The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything Read online

  CEOs

  “The Speed of Trust is red-hot relevant. In an age of heightened business regulation and oversight, it is important to focus on fundamentals. And trust is the intangible asset that can help assure the long-term sustainability of any organization or enterprise. Thanks to Stephen M. R. Covey’s new book, you can be well on the way to enhancing your organization’s trust assets for years to come.”

  —William G. Parrett, CEO, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu; Senior Partner, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP

  “Trust strikes at the heart of our success at JetBlue. Trust is key to the speed of our growth. The Speed of Trust articulates better than any book that trust is the one thing that changes everything—in business and in life. With high trust, success comes faster, better, and at lower cost.”

  —David Neeleman, founder and CEO, JetBlue Airways

  “Trust reduces transaction costs; it reduces the need for litigation and speeds commerce; it actually lubricates organizations and societies. At last, someone is articulating its true value and presenting it as a core business competency.”

  —Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman and CEO, Carlson Companies

  “Stephen M. R. Covey has done it! He has articulately zeroed in on the leadership challenge of the new millennium—the ability to cultivate and leverage trust. This is a ‘must-read’ for all aspiring leaders.”

  —Douglas R. Conant, President and CEO, Campbell Soup Company

  “The Speed of Trust is a great find. It superbly achieves the goal of providing a road map to peak performance, both for individuals and organizations. But the true genius of the book is its universal relevance, as it combines a highly effective common-sense approach with frank guidance to enhance all relationships in life.”

  —J. W. Marriott, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Marriott International, Inc.

  “Lack of trust within an organization saps its energy, fosters a climate of suspicion and second-guessing, completely devastates teamwork and replaces it with internal politics. The end result is low morale and the consequent low standards of performance. Stephen M. R. Covey’s book is a timely reminder for leaders about what really matters in an organization.”

  —Koh Boon Hwee, Chairman, DBS Bank Ltd.; former Chairman, Singapore Airlines

  “I believe Covey’s insights around trust are very revealing to all who think about the practice of leadership. Clearly, without self-trust you can’t have organizational trust—and without the latter no real achievement.”

  —Michael H. Jordan, Chairman and CEO, EDS

  “In life and business, relationships are important—but they are empty unless they are established and based upon trust. Trust is the fundamental building block for a brand, and it is the glue for any lasting relationship. It is amazing how Stephen M. R. Covey, in The Speed of Trust, establishes the essence of what trust is and how it can be established and kept. What a service to the business world and society as a whole!”

  —Horst H. Schulze, President and CEO, The West Paces Hotel Group; former founding President and COO, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company

  “The Speed of Trust teaches a critical lesson—only organizations with a sterling level of trust garner a culture of true commitment vs. a whirlpool of wishful thinking through forced compliance. Covey powerfully articulates a clear road map for ordinary people like you and me to be capable of extraordinary things!”

  —Pete Beaudrault, President and CEO, Sbarro; former President and CEO, Hard Rock Café International

  “The Speed of Trust is a must-read not only for business leaders but for every individual. Mr. Covey defines trust in a most accurate fashion. One can benefit immensely from its contents.”

  —Jon M. Huntsman, founder and Chairman, Huntsman International

  “This book is an eye-opener—once you’ve read it you’ll see everything through your ‘trust glasses’ and understand how and why trust is so important in our professional and personal lives. By demonstrating that trust is tangible, measurable, and, most importantly, something that we can build more easily than we think, Stephen M. R. Covey has written a book that deserves to be read not only by business leaders, but also by everyone interested in improving their relationships with colleagues, friends, and family.”

  —Gregory K. Ericksen, Global Vice-Chair, Strategic Growth Markets, Ernst & Young

  “In the 80s, Stephen’s father convinced me that trust was the most important leadership attribute to create corporate/organizational success. He was absolutely right . . . over the last two decades Toro flourished because of it. Now, Stephen M. R. Covey convincingly shows why . . . that when the organization trusts its leaders, and everyone becomes trustworthy, then people can operate synergistically and non-defensively, which gets the best results much faster.”

  —Ken Melrose, former Chairman and CEO, The Toro Company; author of Making the Grass Geener on Your Side

  “Trust me, you can believe Stephen. This is very good stuff. The more people who read this in your circle of influence, the better your life will be, starting with yourself.”

  —Blake M. Roney, Chairman, Nu Skin Enterprises

  “The Speed of Trust clearly identifies trust as the source of speed in our direct relationships. Covey convincingly validates our experience at Dell—that trust has a bottom-line impact on results and that when trust goes up, speed goes up while costs come down. This principle applies not only in our professional relationships with customers, business partners, and team members but also in our personal relationships, which makes this insightful book all the more valuable.”

  —Kevin Rollins, President and CEO, Dell Inc.

  “When I received this book and was asked by Stephen M. R. Covey to read it and offer my comments, my first impulse was, ‘I don’t have the time.’ However, as I read the foreword, then the first few chapters, I could not put it down. It is exactly what business leaders need today. This book gets to the core roots of ethical behavior and integrity and how ‘trust’ is the most critical factor in effective leaders and organizations. The author discusses with clarity and insight how to develop trust through character and competence and how ‘trusted’ leaders and organizations do things better, faster, and at lower costs. Everyone should make the time to read this book.”

  —Nolan D. Archibald, Chairman and CEO, Black & Decker Corporation

  “Like his father, Stephen M. R. Covey is unafraid of exploring difficult, yet critical topics. His book, The Speed of Trust, goes right to the heart of one of the most important issues of our time: the absolute lack of trust. In a world turned upside-down, all who run organizations, all who seek deeper relationships, all who want more meaning in their lives would do well to consider trust as the asset they most desire.”

  —David W. Checketts, Chairman, Sports Capital Partners; former CEO, Madison Square Garden

  BUSINESS AUTHORITIES

  “This is the book I’ve waited for! The definitive case that trust literally creates profit, success, and prosperity. With hard-nosed evidence and compelling examples, Stephen M. R. Covey shows us why mastering the value of trust is exactly how the United States and others will compete against the megatrend of globalization. Read this book. Become a ‘high trust’ leader. Your heart, your company, your stakeholders, and your net worth will thank you very much!”

  —Patricia Aburdene, author of Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism

  “Trust is the foundation of relationships. The Speed of Trust will enable you to build your foundation effectively. I highly recommend this book.”

  —John C. Maxwell, au
thor and speaker; founder, INJOY Stewardship Services and EQUIP

  “Covey convincingly makes his case that trust is the one thing that changes everything. He shows that speed is the currency of success and trust is the source. In an era when so many of our leaders have shown themselves to be strangers to the power of trust, this book is a must-read.”

  —Marcus Buckingham, coauthor of Now, Discover Your Strengths

  “Collaboration is the foundation of the standard of living we enjoy today. Trust is the glue. This is the first book that teaches the ‘whats’ and the ‘hows’ of trust. A must-read for leaders at all levels.”

  —Ram Charan, coauthor of the bestseller Execution; author of Profitable Growth Is Everyone’s Business

  “Identifying trust as the critical leadership competency of the new global economy, Stephen M. R. Covey describes how this vital quality can be established, grown, extended, and restored within our society and throughout the world. The Speed of Trust is a must-read for all of us.”

  —Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and The Secret

  “The Speed of Trust is filled with time-honored wisdom delivered at precisely the right moment. Stephen so persuasively builds the case that trust is the sin qua non of business success that we are left scratching our heads and wondering how something so critical has not been given front row, position one seating in our businesses. A must-read for every leader.”

  —Jim Loehr, Coauthor of The Power of Full Engagement; CEO, The Human Performance Institute

  “Well, somebody’s got to say it. Like father, like son. A truly wonderful book, Mr. Covey. Congratulations!”

  —Michael Gerber, founder and Chairman, E-Myth Worldwide

  “Stephen M. R. Covey’s book on trust is an exceptional piece of work. He defines and allows us to dig deep and understand trust in ways that have never been exposed. Congratulations.”

  —Stedman Graham, author, speaker, and entrepreneur

  “The Speed of Trust will guide you on a most important journey to generate and build trust daily. If you follow this path, your life will continue to unfold miraculously.”

  —Tom Crum, author of Magic of Conflict and Three Deep Breaths

  “Without trust, there can be no loyalty—and without loyalty, there can be no true growth. Covey persuasively makes the case in The Speed of Trust that trust is a measurable accelerator to performance and that when trust goes up, costs go down and speed goes up. A critical lesson for every leader who cares about building trusted relationships in this new economy.”

  —Fred Reichheld, author of The Loyalty Effect and The Ultimate Question

  “The most important element in any relationship, business or personal, is trust and credibility. This wonderful book shows you how to gain it, build it, preserve it, and incorporate trust into every area of your life.”

  —Brian Tracy, author of The Way to Wealth

  “This book is a manifesto for unleashing exponential performance improvement in organizations worldwide. But Covey doesn’t stop there. He also provides us a road map for making it happen. The Speed of Trust will be the seminal work on the foundation of cooperative human action for decades to come.”

  —Joseph Grenny, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Crucial Conversations

  “Trust and Covey are 5-letter words that ensure success in this fast-paced world. The Speed of Trust is my new leadership bible.”

  —Pat Croce, author of the bestseller I Feel Great and You Will Too!; former owner, Philadelphia 76ers

  “The Speed of Trust hits upon a principle that has largely been ignored for far too long in our society—trust. It impacts every aspect of our life. Covey shows us not only how we can develop trust in the workplace, in our relationships, and our organizations, but also how to restore lost trust in those same environments. He demonstrates how the trust factor directly affects the marketplace and the bottom line of a business by increasing speed and lowering cost. The Speed of Trust is a concisely written, well-organized, and refreshing book that will benefit all who read it.”

  —Hyrum W. Smith, author of What Matters Most; cofounder, FranklinCovey; CEO, The Galileo Initiative

  “Covey’s book underscores the single most important factor—the substrate—that will determine the success (or failure) of any organization in the 21st century: TRUST. This is a powerful read: brave, imaginative, amazingly prescient, and backed up by empirical and analytical heft. A must-read for anyone in a position of responsibility, from a support group to a global corporation.”

  —Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business Administration; author of On Becoming a Leader

  “This much-needed book provides many practical examples of how greater trust produces better results, at less cost, sooner—at work and in life. It’s invaluable.”

  —Spencer Johnson, M.D., author of Who Moved My Cheese?; coauthor of The One Minute Manager

  “Stephen Covey’s work changed the world. I’d bet the price of this exciting book and more that his son, Stephen M. R. Covey, will have at least as much impact. The Speed of Trust is an amazing book starting with its novel and powerful title—my greatest wonder was why it hadn’t been written before. From the epigraph—‘Speed happens when people truly trust each other’—to the closing bell, this is a book worth savoring—and implementing. Dad Stephen says in the foreword that the book ‘strikes at the roots.’ And I say to that: Amen!”

  —Tom Peters, author of Re-imagine!; coauthor of In Search of Excellence

  MARKETING AUTHORITIES

  “Why are you reading the blurbs in this book? Simple, because you trust (a few of) us. Trust drives everything in our nonbranded, too-fast world. So trust this: This is an important book. The younger Covey has written a book that matters.”

  —Seth Godin, author of Small Is the New Big and Permission Marketing

  “After you turn off the projector, quit PowerPoint, and end your pitch, most deals come down to a simple question: Do you trust each other? This book is a valuable and timely explanation of how to trust and how to be trusted.”

  —Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start; Managing Director, Garage Technology Ventures

  “Consumers are growing ambivalent to boundlessly corrupt political institutions while seizing on social issues those bodies are supposed to address. The Speed of Trust provides a path to the kind of transparency people will increasingly demand from brands, corporations, and politicians.”

  —Faith Popcorn, marketing futurist; author of The Popcorn Report

  “Everything in marketing points to the reality that the profitable companies are those that have earned the confidence of their public. Confidence cannot be overestimated. Stephen M. R. Covey takes this reality one step further by proving not only the value of confidence, but also the way to earn it. The Speed of Trust is the ultimate how-to book.”

  —Jay Conrad Levinson, the Father of Guerrilla Marketing; author of the Guerrilla Marketing series

  “Good leaders know where they are going. Followers trust it’s the right direction. Without trust, you get nowhere.”

  —Jack Trout, author of Trout on Strategy; coauthor of Positioning

  MEDIA AUTHORITIES

  “In the world of law and politics, the absence of trust has accomplished everything Stephen describes: promoting divisiveness and disillusionment, exacerbating bureaucratic rule-based relationships, and, ultimately, creating beliefs and behaviors that serve to destroy a free and civil society. Invaluable to every American, The Speed of Trust delivers the tools that can restore transparency, honesty, and confidence to a nation in need.”

  —Catherine Crier, former judge; bestselling author; host of Court TV’s Catherine Crier Live

  “The Speed of Trust provides compelling evidence and invaluable information as to how the development of trust—based upon genuine, transparent character and competence—can increase speed and profits. Stephen M. R. Covey shows how the hard, measurable components of trust can also
create, cement, and enhance all business and professional relationships. The Speed of Trust is a breakthrough work, and should be read by everyone.”

  —Ken Lindner, author of Crunch Time: 8 Steps to Making the Right Life Decisions at the Right Times

  “Covey brilliantly focuses on that overlooked bedrock of democratic capitalism—trust. Like the air we breathe, we too often take this critical intangible for granted. As Covey makes clear, we do so at our ultimate competitive peril.”

  —Steve Forbes, President and CEO, Forbes

  “This book can change lives when it comes to building trusting personal and professional relationships. Covey helps us understand how to nurture and inspire immediate trust in every encounter, which is the foundation for true and lasting success in life. A very interesting and enlightening read.”

  —Larry King

  “Want to be an irresistible positive force? Combine personal responsibility with compassion and respect for others. Want to know how to do this perfectly? Read The Speed of Trust.”

  —Dr. Laura Schlessinger, internationally syndicated radio host; author of The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage

  GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE AUTHORITIES

  “The Speed of Trust is absolutely the right book for our times—inspiring, empowering, and immediately useful. People in all walks of life, anywhere in the world, will benefit from its important message: Investing in integrity and reaping the trust dividend can strengthen businesses and enrich lives.”

  —Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School; author of the bestseller Confidence: How Winning Streaks and Losing Streaks Begin and End

  “In the true Covey tradition, here is an outstanding book, The Speed of Trust. It is a book that everyone who aspires to be a leader must read. Outstanding!!”

  —Arun Gandhi, President, M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

  “The Speed of Trust comes at a time when ‘trust’ seems to be speeding toward the endangered species list. That will change as people read Stephen M. R. Covey’s insights and guidelines, prohibitions and prescriptions for creating authentic trust in relationships, business, sports, politics, and life. The name ‘Covey’ has come to represent excellence. This book carries on the tradition.”