Three Growth Guidelines from Stephen Covey

I have been looking for answers to what it takes to create a winning corporate culture in the midst of today's confusing economic indicators. If I rely solely on history or economic indicators, I won't find the answers. Company profits are up, yet job growth is sputtering. Communication happens at breakneck speed, yet we often feel less connected to our peers than we ever did.

That's why I was especially eager to interview Dr. Stephen R. Covey, Chairman of FranklinCovey, leadership visionary, and best-selling author. Dr. Covey has taught leadership principles and management skills for more than 30 years. He has worked with more than 150 of the Fortune 500 companies and thousands of smaller organizations. His work in principle-centered leadership has been successfully adopted by thousands of organizations to improve business results.

I began the interview by sharing my dilemma with Dr. Covey. I told him that I work with professional services and technology companies, and that I see a major disconnect between how we design our companies, and the expectations of today's educated workforce. Worse yet, the disconnect seems even more acute among companies who view themselves as technologically enlightened and operationally efficient. Although we pride ourselves in hiring "knowledge workers," we are running our companies using older industrial business models. Many of us (myself included) have been treating our employees as things that can be moved and removed. We dictate policies and procedures from our corner offices and expect people to comply.

The Data Proves It

FranklinCovey's recent survey of 12,182 workers further fueled my concern. They measured employee perspectives on how sharply they focus and execute on their company's key strategic objectives.

The disturbing findings tell us that most companies suffer from major "execution gaps." In fact, only 48% of the workers say their organization has a clear strategic direction. Only 44% of workers say their company has clearly communicated its most important goals (usually fewer than three). So much for technology delivering on its promise to streamline communication.

I asked Dr. Covey what is causing this dichotomy. Says Dr. Covey, "the industrial system that still runs most of today's organizations and people is a 'thing' model. We fail to realize that when we deal with people, we are dealing with four aspects: body, heart, mind, and spirit."

Does your company really, truly understand and embrace this model? Here is a way to test it. Dr. Covey continues with a four-question assessment any leader can use:

1. Does your company pay you fairly? (body)

2. Are you treated kindly and respectfully? (heart)

3. Are you given the opportunity to continue learning and growing, both personally and professionally? (mind)

4. To what degree do you find your work meaningful? (spirit)

As we shared thoughts on these questions, Dr. Covey handed me an oatmeal cookie. In hindsight, I realize he was demonstrating these principles through that simple, graceful action. I had no need to question his beliefs, because he was practicing what he preached.

I immediately wondered what else I could ask Dr. Covey. Let's face it-when you're 71 years old, have 40 grandchildren, and hold the Chairman title at a publicly-traded company, you don't have much more that you need to prove or say. The wisdom just leaks from your pores. The interview could have concluded nicely right there. I continued anyway.

Three Growth Accelerators

What actions can you immediately take to bridge the gap between your knowledge workers and these industrial age business models? He suggests three strategies to help you get started.

1. Start with yourself and learn your own style. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, "We must become the change we want to see in the world." Surround yourself with advisors and employees who share your desire to create a knowledge-based business model. Hire a coach who can accelerate your own ability to identify what is truly important to you. Your old community and circle of friends usually want you to maintain status quo, and don't always have your best interests in mind.

Dr. Covey continues, "If you want to know what really matters to you, write your own epitaph. What do you want your tombstone to say when you die? Also, write a mission statement with your family. This will help you determine what you can say "no" to in your life, versus what is important." Use this free mission statement builder on FranklinCovey's website.

2. Build on your integrity by keeping a small promise. This helps you begin living a life of workability. Focus on four areas of your life and get them 100% handled. Look at your current relationships throughout your communities, your health and wellness, finances, and every environment where you currently operate. What areas are messy, broken, or neglected? The faster you get them handled, Dr. Covey says, "the more prepared you are to be a person who is known to keep a promise." Then you'll be ready to keep big promises.

3. Involve your teams in the problems you are facing. That's right-be truthful and vulnerable. Be willing to admit when things are not "fine." If you have been trained in industrial-era management models, this will be a challenging feat.

One of my clients had the courage to do this. He's the General Manager of a rapidly growing software company, yet he didn't let success and complacency stop him. He sat down with his key managers and asked for their input. He learned that his employee performance plans were inconsistent with the business model they needed to ensure profitable growth and high client retention. Within a few months, they revised their performance and compensation plans to ensure they rewarded the right behaviors while driving financial results. Since that time, three of their new hires have proven to be excellent contributors, and they secured another $7.5M in sales.

FranklinCovey's research will shake the core of many business foundations, and leave some paralyzed. I am honored to have shared this dialog with someone who leads the knowledge worker revolution.

Borrowing again from Gandhi, I see Stephen Covey as a man who is "the sum of his actions, of what he has done, and of what he can do." His leadership gives us the courage to help each of us transform ourselves and our organizations during these confusing economic times.

Copyright 2004, Nirell & Associates

About Lisa Nirell

Lisa is President of Nirell & Associates in Del Mar, California. She advises senior services executives who want to hire and retain their best people in order to drive more client value. She has over 22 years' IT industry and consulting experience. Lisa has served on 3 Boards of Directors and recently completed a ten-month research study of top performing services CEOs. For a free copy of her Special Report ($59 value), and to subscribe to her monthly ezine,email her at marketing@nirell.com, or visit http://www.nirell.com.

---

Are You The Most Powerful Leader You Can Be?

As someone who teaches, manages, parents or influences you'll probably... Read More

Leadership Like Water-Water Canoeing

Although world business is undergoing historic changes, the prevailing view... Read More

The Power of the Leader Within - The Keys to Martial Arts Life Mastery, Key#1

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"Remember... Read More

Mr. Shoaffs Simple Strategies to Success

(Excerpted from the Jim Rohn Sampler single CD)My first mentor,... Read More

3 Cs Leaders Must Communicate!

"Of every noble work the silent part is best, Of... Read More

Who Needs Heroes?

When we were talking the other day we started to... Read More

3 Elements of Leadership Power!

In an article discussing the need for innovative products and... Read More

The Greatest Leaders Are Often The Worst Leaders

It's a common occurrence, a CEO leads a company to... Read More

Leadership Is Power: Test Your Ethics

"The payoff for the ethical person is a reputation for... Read More

The Goals of Leadership Coaching and Partnerships

Webster's Dictionary describes a "partner" as an ally or an... Read More

10 Ways to Develop Your Latent Leader

latent (adj.) ? Not visible or apparent, but capable of... Read More

Business Leadership: How Much is in Your Credibility Bank Account?

Business leaders have more than a title on their doors.... Read More

Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain!

As the 'Great And Powerful Oz' once said to Dorothy,... Read More

The Leadership Talk As A Living Hologram

The hologram is a three-dimensional photograph made on a flat... Read More

How To Get To Know A Disabled Person

When you first meet someone who is blind, deaf, or... Read More

Leaders Click It? Into Gear!

"Click It" Into Gear!Ever wonder how two people can be... Read More

Why the Squirrel Kept Winning!

I had the good fortune (or misfortune depending on your... Read More

How to Become a Great Leader & Improve Your Leadership Skills

A great leader is able to inspire his/her workers to... Read More

On Being A Born Leader

"Leaders are born, not made." Right? Let me ask you... Read More

5 Tips to Help You Win Big & Become a Village Hero

A few years ago, I returned to my impoverished village... Read More

Peek Inside The Heads of Amazingly Successful Leaders

Would you like to know what really goes on inside... Read More

Take the Road Less Traveled

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took... Read More

Leadership: Wisdom of the Ages

If you gather 100 experienced leaders together to share with... Read More

Leadership Tips From My Dad

Lee (L.B.) Weiss (Sept. 21/25 ? April 30/82)My dad has... Read More

UNCLOS III Process model

The United Nations Conference on Law of the Sea was... Read More

Fighting the Gravitational Pull of Positional Leadership

A little on leadership?Many people enter the leadership world through... Read More

Having Fun In Leadership

"Don't measure your life by your goals, but rather by... Read More

Leadership and Followership in a Team Setting

Many solopreneurs work in a team environment either with their... Read More

10 Attributes of Effective Strategic Leaders!

Did you know that people who lead strategically resemble fine-tuned... Read More

Abraham Lincoln Is Still Alive

Abraham Lincoln Is Still Alive President Jimmy Carter tells in... Read More

Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 3, Drifting From the Topic

Although new ideas lead to creative solutions, they can be... Read More

You Make The Difference

What do you think makes your company successful? Your newest... Read More

Leaders ARE; Are you?

Identity CrisisIt's not only the knowledge you carry around in... Read More