In times of constant change, it’s easy to feel powerless. As academics, many of us want to contribute towards positive societal change. Academics, however, tend to associate “impact” with policy reforms, significant societal shifts, or organizational change, all of which are typically driven by senior scholars. For us early-career researchers (ECRs) (doctoral students, postdocs, and junior faculty), this can make meaningful impact seem distant or even unattainable. The frequent advice we hear is to prioritize publishing in top-tier journals and to think about impact later. While well-meaning, this guidance can feel disheartening, especially for those of us who entered academia with a desire to make a difference. However, based on our earlier research projects as ECRs, we believe that our field overlooks a more immediate and accessible form of impact that does not require waiting until later in our careers. 

The potential of micro-level impact 

Our essay published in the Journal of Management Studies challenges the dominant narrative that impact is an afterthought and must be large-scale to matter. Instead, we propose planning for micro-level impact, which entails deliberate small-scale actions that reflect researchers’ ability to have an influence on individuals and groups, including research participants, community members, and practitioners. For example, Tina integrates micro-impact actions in her data collection by providing participants with feedback on their behavior after an experiment, survey, or interview through compiling a short report for participants that compares pre- and post-survey results or sharing an infographic summarizing current academic insights on the topic. These actions may seem modest, but they can foster mutual learning, build trust, and make research more accessible and meaningful to those involved. These efforts can lead to different types of micro-impact, like sparking new conversations in practice settings, strengthening relationships with communities, empowering participants, and shaping how participants reflect on their own experiences. 

While this kind of impact is often overlooked, these interactions can naturally take place during data collection, whether we were prepared for them or not. So, we are advocating to anticipate and embrace such interactions and intentionally use these moments to connect our work with the real world. In this way, we can start by realizing some of our impact goals at the micro level early on in our careers. Whether it’s a participant feeling validated during an interview, building community connections through sharing resources, or providing managers with new insights on their work through debriefing conversation, these moments are not just coincidental: they are possible, tangible, and meaningful interactions for both participants and researchers beyond the immediate scope of our research projects. 

From missed opportunities to micro-practices 

Reflecting on our experiences as ECRs, we identified missed opportunities where we could have supported participants, if only we had anticipated and planned for the potential for micro impact. These experiences led us to suggest some micro-practices in the essay: simple, intentional actions that researchers can embed into their projects from the start to prepare for and create micro impact. 

Some examples include the following: 

• Mapping out all potential interactions with stakeholders in advance 

• Engaging in continued dialogue or iterative conversations with research participants 

• Preparing helpful resource guides or follow-up materials for participants 

These practices do not require seniority or institutional power, just awareness and planning. 

A call to action for the research community 

We believe it’s time to broaden our understanding of impact in management research. That means 

• ECRs embracing micro impact as a legitimate and fulfilling part of their academic journey. 

• Senior scholars mentoring and supporting ECRs in planning for impact from the outset of their projects. 

• Institutions and journals recognizing and rewarding diverse forms of impact, including those at the micro level. 

By shifting our perspective, we can create a more inclusive and empowering research culture: one where impact is not just a distant goal, but a present and purposeful part of our everyday work. Despite the persistent importance of academic publications, mentorship for impact from senior scholars is also important because ECRs are often motivated to think of their impact from the start but need support to fully flourish as impactful researchers.  

We also encourage organizations interested in collaborating with academics to be open to engaging with (early-career) researchers recognizing the value of the micro-impact. 

Let’s embrace planning for micro-level impact  

We invite fellow ECRs, senior scholars, and institutions to join us in reimagining what it means to make a difference through research. We encourage fellow academics to reflect on their micro-impact by considering how, when, where, and with whom they engage and how they can add value to these interactions. Micro-level impact may be small in scale, but its ripple effects can be profound, not just for those we study, but also for us as scholars striving to connect our work with the world.