[November 26, 2023] The growth of violent crime in many American cities has been in the news lately, a surprising change to a prolonged decline in crime. There are many theories as to why. One explanation, however, is that the leaders of those cities have failed to fix the small things. The lesson? Small things matter.
Years ago, New York City went through a very nasty time with high levels of violence, illegal drug use, and murder, and gained a reputation as a city under siege by criminals. With the election of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, out-of-control crime got the attention it deserved. Mayor Giuliani began a program with the NYPD to focus on petty crimes, like jumping subway turnstiles, urinating on the sidewalk, etc.
Using concepts taken from the Broken Windows Theory, the city began to address minor crimes and stamp out the message that no one cares and no one is watching. The theory tells us that fixing minor crimes will deter larger crimes. Criminologists are now saying that those cities experiencing a jump in violent crime are the same cities that are no longer enforcing petty crime.
One of my first lessons in small unit leadership in the U.S. Army was when, as a buck sergeant, I walked past a Soldier who was missing his hat, and I failed to correct the Soldier. Behind me, watching what I was doing, was a grisly old Sergeant Major (the most senior enlisted rank) who immediately grabbed my shirt collar and educated me on the importance of leaders fixing anything broken, even the small stuff. Walking past that Soldier without a hat meant I had just lowered leadership standards for all behaviors, including big ones.
Leaders fix the small, broken things but are also responsible for the big ones. Some leaders believe that fixing small things is beneath their dignity. They see themselves as too essential to lower themselves to do the “small stuff” and, in their minds, exempt themselves from it. Nothing could be further from the responsibility of good leadership.
Leaders fix small things because they are just as important as bigger ones. Several U.S. Navy ship captains have shared their stories about how they unexpectedly took over a ship’s command because small stuff caused a system failure to navigate properly, an outbreak of some infectious disease, or a major loss of equipment.
Small things matter. When our attention as a leader shifts off them, it gives others the idea that they are unimportant and permission to ignore them, too. That is why leaders fix the small, broken things.
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Please read my books:
Small thing does matter. Bible says it’s the Small foxes that destroy the Vine. Another thing a little leaven leaven the whole lump of bread. Small things. Little tongue in the mouth so Small yet can bless or curse. David so Small compared to the gaint Gailth yet David with a sling shot killed the gaint. Bible says forsake not the Small things
Eddie, great analogy of David and gaint Goliath. I hope Gen. Satterfield is reading these comments.
Hi Mr. Asper, of course I read them and I occasionally reply, like here. Mr. Gilliam is a good friend of mine, a great person, and a spiritual man.
Douglas my friend. Tks for being a friend I physically not meet in person. That’s goes to say friend are friend based on common bonds not physically being in each other present.
Thank you, Eddie. 😉
Thank you, Gen. Satterfield, for highlighting the idea that small things matter. In the US military we say, “Attention to detail.” That is our way of saying that small tihngs matter. If you start to ignore the small things, then eventually you will ignore the big things and that is when all hell breaks lose. I’ve seen this happen in the US Army and large corporations. That is why teaching leadership and HOW to do leadership is so important early on in the careers of those who work there, regardless of type of organization.
Maximilian, exactly. Well said.
Indeed, small things matter but what is small to you might just be something big for someone else. That is a message that Gen. Satterfield has told us consistently. Read his book “55 Rules for a Good Life” to see this in action.
Spot on with this comment. I’ve seen this happen way too many times.
“Some leaders believe that fixing small things is beneath their dignity. They see themselves as too essential to lower themselves to do the “small stuff” and, in their minds, exempt themselves from it.”
That is why we need great senior leaders, to make sure that the more junior leaders are doing their job properly and ethically.
Yep, small things matter. STM. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Another great article to draw our attention to a small detail of human psychology. But a small detail that is nonetheless important when making major decisions.
That is why Gen. Satterfield, an Army Sergeant at the time, got himself into a bit of trouble. I’m sure that Sergeant Major knew all about this and why the SM was making sure his junior NCOs learned it good and hard.
Leaders fix small things because they are just as important as bigger ones. Several U.S. Navy ship captains have shared their stories about how they unexpectedly took over a ship’s command because small stuff caused a system failure to navigate properly, an outbreak of some infectious disease, or a major loss of equipment. – Gen Doug Satterfield. Thanks, sir, for you giving us Navy men a hats off.
Navy vet. Excellent points
Gen. Satterfield, speculation has been brewing that you are putting out a new book soon. Any credibility to those rumors? From reading past comments over the past couple of months, there appears to be an underlying hope that this is exactly what you are doing. Please give us a hint. Oh, I do also appreciate your two other books:
“55 Rules for a Good Life”
“Our Longest Year in Iraq”
I think YES
Gotta love this blog by Gen. Doug Satterfield and his occasional guests. Keep up the great works and be sure to kick another book out soon; hopefully on your letters to your granddaughter.
Exactly. Let us hope so. I’m still waiting for the announcement from Gen. Satterfield.
He He He….. we all are.
✔ I agree ✔ Sir, keep up the great work you are doing here for us. ❤ Your books have made a difference in how I think and what I do. Thank you for that Gen. Satterfield. 👌
I agree and the sooner the better. Boosk by Gen. Satterfield are excellent. If you don’t have a copy, then get one.
Yeah, another powerful article. ✔✔✔✔✔