The Global Renaissance:
Ethical Character, Transparent Motivation and Superb Competence
My Take on Stephen M.R. Covey’s The SPEED of Trust
By Marie Diane Gerace

When I was asked to write this article I had just discovered Stephen M.R. Covey’s new book, The SPEED of Trust. Being familiar with the Covey name and the fact that they’ve never steered me wrong, I found myself with the book in hand seeking out the closest overstuffed sofa in the bookstore to take a bit of a read before making the decision to purchase. In just a few moments I was uttering to myself, “Finally… I’m not alone in this anymore.” It was as though Mr. Covey was talking to me personally. I immediately headed to the checkout, my iced caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso (not stirred) all but forgotten on the side table. This is something that happens in a bookstore only on the rare occasion, and I cannot recall one time where it has happened with a non-fiction book. I had recognized immediately from page one that this book would make a positive personal and professional “life change/alter/shift of self” to the next grander, higher level. I knew instinctively that this book would take me to the core issue of something that had been nagging at me for a long, long time.

Mr. Covey defines trust as: “Both character (who you are) and competence (your strengths and the results you produce).”  To even the untrained eye or ear, this definition is the personification of simplicity and elegance. In The SPEED of Trust, Mr. Covey goes on to say, “Trust is the enabling power of leadership influence. It is not soft, slow, risky, or easy. It is a measurable, definable component of all leadership success. It can be both taught and learned,” and “Organizations with high trust outperform organizations with low trust by nearly three times.” (Watson Wyatt 2002) and “Trust changes the quality of every present moment and alters the trajectory and outcome of every future moment of our lives – both professionally and personally,” and is “a competitive advantage that cannot be replicated.”

The statements made in the book are not revelations or epiphanies, but rather remembrances; validations of concepts and real-life experiences that we already know -- but have for whatever reason lost sight of, or have come to discount the worth of. For many of us, trust has become a soft concept and not something we give enough thought to in the workplace. The fact of the matter is, “Trust is hard, real, and quantifiable. It measurably affects both speed and cost.” As Mr. Covey explains, low trust creates hidden agendas, politics, interpersonal conflict, interdepartmental rivalries, win-lose thinking, defensive and protective communication, and slows everything – every decision, every communication, and every relationship. When things slow down or are bogged down by low trust, incredible amounts of time and energy are wasted, affecting efficiency and hitting profits hard.

Simply put, this book is a must read. I cannot say enough about the immediate positive impact it will have on your life. If you cannot wait, go out and get The SPEED of Trust NOW. Otherwise, come to the 2008 Surface Fabrication Design Expo on Thursday, February 21st  in Las Vegas. ISSFA will be giving away 150 copies, and we’ll have Denis W. Stoddard, PhD., SPHR, an Executive Coach and Organizational Development Consultant from CoveyLink, as our very special guest speaker.

Register your free copy of The SPEED of Trust below. (Limited to the first 150 replies - must be an ISSFA member in good standing).