Small Things Make a Big Difference - by Spencer Holt (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"Leadership books often promise transformation, then give us a long list of things to do that we have to fit into our days. Spencer Holt offers a much more useful, approach: start small. His book, Small Things Make a Big Difference, is smart, funny, wonderfully personal, and packed with the kinds of ideas you will use before you forget where you put the book."

--Adrian Gostick, New York Times bestselling author of Leading with Gratitude and All In

"Small Things Make a Big Difference is a powerful reminder that great leadership is built through the choices we make every day. Spencer Holt combines wisdom, humility, and deeply personal stories to show how small, intentional habits can transform the way we lead, connect, and live. This is an uplifting and practical book for anyone who wants to make a meaningful difference--in life and work."

--Scott O'Neil, CEO, LIV Golf, author of Be Where Your Feet Are

"In an age of artificial intelligence, we desperately need leaders who are deeply and unapologetically human. Spencer Holt shows us how to do the real work of leadership-- the kind that builds deeper connection, unlocks true intelligence, and creates greater meaning across teams. In Small Things Make a Big Difference, he offers practical, powerful habits that will help you become the kind of leader people want to follow. In a world chasing bigger and faster, this book is a timely reminder that the smallest things can make the biggest difference."

-- Liz Wiseman, author of Multipliers and Impact Players

"I'm incredibly proud of Spencer and everything he's achieved with this book. Spencer is a natural leader who doesn't just teach leadership, he lives it every day. His example has inspired me to reach new heights in my own professional career, and I'm grateful for the impact he's had on me. Small Things Make a Big Difference is inspiring, practical, and a powerful reminder that extraordinary results come from the small, consistent actions we take every day. This isn't just a book you'll read; it's a book that will quietly raise your standards long after you've turned the final page."

--James Davies, world-renowned osteopath and performance coach, and bestselling author of Back in 10

"Spencer Holt has a gift for making leadership feel human again. Small Things Make a Big Difference doesn't ask readers to overhaul who they are. Instead, it shows them how small, consistent habits--the same habits Spencer has practiced and modeled throughout the thirty years I've known him--quietly build the kind of trust that changes lives. I've seen the impact of those habits firsthand. This is a book you'll underline, come back to again and again, and most importantly, put into practice."

--Nate Randle, CEO of Greenix, board director, and former CEO of Gabb Wireless

"The most (and first) transformative decision every leader can make is to commit to a lifetime of learning the fundamentals over and over again. In his book, Small Things Make a Big Difference, Spencer Holt successfully takes on the massive task of organizing the five basic pillars of strong, enduring leadership (of self, of career, of team, of entire organization) into a doable approach that sets the tone for life and career. Read it if you're just starting out as a young adult. Then make it part of your annual--or even quarterly--review of how you're going. And growing."

--Garry Ridge, Chairman Emeritus, WD-40 Company

"What makes this book so credible is that Spencer lives what he writes. This is not leadership theatre or another collection of grand ideas. It is a deeply human invitation to notice the small choices--how we listen, create belonging, remain curious, and consistently show up for others--that ultimately define our impact."

--Adam Pacifico, speaker, coauthor of The Leader's Secret Code, host of The Leadership Enigma podcast, partner at Heidrick & Struggles

"Spencer Holt gets to the heart of great leadership: belonging. When people feel seen, valued, and included, they don't just show up--they contribute. Small Things Make a Big Difference proves that the smallest daily habits, done consistently, are what turn a manager into someone's '2.469'--the rare leader who truly transforms a career."

--Chester Elton, bestselling author of The Carrot Principle

"Spencer helped me discover my values and define my purpose. His guidance made me a more grounded leader and parent, giving me the resilience to navigate life's toughest moments. This book is authentic, practical, and full of simple habits that turn great ideas into action. If you want to keep growing as a leader and as a person, read this book. It's a small investment that can make a big difference."

--Sofia Heigis, CEO of Oncopeptides AB

"Profoundly wise and straight from the heart, Spencer's book is a magnificent modern-day almanac, capturing the very spirit of what is great leadership. It guides you with parables, research, and heartfelt insights to that wide, open field where leadership lives and breathes in the small, everyday things we do as human beings"

--Prof. Sudhanshu Palsule, leadership philosopher, speaker, author, and coach

About the Author

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.