Reviews

Principle-Centered Leadership by Stephen R. Covey

amymcn's review against another edition

Abandoned because I didn’t like the audio version. I’ll try the print.

neilrcoulter's review against another edition

2.0

I find it interesting how famous the name Stephen Covey is in leadership literature--because when I read his books, I find his writing drier than a caucus-race, sometimes trite (I mean, he has the "Give a man a fish" quote on the cover of the book!), and often repetitive. That was certainly the case with Principle-Centered Leadership, which has been on my shelf for several years and which I chose to read in small 1-to-3-chapter-a-day chunks over the past month or so. If you're tired of corporate-speak words like "synergy" or skeptical of the value of mission statements and vision statements, this is not your book. It's a shame, because there is some really good content throughout the book, but I didn't find it an easy task to read every chapter. I admit that by the second half of the book I was skimming, and by the final several chapters (including the final chapter which, out of nowhere, is about schools and education), I was barely reading.

Which chapter would I recommend, if you only want to read one? Chapter 11, "Thirty Methods of Influence" (pp. 119-129), is an excellent summary of many lessons I've learned in my years of leadership. This chapter would be good reading at the beginning of someone's time in leadership, and regularly throughout that time.

For the rest of the book, however, it's sufficient to read any two other chapters anywhere in the book and you'll catch the main points. But since there will never be a lack of new books about leadership, and there are surely many more recent books that cover Covey's main points, I recommend that it's time to let Principle-Centered Leadership (the book, not the concept!) rest in peace.

bisthesu's review against another edition

1.0

Weak effort. Not cohesive, rehash of common leadership principles. Big disappointment. I loved 7 Habits and Spiritual Roots of Human Development. This one fell far short of the bar.

stephenvhenn's review against another edition

2.0

Having taken two masters level courses on organizational leadership and change, I felt that Stephen R. Covey's text was repetitive and self explanatory after the first few chapters. While this text may be a good introduction text to organizational leadership and change, for the advanced reader it may be too basic of a read.

matt_gwynn's review against another edition

5.0

I would give this book six stars if I could! I say that because I gave The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People five - and I liked this one even more. I believe everyone is a leader (whether they know it or not). As a result, I believe everyone should read this book. After reading Mr. Covey's work, I believe in principled leadership wholeheartedly.

mlannie's review against another edition

informative inspiring slow-paced

4.0