“Can we grab 5 minutes”
These words could be the most important you’ve ever spoken up to now at work & could demonstrate that you do have the qualities of a real leader – even though you may not yet have the title . Whether you’re saying it or hearing it, these five simple words rarely feel comfortable. Yet they might be the most important phrase in any leader’s vocabulary.
Think about yesterday.
A colleague undermining others in meetings.
A team member struggling silently with their workload.
Someone taking credit for another’s work.
You noticed, but did you speak up?
Most of us see these moments every day. We know something should be said. But we hesitate. We wait. We hope someone else will handle it. Not because we don’t care, but because addressing issues directly feels uncomfortable.
Perhaps you’ve been grabbing a coffee when you hear colleagues criticising a new company initiative that you actually understand and can explain the reasoning behind. Or maybe you’ve noticed a teammate consistently undermining others in meetings, while everyone else remains silent.
These moments might seem small. They might feel easier to ignore.
But these ‘little acts’ are actually where real leadership emerges.
Not from job titles or your own office, but from the choice to step up when it would be simpler to step back. This is the time to ask “can we grab 5 minutes”, this is the time to be a real leader and offer some feedback.
Recent research from Harvard Business Review reveals that these small, consistent leadership actions have twice the impact on team culture than formal initiatives. Yet many of us wait for the promotion or the “right moment” before we start demonstrating leadership.
Think about the best leaders you’ve worked with. Their title probably wasn’t what earned your respect – it was their everyday actions. The way they spoke up when it mattered. How they supported others without being asked. Their willingness to stand behind difficult but necessary decisions.
According to McKinsey’s research, 89% of successful leaders attribute their advancement to exactly these kinds of consistent small actions rather than major interventions. These weren’t grand gestures – they were little acts of leadership. Things like:
- Explaining the ‘why’ behind an unpopular change to frustrated colleagues
- Quietly taking on extra responsibility because you see it needs doing
- Speaking up in support of a teammate who’s being unfairly criticised
- Challenging poor behaviour, even when it would be easier to look away
- Showing, through your actions, what ‘good’ looks like
So here’s a question worth considering:
In the last week, how many opportunities for these ‘little acts of leadership’ did you encounter? More importantly, how many did you take?
Think about yesterday:
- When you noticed your colleague undermining others in meetings.
Did you speak up or stay silent when it mattered? - When you saw a team member struggling silently with their workload.
Did you take ownership or wait for someone else to step in? - When you heard someone taking credit for another’s work.
Did you support what was right, or what was popular?
If you’re feeling uncomfortable with your answers, that’s actually good news – it means you recognise these opportunities exist… The real question is knowing this now: what will you do differently tomorrow?
Studies show that organisations that encourage these informal leadership behaviours are 2.5 times more likely to experience significant growth. Even more telling, LinkedIn’s latest research reveals that individuals who consistently demonstrate these informal leadership behaviours are 3.4 times more likely to be considered for formal leadership roles.
Here’s how to start building your leadership muscle – because like any skill, it gets stronger with practice:
1. Start Where You Are: Don’t wait for permission or a title. Look for opportunities in your current role to:
- Mentor less experienced colleagues
- Volunteer for challenging projects
- Share knowledge and insights
- Support team goals beyond your immediate responsibilities
2. Build Your Confidence, Step by Step: Start with smaller acts that feel manageable:
- Sharing constructive ideas in team meetings or simply asking a really good question
- Offering to help struggling colleagues
- Giving specific, positive feedback when you see good work
- Supporting new initiatives publicly
3. Focus on Consistency: It’s the accumulation of small actions that counts:
- Aim for one small leadership action each day, until it becomes second nature
- Note which opportunities you took (and missed)
- Think about what held you back when you didn’t take action
- Acknowledge your progress, however small
4. Notice Daily Opportunities: Leadership moments are everywhere:
- Team conflicts that need addressing
- Processes that could be improved
- Colleagues who need support
- Times when values need defending
5. Get Better at Difficult Conversations: Build confidence in addressing challenges:
- Consider your positive intention, how this is going to help the individual
- Focus on specific behaviours rather than personalities
- Use simple phrases like “I’ve noticed…” or “Can we discuss…”
- Accept that some discomfort is normal
The shift to hybrid working has actually increased the importance of these informal leadership acts by 43%, according to recent Deloitte research. Your small actions matter more than ever.
The path to leadership isn’t a single grand leap – it’s a series of small steps taken consistently, even when they feel uncomfortable.
Every time you choose to speak up instead of staying silent, to take responsibility instead of waiting for others, to support what’s right instead of what’s easy – you’re building real leadership capability. These small actions add up over time, creating influence that no title alone can provide.
Tomorrow, you’ll have dozens of opportunities to demonstrate leadership. Some will be obvious, many will be subtle, and most will be easy to ignore. The difference between being a leader and having a title lies in what you choose to do in these moments.
Which small act of leadership will you take today?
