Al Carey once explained the concept of big changes to big things to the P&G alumni group.  As he described it,

 

  • No one ever notices little changes to little things (these are minutia)
  • Even big changes to little things don't have much of an impact
  • Little changes to big things are traps.  (Every assistant brand manager that ever worked on diet Pepsi changed the package – generally with no effect)
  • What matters are the big changes to big things

 

 

It's these last that are the secret to transformational leadership.  You must a) focus on the few big things that really matter and b) focus on the few big changes you and your team can make to those few big things.

What big changes to big things can you make?