In leading restaurant teams and multiunit organizations, persistence and consistency are what moves the vision and plans of the business forward.
Standing next to a cliff face or riverbank, it is easy to overlook the quiet power of a single drop of water. Yet as writer Margaret Atwood reminds us, water “does not resist… it always goes where it wants to go” and “dripping water wears away a stone.” This soft but persistent force ultimately shapes canyons. The lesson for managers and leaders is that sustained, incremental actions often have a greater impact than dramatic, one time pushes.
The proverb “constant dripping wears away a stone” captures this idea: progress comes from consistent effort rather than occasional bursts. In organizations, this means that leadership is not about grand pronouncements; it is about the small behaviors repeated daily – listening attentively, following through on commitments, sharing feedback and coaching. These drip by drip actions build trust and a culture of accountability over time.
Continuous improvement frameworks underscore the power of small, ongoing changes. Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy embraced by lean organizations, is based on the belief that small, ongoing positive changes can reap significant improvements. It contrasts with top down overhauls by encouraging everyone to search for low cost, incremental improvements and to repeat the cycle until processes are refined. Similarly, productivity expert James Clear defines continuous improvement as making “small changes and improvements every day, with the expectation that those small improvements will add up to something significant.” He notes that improving by just one per cent each day compounds into big differences, while rushing to make major leaps often leads to burnout.
Drip leadership also means recognizing and celebrating small wins. The University of Minnesota’s Office of Human Resources warns that people become disengaged when progress is not acknowledged; celebrating successes provides a “much needed boost” and reinforces shared goals. John Kotter’s change management research emphasizes short term wins: they prove that efforts are worthwhile, build morale and help fine tune the strategies. Acknowledging consistent effort and resilience—even finishing a hectic week or solving a recurring problem—helps teams see their progress and maintain momentum.
Good leaders, like water, are patient and adaptable. They understand that if they cannot go through an obstacle, they can “go around it.” Rather than forcing change, they apply gentle, constant pressure through daily habits, continuous improvement, and the celebration of small wins. Over time these droplets reshape individual behaviors, team culture and ultimately the organization’s trajectory. The drip may be quiet, but its persistence is what carves canyons.
Sources
- Biznology, “Passionate Explorers: Lifelong Learners” (quoting Margaret Atwood’s passage on water), accessed lines 195 199.
- The Free Dictionary, entry for “constant dripping wears away a stone” (proverb), explaining that success is earned through persistence.
- TechTarget, Diann Daniel, “Kaizen (continuous improvement),” May 13, 2021, describing how small, ongoing positive changes lead to significant improvements.
- James Clear, “Continuous Improvement: How It Works and How to Master It,” illustrating that small daily improvements compound over time.
- University of Minnesota Office of Human Resources, “Small Wins, Big Impact: Recognizing and Celebrating Progress at Work,” Nov 26, 2024, noting that celebrating successes boosts morale, reinforces shared goals, and highlights Kotter’s emphasis on short term wins.