5 Tiny Leadership Habits You Can Do in Under 5 Minutes for Massive Results
How 5 Minutes a Day Can Radically Improve Your Leadership
Management is complex, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming.
If you have read James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, you know that small actions can lead to massive results.
A recent study found that 58% of employees trust a stranger more than their boss. Surprising, right? But what if changing that perception took less than 5 minutes a day?
The truth is that great leaders aren’t made from grand promises or speeches. They’re built through consistent, tiny habits that strengthen trust, communication, and connection day in and day out.
Here are five tiny leadership habits you can do in under 5 minutes every day to see real, lasting improvements in how your team sees you — and how you lead.
Habit 1: Start Every Day with a Quick Team Check-In
It only takes a couple of minutes to connect with your team, but the impact can be huge.
Start your day by sending a quick check-in message to one or more of your team members. This could be as simple as:
“Hey, how’s everything going with your project?”
“Anything I can help with today?”
“How are you feeling about this week’s workload?”
This doesn’t need to be a formal email or Slack message. It could just be a conversation over the hallway when you run into your team members, or at the “water cooler”.
By opening up these lines of communication, you show that you care — not just about their tasks, but about them as people. It’s a quick way to stay informed and, more importantly, to build trust.
Research shows that 70% of employees say they feel more engaged when their leaders regularly communicate with them. This tiny habit sets the tone for open communication. Plus, it gives you insights into any brewing issues before they become full-blown problems.