Roots Yield Fruits

Stephen R. Covey

With the humility that comes from being principle-centered, we can better learn from the past, have hope for the future, and act with confidence, not arrogance, in the present. Arrogance is the lack of self-awareness; blindness; an illusion; a false form of self-confidence; and a false sense that we're somehow above the laws of life.

Real confidence is anchored in a quiet assurance that if we act based on principles, we will produce quality-of-life results. It's confidence born of character and competence. Our security is not based on our possessions, positions, credentials, or on comparisons with others; rather, it flows from our own integrity to "true north" principles.

I confess that I struggle with total integrity and do not always "walk my talk." I find that it's easier to talk and teach than to practice what I preach. I've come to realize that I must commit to having total integrity to be integrated around a set of correct principles. I've observed that if people never get centered on principles at some time in their lives, they will take the expedient political-social path to success and let their ethics be defined by the situation.

They will say, "business is business," meaning they play the game by their own rules. They may even rationalize major transgressions in the name of business, in spite of having a lofty mission statement. Only by centering on "timeless" principles and then living by them can we enjoy sustained moral, physical, social, and financial wellness.

Click here to read 'Center on Principles' by Stephen R. Covey.

Subscribe to FranklinCovey On Leadership and receive weekly videos, tools, articles, and podcasts to help you become a better leader.

Learn more about the timeless principles in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by registering for a complimentary webcast.

About the Author

Over his lifetime, Stephen inspired millions with the power of universal principles. As he traveled the globe many times over, his message was a simple one: for true success and meaning in life, we must be principle-centered in all areas of life. A teacher at heart, he often taught, "There are three constants in life: change, choice and principles." From the oval office, the board room, community halls and to the school house and family room, Stephen taught the mindset, skillset and toolset found in The 7 Habits of Highly effective people, his seminal work. His legacy is woven in The 7 habits, and, just as these habits are universal and timeless, so is Stephen R. Covey, who is admired around the world for his simple, yet powerful, universal, timeless teachings. Recognized as one of Time magazine’s 25 most influential Americans, Stephen R. Covey was one of the world’s foremost leadership authorities, organizational experts, and thought leaders.
More Content by Stephen R. Covey

Moral Compassing

When managing in the wilderness of the changing times, a map is of limited worth. What's needed is a moral ...

Nurturing Our Unique Gifts

Enhancing these endowments requires us to nurture and exercise them continuously. Sharpening the saw once a...

6 Ways to Help Your Team Handle Stress During Times of Change

Download Guide

Return to Home

We enable greatness in people and organizations everywhere.

Roots Yield Fruits

About the Author

Previous Article

Next Article

Roots Yield Fruits

About the Author

Previous Article

Next Article

Most Recent Articles

FranklinCovey’s mission of enabling greatness in people and organizations everywhere is essentially a mission about change.

We have identified the four most common pitfalls impacting leaders in transition and provide strategies for leaders to successfully navigate these potential pitfalls.

There is a lot of research about leaders failing to transition into an organization and/or up into a new role. It is important to understand you are on a journey through transition.

Based on our data, we have created a formula for helping new leaders work through the top four reasons for failure.

There are several things you can do to keep remote workers engaged. Look over this list and see if there are some you can implement.

Skilled leaders understand that change is a disruptive force and an opportunity. By understanding the predictable pattern of change, leaders can reframe hybrid work as a catalyst for growth.

Most of us fear failure and try to avoid it at all costs, becoming stressed out and risk-averse. It doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s how to change your mind about failure.

So you’ve got extremely talented people on your team and you have them aligned with appropriate tasks where they should really excel. But your results aren’t matching your expectations. What now?

What do you do when your team starts to falter or produce less than stellar results—how do you turn things around and recover?

Project management is now the work and competitive edge of the twenty-first century, even for workers without that phrase in their title or job description. Master these 4 skills to excel.

Creating behavior change requires three learning and development components that drive lasting impact. Read this article to learn more.

Leaders have an opportunity to facilitate smooth sailing on projects. Learn how keeping open lines of communication, inspiring enthusiasm, and cultivating an agile approach contribute to success.

Want to be smart about your L&D program budget? Align your learning outcomes with broader business goals for ultimate success. Learn more in this article.

When HR leaders invest in application-driven learning and development solutions, they provide ongoing learning opportunities that lead to lasting impact for their organization.

You’re in a unique position to solve problems your people can’t solve on their own and to obtain resources they don’t have access to.

Leaders can support their project teams by taking time to build frameworks for collaboration and cultivating a healthy team culture built on trust and clear communication.

How can you determine if you should change how you work, or if you should look for something different? Ask yourself these questions:

When projects are tied to business value, grounded in effective collaboration, and driven by healthy processes, leaders can help their teams achieve their goals.

Change is an ever-present part of running an organization. Today, rapid changes in technology, market dynamics, staffing, and consumer preferences have accelerated the need for upskilling.