One of the strangest parts of work life is how quickly we take people for granted. We get used to someone being reliable, always meeting deadlines, letting you leave early when you need to, helping you finish your part, or handling issues before they escalate. And because they don’t make noise about it, we stop noticing. A micro-action that changes this dynamic? Call it out without making it awkward. A quiet “Thanks for always being on top of that,” or “I noticed how you handled that mess yesterday and it made a big difference.”
It’s not about giving out compliments for the sake of it but rather noticing what people bring to the table and saying something before the moment passes. These moments feel small, but they have a way of resetting how people see themselves and how they see you.