Little Hinges Swing

By Kevin Eikenberry

Little hinges swing big doors. I first heard those words from a mentor of mine, and later realized they originally came from the entrepreneur and author, W. Clement Stone. This week I found a whole new meaning in these words. While the first pains came on a Thursday, last Monday I had severe pain which led to an ER visit, blood work and multiple tests. After the results of the CT scan came back it was clear: I had a 4 mm stone in my ureter – between my kidney and my bladder. 4 mm isn’t very big – it is about .157 inches, or the width of a CD case. But put that size inside the wrong part of your body and it can cause lots of havoc.

Without giving you more information than you want or need, this small little stone has drastically altered my life, schedule and plans for 7 days and counting. I made three trips to the hospital and have taken more prescription drugs in the last week than I have in the last 20 years. It’s amazing that such a little thing can make such a big difference.

Several years ago there was a best selling book with the title “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff ”, and while I understand the sentiment, I more closely resonate with author and advertising executive Bruce Barton who wrote:

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things . . . I am tempted to think . . . there are no little things.” Little hinges swing big doors.

So what are some of the “little things” that make a big difference for us as leaders? While the list could be long, here is a couple for you to consider.

Listening. When we listen, we are communicating more than that we want to hear what someone is saying – we are communicating that we care about the person. Not such a little thing. Attitude. No one really wants to be led by a pessimist or a crab. And everyone agrees that attitude is contagious. If we want a positive attitude in our organization it starts with us. Not such a little thing.

Consistency. People want to know what to expect from their leadership – in terms of approach, in terms of values and much more. And while people need to be pushed and challenged, it doesn’t mean they will excel if they are always wondering what is coming next. Not such a little thing. Trust. The more trust that exists in an organization, the less turnover, the more engagement, the more innovation, the better communication and the greater productivity you will find. Leaders that engender and earn trust are tremendously valuable to their people and their organizations. Definitely not a little thing. The list of little things could be so much longer, and yet I hope this list gets you thinking. There are big things we need to do as leaders to be more effective, and yes we should work on strategy, team collaboration, change management and problem solving approaches – all of these and a hundred other big things matter. But so do the little things. Maybe it is time to sweat the small stuff a bit more if we want to be the leader we are capable of becoming. And maybe, through the pain, I should thank a little 4 mm stone for reminding me of this important lesson.— About the Author Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. Learn more at KevinEikenberry.com.

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things . . . I am tempted to think . . . there are no little things...”