That Pebble in Your Shoe

Even though we are in the depths of winter 2026, I want to share a summer story with you.

Last summer, I was out for a walk when a small pebble slipped into my shoe. You know the feeling. Something tiny, almost insignificant, suddenly makes it impossible to keep going. I had to stop. I took off my shoe, removed the pebble, and for some reason, I kept it. It is now stuck to a Post it note on my desk.

That pebble has become a daily reminder in my work with leaders and boards: culture is shaped by the small things.  It is shaped by small, repeated behaviours. It is what people experience in your meetings, your decision making, and your feedback loops. It is built through everyday habits.

In my recent work with executive teams and board chairs, three patterns surface again and again.

1. Your meeting norms determine your outcomes.

   If your meetings prioritize speed over reflection or hierarchy over contribution, your outcomes will reflect that. How you lead meetings signal who belongs, and whose voices and insights matter. Small adjustments can make a big impact. Monitoring your “time with the mic”, inviting different forms of knowledge into the discussion and asking questions that deepen understanding can strengthen engagement and individual contributions.

   
   

2. The way you listen shapes trust.

   Many leaders say they value transparency and feedback. But if responses are defensive, rushed, or subtly dismissive, people learn quickly that honesty carries risk. When leaders practice active listening, psychological safety grows and accountability strengthens.

   
   

3. What gets named gets addressed.

   Every organization has pebbles. Tensions. Inequities. Unspoken frustrations. Governance defaults that no longer serve.  When these remain unnamed, they harden into barriers. When leaders model thoughtful naming, teams build the capacity to address issues early and constructively. Naming is not criticism. It is stewardship.

The pebble on my desk reminds me that good culture work is not performative or episodic. Leaders and board chairs set the tone through the small daily signals they send.

What small pattern in your environment needs your attention?

What are you avoiding that deserves to be named?

Sometimes change begins with something as small as a pebble. If you are ready to be more deliberate about the environment you are shaping and stewarding, let’s connect.