I was reviewing the book “Principle-Centered Leadersihp” by Stephen Covey the other day, and was reminded of the great message he has in this book. Here’s a summary.
Overall theme: That “natural laws, principles, operate regardless. So get these principles at the center of your life, at the center of relationships, at the center of your management contracts, at the center of your entire organization.” Further, these principles have been “woven into the fabric of every civilized society and constitute the roots of every family and institution that has endured and prospered”.
- We may not like them, we may not agree with them all, but they are there. And they have proven effective throughout many centuries.
- Six major religions all teach the same core beliefs – fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, service and patience.
- Principles are different than values. Even street gangs and German Nazi’s held values.
How we react to these principles impacts every aspect of our lives. For example, the principle of trust impacts us on four levels:
- Personal – Trustworthiness
- Interpersonal – Trust
- Managerial – Empowerment
- Organizational – Alignment
He gives characteristics of principle-centered leaders.
- They are continually learning.
- They are service-oriented.
- They radiate positive energy.
- They believe in other people.
- They lead balanced lives.
- They see life as an adventure.
- They are synergistic.
- They exercise self-renewal
Traits that are essential for managers to exhibit this type of leadership are:
- Integrity – “the value we place on ourselves”.
- Maturity – “the balance between courage and consideration”.
- Abundance Mentality – “there is plenty out there for everybody”.
The abundance mentality is the “bone deep belief that there are enough natural and human resources to realize my dream”.
The need for a moral compass. Values are maps, principles are a compass. We need to trade in our maps for a compass. An accurate map is a good management tool, but a compass is a leadership and an empowerment tool. Maps change, compass bearings are constant.