Book Report

1
Michael Broussard
TELS 3340
11/22/2014
Book Report (Principled Centered Leadership)
This book report is based on the book Principled Centered

Leadership, written by Stephen Covery. The book is published by his cofounded publishing company, Franklin Covey on Brilliance Audio. Stephen
Covey is known for being a keynote speaker and author of his most popular
book and best seller, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Time
magazine named Covey in the past as one of the most influential Americans
and Forbes Magazine called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
one of the top ten business management books. He is also known as one of
the worlds leading voices on empowerment. Hundreds of corporations have
implemented his innovative techniques on leadership and innovation. In the
following report of Principled Centered Leadership, I will summarize its
contents and relate some of its concepts to the textbook Leadership and
Michael Broussard
0951900
Supervision. The main idea of the book is that leadership should be directed
by principles. Covey defines four levels of leadership and key principles that
should be surveyed by great leaders and students.
Covey begins his book in Chapter one defining eight traits of principle
centered people. These traits coincide with parts of our discussion of traits of
successful leaders in Chapter nine. Outlined are the following: They are
continually learning, as discussed influencing others require a level of
intelligence and an effective leader has a high degree of relevant
knowledge(Robbin,230). They are service oriented people, life is a mission
for them and not a career. Also they radiate positive energy daily .They have
faith in other people and want to help growth. This was discussed in our
textbook that leaders have a clear desire to influence others and builds
trusting relationships with those they influence (Robbins, 230). They lead
balanced lives and the see life as adventurous. Also they are synergistic and
exercise self-renewal to better themselves. Coveys messages relates to
leadership and supervision in our textbook Supervision Today, throughout
in one aspect or another. These characteristics and traits discussed in
chapter one are in close correlation with the seven unique human
endowments discussed in chapter two, which are for useful purposes divided
into two categories: primary and secondary endowments accompanied in
highly effective people. Chapter three discusses that sometimes our
resolutions will fail without character and social reinforcements. Coveys aim
in Chapter five is to create a paradigm shift in management training. While
Michael Broussard
0951900
a person may make small improvements by developing new skills, quantum

leaps in performance and revolutionary advances in technology require new
maps, new paradigms.(Covey, 911). Covey states that the training design
that matches the paradigm is process, not product oriented. And the
development process is to gather and diagnose data, second to select
priorities, values & objectives. Third to Identify and evaluate alternatives.
Forth plan & decide action steps. Fifth compare results with your original
goals and objectives. Lastly, He states that past habits have a tremendous
pull on how you do things now and makes change difficult. There are three
forces that direct us back to our bad habits such as appetite and passion,
pride and determination. Chapter six, Covey compares the creation of the
developmental process to the creation of the world in the bible book,
Genesis. In the bible, the earth was created in six days. As each day was
important, the arrangement was also significant. Simpler he believes that
there are no short-cuts in the developmental process. Chapters seven and
eight discuss what covey describes as his seven deadly sins wealth without
work ,pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character , business
without ethics, science without humanity , religion without sacrifice and
politics without principle . Moral compassing is needed when managing in of
changing times and is similar to our class discussion of ethics. Acting
ethically can free us of our moral crises. Chapter ten in Supervision Today
, is important to Coveys chapter ten as they work together. It states that
perception problems are often the root of communication barriers. Our
Michael Broussard
0951900
textbook perceives perception as one of the barriers of communication.

Section two of Principled Centered Leadership focuses more so on the
Managerial and organizational development of businesses. Of these
chapters I found some to be interesting, specifically would be Coveys
thoughts on problem solving. From experience Ive seen that involving
people in problem solving helps a lot as they feel meaningful. Change
becomes easier with help. Also peoples concerns feel more justified and
encouraged. This can all increase the drive in the workplace.
Although Principle Centered Leadership seemed to drag on it can be
a noteworthy read for any member of a business or organization looking to
better themselves. It concentrates on individuals and their functions in their
everyday family life work place. After reading and analyzing the many points
in the book, his main message seems to be that one should construct
character from inside and one should be based on ethical principles.
Concentrate on building trust and effective interaction with others which will
allow you to direct yourself and others at the workplace and your household.
Michael Broussard
0951900
Works cited
Covey, S. R. (1992). Principle-centered leadership. New York: Simon &

Schuster.
Robbins, DeCenzo (2013). Supervision Today - Pearson. 7th Ed. Prentice Hall
Michael Broussard
0951900
Michael Broussard
0951900

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1

Book Report (Principled Centered Leadership)

This book report is based on the book Principled Centered

a person may make small improvements by developing new skills, quantum

textbook perceives perception as one of the barriers of communication.

Covey, S. R. (1992). Principle-centered leadership. New York: Simon &

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