Paradigm Shifting Books
What if 40 books could completely change how you see the world? Join brothers Stephen H. Covey (business) and Britain Covey (NFL veteran), grandsons of renowned author Stephen R. Covey, as they explore the most essential reads in personal and professional development. With insights straight from the authors, you’ll discover how timeless principles apply everywhere - from the boardroom to the locker room. These are the paradigm shifts that unlock growth, purpose, and lasting performance.
Paradigm Shifting Books
The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything
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In Part 1 of this 2-part episode of Paradigm Shifting Books, hosts Stephen and Britain Covey sit down with their father, Stephen M. R. Covey, to revisit The Speed of Trust nearly 20 years after it was written. Together, they explore the ideas behind the book, what Stephen M. R. Covey has learned after two decades of teaching trust around the world, and why trust remains one of the most important forces in leadership, business, teams, and relationships.
Stephen M. R. Covey shares how the book grew out of his experience during the merger between Covey Leadership Center and FranklinCovey. Even though both companies had good people and strong values, years of competition created low trust inside the newly combined organization. Decisions slowed down, costs increased, people questioned motives, and the team became more internally focused than customer focused. That experience helped him see that trust is not just a social virtue, but a measurable economic force.
The conversation unpacks two major paradigm shifts at the heart of The Speed of Trust: trust is financial, not just social, and trust is learnable. Stephen M. R. Covey explains how leaders and teams can intentionally build trust through credibility, behavior, language, frameworks, and practical action. Stephen and Britain also connect these ideas to sports, football, the Los Angeles Rams, and high-performing teams, showing why trust changes everything and why it can be built on purpose.
What We Discuss
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 00:43 - Revisiting The Speed of Trust with Stephen M. R. Covey
- 08:18 - Why Trust Became Stephen M. R. Covey’s Life Work
- 10:47 - The Big Shift: Trust Is Financial, Not Just Social
- 12:36 - The Second Shift: Trust Is a Learnable Skill
- 21:16 - What Sports Teams Reveal About High and Low Trust
- 22:37 - The Backup Quarterback Test for Trust
- 23:48 - Why Talent Alone Is Never Enough
- 25:28 - The Power of Talent and Trust Together
Notable Quotes
- [11:55] "Trust is financial, not just social. There's a business case for trust, and it's a compelling case." — Stephen M. R. Covey
- [12:55] “Trust is learnable. It’s a learnable skill. It’s a learnable competency.” – Stephen M.R. Covey
- [18:39] "Trust is the one thing that changes everything." — Stephen M. R. Covey
Resources
Paradigm Shifting Books
Book
- The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. R. Covey
Stephen M. R. Covey
Britain Covey
Stephen H. Covey