Stephen Covey Quotes Leadership

[Maren Ruminski]

Iam very grateful for this opportunity to be with you today. It is truly an honor. And I mean that. We love President and Sister Worthen and sustain them completely. Mainly, it is a blessing to be with my sweet wife, Yvonne. I just feel more at ease when we are together.

The person at the door told me that there was some overflow and that the man could just go in with me. I went back and gave him the good news. When we entered the auditorium, we saw Warren Bennis way up on the stage talking to some people.

It is easy for leaders to get caught up in self, details, administration, challenges, or even vision, but, in the end, leadership is about serving, teaching, and encouraging and truly caring for individuals with kindness. It is not about taking charge or being in charge but blessing those who are in your charge.

Make no mistake about it, your loving and inspired leadership is needed in the Church and in the world as we prepare for the glorious Second Coming of the Savior. One of my favorite quotes comes from President Howard W. Hunter:

The need for leadership . . . will increase dramatically. What is needed is not just young people of training and skill, but rather we will need a generation of great faith, those who have learned discipline and discipleship. What will be needed is a generation who understand not only how to organize a ward but also how to build faith, how to sustain the weak and faltering, and how to defend the truth. What is needed is a generation whose glory comes from their capacity to comprehend light and truth, who can with that light and truth then enlarge their capacity to love and to serve.1

In all of my reading, I have never found better teachings on leadership than those from the Savior Himself. I am fascinated by the first day of His visit to the Americas described in chapters 11 to 18 in 3 Nephi. I have loved studying this topic in preparation for this devotional. It has blessed me, and I hope that it blesses you too. I pray that the Holy Ghost will be with us to help us learn to lead like the Savior in all that we do.

The heart of this talk is that Jesus Christ truly is the Master Leader, and in that single day with the Nephites, He taught all that anyone would need to know about how to be a great leader in any situation. The lessons operate on all levels: in your family, in church, in the workplace, or on teams or among friends. Great joy is experienced in helping and lifting others and seeing them progress and find purpose. That is leadership.

Effective teaching is the very essence of leadership in the Church. Eternal life will come only as men and women are taught with such effectiveness that they change and discipline their lives. They cannot be coerced into righteousness or into heaven. They must be led, and that means teaching.8

Christ did not worry about repetitious teachings and sermons. Much of what is captured in chapters 12, 13, and 14 of 3 Nephi can be compared to what the Savior taught during His mortal ministry. For example, consider chapter 11 of 3 Nephi. Jesus teaches of baptism and mentions it thirteen times in twenty verses. And as He speaks of the doctrine of Christ, He mentions it nine times in those very same verses.9 Think of how this repetitious teaching of the doctrine of Christ cements in the mind of the learner the importance of baptism.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.20

1. Testify. After the Father testified of Him, Jesus Christ testified of the Father and of His own role as Savior.21 Church leaders always take every opportunity to testify of the Savior in both word and deed. They never miss an opportunity to testify of the hope found in Christ and through His infinite Atonement.

2. Minister to the one. As mentioned earlier, there were four times on that first day that the Lord ministered to individuals one by one.22 The doctrine of Christ exists to save all of covenant Israel collectively, but it starts individually, with the one.

4. Pray. The Savior prayed for the people, and this brought joy.24 Praying for others and letting them know that you are praying for them brings joy, comfort, and increased love. Remember this, please, in every situation, but particularly in your families.

5. Leave! Leaders know when to leave to allow their people to absorb what they have learned and to apply it.25 It is a manifestation of the confidence that leaders have in their people if they can avoid micromanaging and allow others to grow. It is a great blessing to turn your people to the Lord and then leave and rejoice in their success.

He taught the importance of priesthood ordinances and sacred covenants. Right away He taught of priesthood authority, baptism, the sacrament, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. He knew how important it was that the people yoke themselves to Him through making and keeping sacred covenants so they could have the power of godliness in their lives. And it is no different for us today.

I truly believe that He taught then on that beautiful day what He would teach us today. Think about President Russell M. Nelson. Where has his focus been? What has he taught? Well, from day one he has spoken about keeping the end in mind through entering and staying on the covenant path by making and keeping sacred covenants. He has spoken consistently of gathering Israel,31 ministering in a higher and holier way,32 seeking pure doctrine,33 increasing unity,34 developing a do-and-be-better discipleship,35 and letting God prevail in our lives.36 And, most recently, he has spoken about finding rest in the Lord.37

Jesus Christ is the Great Leader. He is the Master Teacher. His loving example of leading and teaching transcends more than just an ecclesiastical application. His leadership lessons will help you be a better spouse, parent, coach, supervisor, friend, employee, teammate, financial planner, missionary, neurosurgeon, or any other role that gives you the opportunity to interact with and lift others. Follow Him. Lead like He leads. Bless as He blesses. Lift as He lifts. Love as He loves.

I testify of Him. I testify that He lives. He is our Great Master and Teacher. The Great Leader and Follower. The Way. Jesus Christ, our Savior. As we follow Him, He will endow us with power, and we will lead in light and love. He lives, and I express my love for Him as I express my deep love and admiration for each one of you. And I do so in His holy name, Jesus Christ, amen.

In Trust and Inspire, Stephen M. R. Covey asserts that the shift from industrial-era to modern-day work necessitates a leadership evolution. He explains how and why you should step up from traditional to inspirational leadership to succeed in all areas of your organization and life.

Here, Covey quotes Eleanor Roosevelt. He explains that one commitment inspirational leaders uphold is to extend faith to people. Extending faith means not only seeing that everyone has a higher potential, but also believing that they have the ability to achieve it. Extending faith also requires leaders to give employees autonomy rather than micromanaging.

Leading by example is one of the key characteristics of every great leader. By demonstrating the core values they want their members to abide by in their behaviour, great leaders inspire trust and commitment in their followers.

By incorporating integrity and accountability into your leadership model, you can create a safe and trusting environment where people know what to expect from you and can rely on you.

Most great leaders have a growth mindset. They believe that practice makes perfect. This mindset allows them to risk their personal success and push those around them towards perfection. This process of trust and delegation emphasises a sense of belonging among their team members, which in turn motivates them to work harder and drive better results.

Just like a teacher demonstrating their vision to their students, an inspirational leader tries to convey their vision and aspirations for their team to their followers. The key point here is demonstrating and conveying the message rather than outright talking about it. A mediocre teacher tells their students what they should do to fulfil their goals for the class, while a good teacher explains their expectations through their behaviour.

Finally, leadership is the art of confidence. Confidence helps leaders gain all the characteristics mentioned above. A confident leader has integrity and holds themselves accountable for their actions. By enabling and empowering their followers and trusting their abilities and insights, they inspire others to dream. Confident leaders also lead people towards their vision and strategize to get their aim fulfilled.

Confidence is one of those factors that builds trust in a working environment. If obstacles arise, a confident leader adjusts their strategy and guides their followers through changes and challenges with poise. The greatest leaders mobilise their team members for resilience and motivation. They are not afraid to challenge themselves and take risks, which makes them an excellent leader others can rely on.

Great leaders gain strength from the improvement of those who follow them. They inspire people by addressing the needs shaped by their values, concerns, emotions, and beliefs. Excellent, positive leaders cultivate an amazing work culture through their actions and words. They have integrity, are responsible, and take risks to push those around them to their full potential.

Good leaders instill their work vision, values, ideologies, and beliefs in their followers and debunk leadership myths that prevent the growth of those around them. Their confidence and self-esteem help them provide better guidance for their followers.

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