Opportunities missedDecember 3, 2008 SPEED OF TRUST - I really wanted to like this book more, but ultimately couldn't. COVEY talks about business and personal life as if the principles of trust are interchangeable between the two, and to my liking doesn't pull it off. He makes no mention of the role feelings and intuition play, personally a substantial part in how much trust I place in relationships with people in my private life, and sometimes in business too. While COVEY talks about concepts like judgement, evidence, fact based measurement, results orientated - I'd hate to run my home based around key performance indicators and the profit margin!
Bounded rationality is a recognised phenomenon in business, many decisions, deals and trading is completed successfully using intuition as well, which is often required to complement the amount of information being presented before the opportunity passes. In many non-Western cultures, deals and enduring relationships are made on quite a different normative base than that used in the West. Many of the informal rules in those environments are much more subtle, symbolic, and invisible.
Another opportunity missed by COVEY is the application of Prisoner Dilemma game theory. The Prisoner Dilemma game, where two prisoners choose to either compete or cooperate to minimise negative utility is a well known and widely used concept that powerfully illustrates the divergent consequences of trust/distrust, betrayal, and potential for unconscious relationship punishment. Perception of threats to our survival needs, fear based & predator/prey behaviour play a major role in forming or destroying mutually beneficial relationships. Why COVEY did not refer to this, one can only speculate.
Overall I agree with some of the other reviewers - SPEED OF TRUST could've been shorter - a lot of repetition. The Action Plan and Credibility survey are interesting but don't stand on their own. Opportunities missed, and thankful I purchased SPEED OF TRUST using a 40% discount voucher, otherwise it's overpriced. And also - over recommended - the first 11 pages are endorsements - it's excessive, as if somehow the author doesn't trust in his own marketing ability - ironic that! Recommendation - if you can source it at your local library or borrow it from someone else who has it, save your cash.
Should be common sense but people still lieDecember 1, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
My title is actually all I need to say, but will add this. All the money in the world cannot buy you a good name, which people trust. Most of the BS going on today in the finacial and mortgage sectors could not have happened if people understood trust.
I bought this in the audio book format because I wanted to understand trust. Not that I lie, but I wanted to understand all the damage that happens when people, especially in business, lie. Trust has to be earned, and, when broken, it take a long time to be earned.
The author takes you through many practical examples on how to build trust in our business and personal lives. I have a former colleague who is a pathological liar. I tried explaining to him how much easier life is when people trust you. It's also less expensive... no extra money or time wasted on rebuilding. But some people will always lie and/or other have the belief that business or individuals will lie to them. Perhaps if more of us read this, we can break that chain.
This book is rewarding, even though we should know about trust already. It also motivated me to look at other works in this area, specifically on ethics.
Excellent book!November 11, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is excellent. As a fan of Steven Covey, this book by Steven Covey's son is one of the best self-help/business books I've ever read. It is worth every penny - even if you can't change the face of your organization, you start by learning to trust yourself. That alone, is the reason to invest in this book. Check out his website as well for free resources.
The principle of TrustOctober 30, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Covey writes gracefully of the most needed principle in regards to managing life and business. He reminds all readers that success is hinged to the seamless practice of living inside the paradigm of trust.
A must read for allOctober 28, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is bye far one of the best written books I have read. I am presently on my second reading so that I may use it in the training of my sales staff.
