations, remaining thoroughly involved, and being aware of their micro-behaviors, leaders can improve their team’s performance.

So, how can leaders lead through micro-actions?

There are 3 main pillars that form micro-leadership.

1. Trust. Trust is the foundation for a successful team, project, and initiative—without it, there is nothing.

Micro-leaders must learn how to trust their team. To avoid micromanaging members, it is crucial to understand that there is no “I” in team. As much as a team relies on their leader for direction, the leader must also rely on their team to make a vision come to life. Below are ways to micro-lead:

Build connections. When you pass by another team member, take a few seconds to share a simple “hello” or wave. Or even better, remember and call them by their name! Make an effort to truly get to know your members—their skills, hopes, and aspirations.
Communicate efficiently. When you’re discussing important items, do so with context and transparency because your team should be able to know the why behind certain decisions. While talking, use open hand gestures to convey trustworthiness and openness to discussion. When your team member is talking to you, don’t interrupt them but instead be present in the conversation, let them finish their points, and actively listen. This will promote smooth communication between individuals who trust one another.
Delegate projects. While it may be tempting to complete a project by yourself, resist the urge. Give your team members the space to grow and lead on their own by delegating tasks and responsibilities. This will boost their morale as they’ll be able to clearly see that you, their leader, trusts them to follow through.

Micro-leaders must also discover how to trust themselves. Leadership is often a lonesome journey, so trust within oneself is of the utmost importance. Learn how to do so with the following:

Be clear. When communicating with your team, be clear about your intentions and goals from the very beginning. Not only will this make you more credible but it will also reinforce your own self-confidence. Lead with integrity and purpose through consistent actions that align with your values.
Stand by your decisions. When your team reaches a fork in the road, they turn to you. You’ll inevitably have to make difficult decisions, and when you do, stand by them. Hold your head up high and trust yourself to make the right choice.

2. Empowerment. Micro-leaders set the scene for their team. In 2022, the National Library of Medicine published an article that revealed the correlation between inspiring leaders to higher levels of engagement, effectiveness, and team resources. Empowering leaders open the door for their team members to recognize their own strengths and fullest potential. Consider these micro-strategies:

Celebrate small wins. Your team is putting in a lot of work and they deserve credit for it! Convey your gratitude by celebrating their thoughtfulness, timeliness, and excellent work. Build a culture of appreciation by sending a text, thanking them in-person, or highlighting their accomplishments at a team meeting!
Encouragement. During meetings, you may have quieter team members, so make sure to actively encourage their participation by asking for their input. When problems arise, don’t plainly point out the issue—everyone can see it—instead offer guidance on how to fix the conflict or achieve improvement. This approach will encourage your team members to continue to put their best foot forward despite any hardships.
Check-in. Sincerely express your care for your team members’ well-being by checking-in through spontaneous conversations or scheduled one-on-meetings. These thoughtful exchanges will make them feel valued and heard.

3. Professionalism. As a micro-leader, professionalism is present in every interaction. Learn how to remain professional below:

Pay attention to your energy. You bring the energy. Your team matches it. That’s how these things work, so always keep that in mind. When you’re tackling a complicated issue, manage your emotions by taking deep breaths as needed. Be careful with your tone and body language so that you don’t react to the situation but instead respond professionally.
Lead by example. Your team follows you, so make sure that you follow your own expectations, guidelines, and rules. These can include showing up earlier than asked, responding timely to messages, and adhering to deadlines..
Embrace failure. To put it simply, failing is scary. But, by building upon the 1st micro-pillar of trust and the 2nd of empowerment, embracing failure as a means of progress is key. While it may not have been a step in the right direction, it is still a step towards your goal.

Micro-leadership tiptoes a fine line with micromanagement. By staying involved in team tasks, micro-leadership thrives on nurturing the team environment, so create a space where all members can grow in their autonomy and creativity. This leadership style is built on the 3 pillars of micro-leadership: trust, empowerment, and professionalism. In carrying these out, it’ll make sure that no team member feels unseen, lonely, or forgotten like those spare pieces of trash. Be the person who picks up litter when no one asked them to. Be the person who does the little things. Be a micro-leader.