Small Things Make a Big Difference: Simple Habits for Transformational Leadership

Most people work for 13 managers in a career. Only 2 or 3 are truly transformational. Learn to be one of them.

What separates the leaders people remember from the ones they forget? Not charisma. Not credentials. Not grand gestures. According to leadership expert and executive coach Spencer Holt, it comes down to small, daily habits—practiced with intention and consistency.

Drawing on a PhD in leadership development, 25+ years coaching senior executives globally, and leadership roles at AstraZeneca and Merlin Entertainment (LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds), Holt distills transformational leadership into five actionable habits: leading from your core values, creating belonging, practicing soulful curiosity, managing personal energy, and building circles that shape who you become.

Fans of Atomic Habits by James Clear, Start With Why by Simon Sinek, and Multipliers by Liz Wiseman will find in Small Things Make a Big Difference the same blend of behavioral science, real-world storytelling, and immediately applicable practice, here applied specifically to the challenge of becoming the leader others never forget. Each chapter closes with a Think-Build-Be framework that turns insight into daily habit.

Whether you lead a global team, manage your first direct reports, or simply want to show up better for the people around you, this book meets you where you are and moves you forward.

Spencer Holt, Ph.D., is an award-winning educator, executive coach, and keynote speaker whose work sits at the intersection of leadership, culture, and organizational performance. He currently serves as Leadership & Development Advisor for Red Nucleus, partnering with life sciences organizations to build cultures of trust, innovation, and sustainable results. Previously, he served as Chief Experience and People Officer for Merlin Entertainments, the world's second-largest attractions company, and held senior leadership roles at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

Spencer holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Development from UNLV and is the author of multiple peer-reviewed articles in his field. He hosts the podcast Small Things Make a Big Difference, exploring the habits behind meaningful impact.