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“Smart Trust is without doubt one of the most powerful and seminal books of our age” (Warren Bennis).
After illustrating the global relevance of trust with his book The Speed of Trust by selling more than one million copies in twenty-two languages, Stephen M. R. Covey again illuminates the hidden power of trust to change lives and impact organizations in Smart Trust. In a compelling and readable style, he and long-time business partner Greg Link share enlightening principles and anecdotes of people and organizations that are not only achieving unprecedented prosperity from high-trust relationships and cultures but—even more inspiring—also attaining elevated levels of energy and joy.
The sustainable success these leaders and enterprises are exhibiting is paradoxically being produced in what has proved to be the lowest trust climate in years, if not decades. Smart Trust shows what they are doing and the five actions they are commonly taking to prosper, against the odds, in the same circumstances causing so many others to fail.
With penetrating insights illuminated by their unique access to many of the world’s most successful leaders and organizations, the authors lay out a breakthrough process and skill set in a practical and actionable formula that makes trust a performance multiplier for leaders, teams, organizations, and even countries. They show why trust is fast becoming the most consequential life and leadership skill of our time—a career-critical competency required to navigate and compete in this perilous twenty-first-century interdependent, global economy. Covey and Link teach how to cut through traditional either/or thinking to extend “Smart Trust,” enabling you to exercise sound judgment in a low-trust world by minimizing risk and maximizing possibilities.
Smart Trust has met the strict scrutiny of business leaders around the globe and is validated by research from multiple sources that confirms that high-trust organizations outperform low-trust organizations by nearly three times. Smart Trust shares findings that verify how enduring success, vitality, and happiness are directly related to the level of trust in our relationships—whether in our professional or personal lives.
Find out why trusted people are more likely to get hired or promoted, get the best projects and bigger budgets, and are last to be laid off. This sea-changing book will forever shift your perspective as it reveals and validates, once and for all, the transformational power of trust. Reading Smart Trust will increase your probability of thriving in this increasingly unpredictable marketplace. The more unpredictable it becomes, the more your (and your organization’s) sound judgment and ability to trust in this low-trust world will give you a tremendous competitive advantage—and the capacity to navigate the uncertainty low trust creates.
Rodger_Dean_Duncan
Posted January 10, 2012
This book is both amazing and important. It's amazing because it thoughtfully analyzes the most critical issue of our time - trust - and does so in a way that's easily digested and understood. It's important because exercising the practices it espouses can produce profoundly positive outcomes.
Trust is the glue that holds together nations, organizations, families, and every good relationship on earth. Most of us already know that. What many people haven't yet discovered is the principle-centered framework that enables "smart trust" - balancing risk with opportunity, competence with character.
This powerful book by Stephen M.R. Covey and Greg Link gets to the heart of what can make trust work to everyone's advantage. They show how to cut through the traditional trust or distrust dichotomy. Covey and Link give us a handy set of trust lenses through which we can realistically envision a whole new world of possibility in our current and potential relationships.
As I coach leaders in a wide range of organizations, I'm frequently asked "Should I lead with my head or with my heart?" My answer is always the same: "Yes. Both." The most effective leaders - corporate executives, politicians, educators, clergy, parents, etc. - resist the head or heart quandary. They balance caution with optimism, analysis with empathy. They are neither gullible nor overly rigid. They exercise Smart Trust.
Covey and Link elaborate on five specific actions that produce Smart Trust:
1. Choose to Believe in Trust
2. Start With Self
3. Declare Your Intent ... and Assume Positive Intent in Others
4. Do What You Say You're Going to Do
5. Lead Out in Extending Trust to Others
The authors don't merely throw out platitudes. They provide plenty of compelling evidence in the form of case studies from the real world. They demonstrate that Smart Trust is not only achievable, it's - well, it's Smart.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 17, 2012
Bought this book thinking that I can use it on my note app on the iPad, Android device, or IMac. They will not play on any of my devices so there is no reason for me to buy another one...
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The Maghribi traders had the right idea: To capitalize on lucrative business opportunities amid the chaotic political and social climate of the Middle East in the 10th century, these merchants formed an economic system that spanned miles, cultures, and governments – all based on handshakes. Leadership experts Stephen M.R. Covey and Greg Link (working with writer Rebecca Merrill) offer the story of the Maghribis to set the stage for their innovative “Smart Trust” strategy, which helps people create, maintain and leverage high-trust relationships and business environments in today’s “low-trust world.” They explore why people trust and why they don’t, why some people adopt the wrong kinds of trust, and how trust shapes your perceptions. In this well-researched, logically organized presentation, the authors draw from their experiences and those of numerous firms and individuals to show how trust can raise your “prosperity, energy and joy.” getAbstract believes this inspiring work could motivate you to take “the lead in extending trust” to enhance your professional and personal relationships – and you can trust us on that.
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Overview
“Smart Trust is without doubt one of the most powerful and seminal books of our age” (Warren Bennis).
After illustrating the global relevance of trust with his book The Speed of Trust by selling more than one million copies in twenty-two languages, Stephen M. R. Covey again illuminates the hidden power of trust to change lives and impact organizations in Smart Trust. In a compelling and readable style, he and long-time business partner Greg Link share enlightening principles and...