“Leadership ………. is like a big door that swings.  But that big door of leadership swings on the small hinge of character.”

                                                                                          - Admiral James Stavridis (Ret.)

I was recently listening to an interview with Retired Admiral James Stavridis, who was out promoting his new book on leadership, Sailing True North: Ten Admirals and the Voyage of Character.   

I have to admit, I was half-listening to the interview while I was working out, when the admiral said something and made me immediately stop and go running for a pen and paper to write it down when he shared,

“Leadership is how we influence others.  It is like a big door that swings.  But that big door of leadership swings on the small hinge of character.”

These words have stayed with me over the last week since listening to this interview.  I have asked myself time and again, “How can I bring a greater degree of character to my lead...