Principle-Centered Leadership

While Steven R. Covey is most famous for his bestselling book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he also wrote another book entitled "Principle-Centered Leadership" which takes a look at which principles and practices people use to guide and their lives.  He begins by inviting the reader to take a look at several different scenarios of how everyday people function in leadership positions.  Those who  don't function from a principles base or center are more likely to act based on emotion or momentary circumstances, instead of allowing their lives to be guided by the consistent flow of principles.

This type of leadership is defined by leading from the inside out.  From the center of who you are and the principles you base your personal life on, is what your exterior life in business and relationships will also be guided by.

The book challenges its readers to examine the principles that guide each person on the inside, and what that looks like in terms of relationships with others.  The author then dives a bit deeper into looking at what this kind of leadership demonstrates in business relationships.

Are You A Principle-Centered Leader?  Here is just a peek at an excerpt of what Covey calls the 8 characteristics of principle-centered people.

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They Are Continually Learning
"Principle-centered people are constantly educated by their experiences.  They read, they seek training, they take classes, they listen to others, they learn through both their ears and their eyes....Most of this learning and growth energy is self-initiated and feeds upon itself."

They Are Service-Oriented
"Those striving to be principle-centered see life as a mission, not as a career.  Their nurturing sources have armed and prepared them for service.  In effect, every morning they 'yoke up' and put on the harness of service, thinking of others."


They Radiate Positive Energy
The countenances of principle-centered people are cheerful, pleasant, happy.  Their attitude is optimistic, positive, upbeat.  Their spirit is enthusiastic, hopeful, believing."

They Believe In Other People
"Principle-centered people don't overreact to negative behaviors, criticism, or human weaknesses.  They don't feel built up when they discover the weaknesses of others.  They are not naive; they are aware of weakness.  But they realize that behavior and potential are two different things.  They believe in the unseen potential of all people."

They Lead Balanced Lives
"They read the best literature and magazines and keep up with the current affairs and events.  They are active socially, having many friends and a few confidants.  They are active intellectually, having many interests.  They read, watch, observe, and learn.  Within the limits of age and health, they are active physically.  They have a lot of fun.  They enjoy themselves.  They have a healthy sense of humor, particularly laughing at themselves and not at others' expense.  You can sense they have a healthy regard for and honesty about themselves."

They See Life As An Adventure
"Principle-centered people savor life.  Because their security comes from within instead of from without, they have no need to categorize and stereotype everything and everybody in life to give them a sense of certainty and predictability...Their security lies in their initiative, resourcefulness, creativity, willpower, courage, stamina, and native intelligence rather than in safety, protection, and abundance of their home camps, of their comfort zones."

They Are Synergistic
"Synergy is the state in which the whole is more than the sum of the parts.  Principle-centered people are synergistic.  They are change catalysts.  They improve almost any situation they get into.  They work as smart as they work hard.  They are amazingly productive, but in new and creative ways...When principle-centered people negotiate and communicate with others in seemingly adversarial situations, they learn to separate the people from the problem."

They Exercise for Self-Renewal
"Finally, they regularly exercise the four dimensions of the human personality:  physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual...No other single hour of your day will return as much as the hour you invest in sharpening the saw--that is, in exercising these four dimensions of the human personality.  If you will do this daily, you will soon experience the impact for good on your life."

This is only the beginning of a book that aims to show the inseparable link between your internal and external processes and habits.  

What habits have you found to be tried and true in your success?

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8 PROVEN Ways To Experience Excellence in Business

What Are The Business Secrets You Most Want to Discover?

Whether you chose to pursue business with a formal education or simply just went for it and learned along the way, you had to start somewhere.  This is what all entrepreneurs have in common, but the details of each one’s story will vary.  People who are truly interested in learning what it means to go into business will ask questions, because they believe the answers to these questions will help set them on a path toward success.

• What first inspired you to go into business?
• What principles do you run your business by?
• What were the first steps you took when deciding to pursue your dream as an entrepreneur?
• What books/seminars did you attend to find the best way?
• What business situation did you remain in too long?
• What was the best risk you decided to take?

Try to remember back when you started out as an entrepreneur, what were the questions you wanted answers to?  Imagine you were given the opportunity to sit down with some of the greatest business minds of our time.  Who would you choose to meet with?  What would your top questions be, now that you have actually experienced the ups and downs of being in business?

“In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best Run Companies,” is a book that gives you the opportunity to be a fly on the wall of the most successful companies in America. You’re able to explore firsthand the 8 common principles and practices that these diverse businesses found to contribute to their success.

1. A bias for action: a preference for doing something - anything - rather than sending a question through cycles and cycles of analyses and committee reports.
2. Staying close to the customer - learning his preferences and catering to them.
3. Autonomy and entrepreneurship - breaking the corporation into small companies and encouraging them to think independently and competitively.
4. Productivity through people - creating in all employees the awareness that their best efforts are essential and that they share in the rewards of the company’s success.
5. Hands-on, value-driven - insisting that executives keep in touch with the firm’s essential business.
6. Stick to the knitting - remaining with the business the company knows best.
7. Simple form, lean staff - few administrative layers, few people at the upper layers.
8. Simultaneous loose-tight properties - fostering a climate where there is dedication to the central values of the company combined with tolerance for all employees who accept those values.

One of the greatest contributions you can make in this industry is to give the gift of your wisdom and experience.  Remember what it was like when you were starting out - you were hungry for direction, wisdom, and tangible advice.

If you could choose just three of these principles to pass along to someone who is just starting out in business, which would you choose and why?  We'd love to hear your pearls of wisdom.