10% More

I was listening to a recording of a relaxation exercise the other day and near the beginning, the facilitator said, “See if you can make yourself 10% more comfortable.”

I thought that was an amazing suggestion.

Most of us, upon hearing that, try to figure out a way to make ourselves 10% more comfortable. Not that we can necessarily measure that, but it’s a small enough increment that we’d be willing to try it—yet significant enough that we’d notice a difference.

That simple idea sparked a thought: What if we apply that same principle to other areas of our lives? Imagine if we listened to a friend 10% more attentively or increased our focus on a work project by just 10%. The potential for improvement is right there in front of us.

In management and leadership, we often seek transformative changes, but sometimes the most effective improvements come from making those small, incremental shifts. Here are three practical ways to apply the “10% better” approach in your daily life:

Enhance Your Listening Skills: In conversations, especially in a leadership role, try to be 10% more present. This could mean putting aside distractions—like your phone or computer—and focusing fully on the speaker. Whether you’re in a one-on-one meeting or a team discussion, active listening can lead to deeper insights, build trust, and create stronger relationships. Over time, these small shifts in your attentiveness can transform the way your team communicates, connects, and collaborates.

Boost Your Productivity: Consider picking one task or project and challenging yourself to improve your focus by just 10%. This might involve experimenting with techniques like time-blocking. By dedicating short, uninterrupted periods of time to a task, you can gradually enhance your concentration and efficiency. Small improvements here not only lead to higher productivity but also reduce the stress that often comes with feeling overwhelmed by large projects. (I’ve done this myself, and what started out as a 10% improvement is now about 25%.)

Refine Your Self-Care Routine: Just as the facilitator suggested making oneself 10% more comfortable, think about ways to upgrade your personal well-being. Perhaps it’s tweaking your workspace to create a more inviting environment, taking a slightly longer break during a hectic day, or engaging in a brief mindfulness exercise. These incremental changes can elevate your mood and resilience, enabling you to lead more effectively and maintain a positive outlook.

It’s always helpful when someone else makes that suggestion or asks the question, but there’s something profoundly powerful about identifying the small, manageable ways in which we can improve. Whether it’s enhancing how we listen, boosting our focus, or simply taking time to gain more energy in a day. These 10% improvements remind us that small steps can make a big difference.