The Speed of Trust

The Speed of Trust – Stephen M. R. Covey

Trust is often seen as a soft, intangible quality. Stephen M. R. Covey argues that it is in fact one of the most powerful and measurable forces in business and in life.

In The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything, Covey, a former CEO of the Covey Leadership Center and son of Stephen R. Covey, shows that when trust is high, things move faster and costs go down, and when trust is low, everything slows down and becomes more expensive. He calls this the economics of trust, and illustrates it with examples from organizations, relationships and everyday interactions.

Covey describes five waves of trust: self trust, relationship trust, organizational trust, market trust and societal trust. He explains that trust is built on credibility, which in turn depends on four cores: integrity, intent, capabilities and results. He then outlines thirteen behaviors of high-trust people and leaders, such as talking straight, demonstrating respect, creating transparency, righting wrongs, keeping commitments and extending trust to others.

Practical and full of real-world stories, the book offers tools for assessing and improving trust in teams, companies and personal relationships, and for restoring trust when it has been broken.

Clear and compelling, The Speed of Trust is an essential read for leaders, managers, entrepreneurs and anyone who wants to build stronger relationships and more effective organizations.