In this episode of Small Things Make a Big Difference, I sit down with leadership expert, bestselling author, and Culture Works co-founder Adrian Gostick.

You may know Adrian from The Carrot Principle, All In, or Leading with Gratitude. But in this conversation, we go deeper.

We explore:

• Why culture is “the perfume in the air” — and how leaders shape it every day

• The three simple, low-cost actions that immediately improve engagement

• The surprising lesson Adrian learned about gratitude as a senior executive

• Why specificity matters more than generic praise

• How hybrid work is reshaping culture (and what great leaders are doing about it)

• His 15-year journey to writing his first fiction novel, Jack Slade and the Butcher Bird

One of my favorite takeaways?
The best leaders aren’t the smartest in the room — they’re the best at asking questions and bringing out the brilliance in others.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that small habits — listening well, sharing future vision, expressing specific gratitude — create extraordinary cultures.

And yes… we talk Beatles too.

If you care about culture, leadership, and becoming more intentional in how you show up — this one’s for you.