862. How Small Moments Create Purpose, Trust, and Better Leadership

What if the moments that shape your purpose are not the dramatic ones, but the small interactions you almost overlook?

On this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno speaks with Geoffrey “Geoff” Smith, founder and Chief Moment Officer of Moments of Experience and host of the Moments of Experience podcast. With more than 25 years of experience in employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational culture, Jeff shares how deeply personal experiences with healthcare, illness, and loss transformed the way he understood his own work and purpose.

Jeff explains why employee engagement is not simply an HR initiative, particularly in healthcare, where the employee experience can directly shape the patient and caregiver experience. He shares powerful stories that demonstrate how seemingly small acts of compassion and human connection can become defining moments for the people experiencing them.

Gregg and Jeff also explore what compassionate leadership looks like when accountability is still required, why employees need to feel seen, heard, and valued, and how leaders can build trust through consistent attention and authentic presence. Jeff offers three simple questions leaders can ask their teams each week: What did you love this week? What didn’t you love? And how can I help?

The conversation also examines a common leadership mistake: trying to solve problems without involving the people actually experiencing them. Jeff explains why frontline employees need a meaningful voice in organizational decisions and how their involvement can produce stronger solutions, greater trust, and better adoption.

Finally, Jeff shares a simple reminder for anyone feeling disconnected from purpose: stay present, look for joy in small moments, celebrate the daily wins, and practice self-compassion when life becomes difficult.

In this episode:

• Why small moments can reveal a larger sense of purpose

• How employee experience influences customer and patient experience

• Why feeling seen, heard, and valued builds trust and engagement

• Three questions leaders can use to strengthen connection with their teams

• Why frontline employees must be included in solving frontline problems

• How self-compassion and noticing everyday joy can help reconnect you with purpose

Connect with Geoffrey P Smith:

Visit mo-mentsofexperience.com or connect with him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreypsmith/