I recently read Trust & Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash the Greatness in Others by Stephen M. R. Covey, et al (2022).
My top takeaways:
– Living and leading is like gardening: the work we invest in prepping makes all the difference in the outcome.
– TRUST is the foundation of meaningful relationships, which are the antecedents for meaningful and impactful work.
– 5 Emerging Forces: The nature of the world, of work, of the workplace, of the workforce, of choice ……. have all changed.
– Collaboration seeds innovation while coordination seeds compliant cooperation.
– Innovation flourishes when differences collide in an environment of trust.
– Knowing how to do better, but not, is like never knowing in the first place.
– Human effectiveness is driven by principle thinking and action, not power or position.
– 3 Stewardships: leaders who model, leaders who trust, and leaders who inspire.
– Fundamental Belief #1: People have greatness inside them… so my job as a leader is to unleash their potential, not control them.
– Fundamental Belief #2: Treat others according to their potential, not their behavior.
– Fundamental Belief #3: There is enough for everyone… so my job as a leader is to elevate caring above competing.
– Fundamental Belief #4: Leadership is stewardship… so my job as a leader is to put service above self-interest.
– Fundamental Belief #5: Enduring influence is created from the inside out… so my job as a leader is to go first.
– Powerful mindsets: Humility, Courage, Authenticity, Vulnerability, Empathy, and Performance.
– The $64,000 question: Would I follow me?
– Trustworthiness x Trusting = Trust
– Regarding accountability: Self first, others second.
– Micromanaging stifles creativity and commitment.
– Barriers are, more often than not, grounded in fearful excuse making.
– Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
– Fear is a reaction; trust is a choice.
– Policy test: If we didn’t already have this policy in place, would we create it today?
– African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
My favorite quotes:
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world.” —THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI (p. 37)
“Always assume positive intent. Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent. You will be amazed at how your whole approach to a person or problem becomes very different.” (p. 67)
“To serve others and care for their well-being—even if doing so doesn’t appear to benefit us in any way—is perhaps the highest form of humanity.” (p. 93)
“The true test of understanding is not when you feel like you understand, but when they say they feel understood.” (p. 116)
“May you live long enough to know why you were born.” —CHEROKEE BIRTH BLESSING (p. 158)
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” —MAYA ANGELOU (p. 161)
“I once did a double take when I saw a person wearing a T-shirt that said, Will work for meaning.” (p. 169)
“It is the combination of all three steps—humility, listening first and demonstrating respect, and embracing a growth mindset for others (not just yourself)—that allows you to create an environment of collaboration and innovation.” (p. 259)
“Through learning, we re-create ourselves. Through learning, we become able to do something we were never able to do. Through learning, we reperceive the world and our relationship to it.” —PETER SENGE, AUTHOR OF THE FIFTH DISCIPLINE (p. 259)
“Like leadership, parenting is more like being a gardener than being a mechanic.” (p. 273)
“Similarly, General Stanley McChrystal, former four-star commander, shared a mantra his leadership team used in the field that demonstrated extending trust to their soldiers: “If, when you get on the ground, the order that we gave you is wrong, execute the order we should have given you.” (p. 292)
This is one of the best books I’ve read in the last 15 years.
*If you’d like to read more of nc’s blatherings, go to nc’s Recursive Learning.
Well worth my time. Worth yours, too, I’m betting.
