“Speed of Trust” by Stephen M. R. Covey — One Minute Book Review

“Nothing is as fast as the speed of trust” I can’t stop thinking about this truism. In a masterfully written book by Stephen M. R. Covey, we find the research behind why companies can produce products fast, how families can make decisions faster, and how relationships can work better when there is trust. Trust is the grease we need to move things along. But as Jack Welch said, “trust can’t always be defined, but rather it’s a feeling.”

This book is built around the premise that when trust increases, costs decrease, and speed increases. This short but powerful formula is true.

Think about how much money has been spent since 9/11 at the airport to keep travelers safe. Money has been spent to keep us safe, but also we have paid without time.

Covey writes about the waves of trust needed in his book, and there are five: self-trust, relationship trust, organizational trust, market trust, and, finally, societal trust.

While it is easy to talk about where trust is and where it is not, it is also important to consider who trusts us. Our first trust, as Covey writes about in the waves of trust, is the trust we have built without self. What do we promise to do for own selves that we either keep or don’t? Am I keeping my own promises to myself? If not, then why not? And if not, what can I start with today to change this behavior?

One minute book review is a quick overview of a book read by, well, me — at least for now. New reviews will be posted regularly. If you want to learn how to read more, consider a coaching package.