Stephen M. R. Covey, a bestselling author and former CEO of Covey Leadership Center, shares transformative insights on modern leadership. He critiques the outdated command and control mindset still prevalent in organizations. Covey emphasizes the shift to a 'Trust & Inspire' approach, where leaders focus on unleashing individual greatness rather than controlling it. He highlights the importance of caring for the whole person and fostering internal inspiration to create a thriving organizational culture, ultimately advocating for collaboration over competition.
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insights INSIGHT
Command and Control Types
Command-and-control persists in two forms: authoritarian (fear-based) and enlightened (transactional).
Enlightened command-and-control, while better, still views people as means to an end, hindering true inspiration.
insights INSIGHT
Enlightened Command and Control Prevalence
Most leaders operate with enlightened command-and-control, using subtle carrot-and-stick methods.
Only 8% of organizations truly embrace trust-and-inspire leadership.
insights INSIGHT
Motivation vs. Inspiration
Motivation is external and requires constant reinforcement, while inspiration is internal and self-sustaining.
Leaders must first find their own inspiration to effectively inspire others.
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This book, first published in 1989, outlines seven habits that are designed to help individuals become more effective in their personal and professional lives. The habits are grouped into three categories: Private Victory (habits 1-3), Public Victory (habits 4-6), and Renewal (habit 7). The habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand and then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. Covey emphasizes the importance of personal integrity, effective time management, empathetic communication, and continuous self-improvement[2][5][4].
Trust and Inspire
How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others
Stephen M. R. Covey
In 'Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others', Stephen M. R. Covey argues that traditional 'Command and Control' leadership styles are no longer effective in the modern world. He proposes a new leadership model that focuses on trust and inspiration, believing that people are creative, collaborative, and full of potential. This approach aims to empower individuals to become the best version of themselves and produce their best work, especially in a dispersed and diverse workforce environment.
The Speed of Trust
The One Thing That Changes Everything
Stephen Covey
This book emphasizes that trust is the basis of the new global economy and demonstrates how trust functions in every transaction and relationship. It provides practical advice on establishing trust immediately to avoid bureaucratic check-and-balance processes, highlighting cores such as integrity, intent, and capabilities. With over two million copies sold, it is an essential read for business leaders and public figures to understand and build trust effectively.
Stephen M. R. Covey: Trust & Inspire
Stephen M. R. Covey is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and former CEO of Covey Leadership Center. He led the strategy that propelled his father’s book, Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, to become one of the two most influential business books of the 20th Century, according to CEO Magazine. He's the author The Speed of Trust and more recently Trust & Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others*.
Despite everything we know about good leadership, a lot of places still operate in a command and control mindset. In this conversation, Stephen and I explore the key ways to shift from command and control to trust and inspire.
Key Points
In spite of all progress, most leaders today are still operating from a command and control mindset.
The carrot and stick approach still dominates most organizational cultures and tactics.
The biggest barrier to becoming a Trust & Inspire leader is when we think we already are one.
People are whole people. The best leaders care for the body, heart, mind, and spirit.
There is enough for everyone. Trust & Inspire leaders elevate caring above competition.
Enduring influence is created from the inside out. The job of the leader is to go first.
All people have greatness inside them. Trust & Inspire leaders work to unleash potential, not control it.
Resources Mentioned
Trust & Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others* by Stephen M. R. Covey
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
How to Build Psychological Safety, with Amy Edmondson (episode 404)
Leadership Means You Go First, with Keith Ferrazzi (episode 488)
The Starting Point for Repairing Trust, with Henry Cloud (episode 626)
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