How Small Shifts Can Have a Big Impact

A Thanksgiving Reflection on Leadership, Horses, and the Power of Micro-Adjustments

By Jennifer Kozel, MSHRM, SPHR

Barnyard to Boardroom Series

This time of year naturally invites reflection. As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us pause long enough to notice what—and who—we’re grateful for. This week, my moment of clarity came not from a boardroom conversation or a client engagement, but from a riding lesson with a middle schooler.

She’s tiny compared to the big horse she rides, yet full of heart and curiosity—the kind of student who soaks in every bit of guidance. As she navigated the arena, I asked her to make the smallest possible adjustment: shift her hip an inch, lower her heel slightly, soften her inside rein by barely a breath.

The change in her horse was immediate.

A thousand-pound animal lifted through his back, found a steadier rhythm, and moved with new balance. She looked at me wide-eyed and said, “I didn’t know I could make that much difference.”

Most riding schools don’t teach riders how much their micro-movements matter. But horses feel everything. They read intention, tension, breath, posture, energy—all the subtle cues we don’t realize we’re sending.

And this mirrors leadership more than most people recognize.

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Leadership Responds to Micro-Adjustments Too

We tend to believe that culture shifts require sweeping initiatives or massive change efforts. In reality, the first real progress almost always begins with smaller, almost invisible shifts:

• Pausing before reacting – That three-second breath creates room for better judgment.
• Asking instead of telling– Questions invite ownership, curiosity, and confidence.
• Clarifying instead of assuming– A simple “Here’s what I’m hearing…” prevents misunderstandings before they grow roots.
• Choosing curiosity over criticism– Curiosity keeps people open. Criticism shuts them down.
• Being present instead of being busy– Even two minutes of undivided attention can change someone’s entire day.

These micro-adjustments accumulate. They shape how teams feel, how they connect, and how they move forward. They strengthen trust, deepen relationships, and raise performance, not because of sweeping transformation, but because of intentional, consistent alignment.

Just like the young rider, leaders often underestimate how much influence they truly have. With even the smallest shift in how they show up, they can change the entire balance of the team beneath them.

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Why This Matters at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a season of gratitude—but also a season of recalibration. It’s a natural pause point. A moment to acknowledge:

• What’s working
• What’ not working
• What could be different if we chose to show up differently

We each carry the opportunity to make small shifts that create a ripple effect at home, at work, and in our communities. You don’t need a strategic overhaul to transform how you lead or how others experience you.

You just need an inch.

This Thanksgiving, around the table or in a quiet moment to yourself, reflect on one small shift you can make that could create a big impact in your world.

The right small shift can change everything—just like the small rider whose subtle adjustments brought out the very best in her horse.

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A Final Thought

Clarity. Courage. Growth. These aren’t abstract concepts; they’re cultivated one small shift at a time. When we choose our shifts intentionally and consistently, we create momentum that carries us, and those around us, forward with greater ease, balance, and purpose.