“Tiny tweaks can lead to big changes.”

Those words are flashed on the screen near the end of the terrific TED Talk by Amy Cuddy. (Her Talk, Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are, is currently the second most viewed TED Talk ever, and I show it to every one of my speech classes.)

It takes us back to a BIG little reminder. You can make progress, get better, move forward, with small steps—one small step at a time. Amy Cuddy is emphasizing using “power poses” to prepare for a presentation, an interview … or just to come across in all conversations with more confidence. But the principle is valid and valuable, in many ways, all the time.

I read a similar line again in the book The Small B!G: Small Changes that Spark Big Influence by Steve J. Martin, Noah J. Goldstein, and Robert B. Cialdini. Here’s the line:

Small changes can have a big impact.

They are writing about small changes in how you ask questions—small changes that can lead to persuasion, higher response rates, more agreement, and buy-in. But again, the principle seems to benefit in every aspect of life and work.

Take an inventory. What small changes would you make that would be genuinely helpful to you?

Think about your posture and look. Think about what you schedule into your weekly calendar. Think about the subject lines and the first lines of your e-mails. Think about the clutter around your work space.

What small changes, what tiny tweaks, could lead to B!G changes for the better for you?

So many little changes could make such BIG differences. What little changes could you make for this coming week, and then, the week after that, and then…

Contributed by:
Randy Mayeux
Professional Speaker & Writer
Co-founder, First Friday Book Synopsis