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55 Stephen Covey Quotes on Leadership (7 HABITS)

Top 11 Most Famous Stephen Covey Quotes on Leadership, Change, and Trust

“I don’t define leadership as becoming the CEO. A CEO is no more likely to be a leader than anyone else. I am talking about leading your own life, being a leader among your friends, being a leader in your own family.”

Stephen Covey
Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.Pin
Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.
There are three constants in life – change, choice and principles.Pin
There are three constants in life – change, choice and principles.
Live out of your imagination, not your history.Pin
Live out of your imagination, not your history.
Are leaders born or made? This is a false dichotomy – leaders are neither born nor made. Leaders choose to be leaders.Pin
Are leaders born or made? This is a false dichotomy – leaders are neither born nor made. Leaders choose to be leaders.
Leadership is the highest of the arts, simply because it enables all the other arts and professions to work.Pin
Leadership is the highest of the arts, simply because it enables all the other arts and professions to work.
Make time for planning; Wars are won in the general’s tent.Pin
Make time for planning; Wars are won in the general’s tent.
Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all relationships.Pin
Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.
To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.Pin
To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.
Seek first to understand, and then to be understood.Pin
Seek first to understand, and then to be understood.
Leadership is a choice that lies in the space between stimulus and response.Pin
Leadership is a choice that lies in the space between stimulus and response.

44 Inspirational Stephen Covey Quotes to Help You Sharpen Your Saw

“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage – pleasantly, smiling, nonapologetically – to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside.”

Stephen Covey
Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.Pin
Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.
We see the world, not as it is, but as we are - or, as we are conditioned to see it.Pin
We see the world, not as it is, but as we are – or, as we are conditioned to see it.
The way we see the 'problem' is the problem.Pin
The way we see the ‘problem’ is the problem.
Effective people are not problem-minded; they’re opportunity-minded. They feed opportunities and starve problems.Pin
Effective people are not problem-minded; they’re opportunity-minded. They feed opportunities and starve problems.
It's not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us.Pin
It’s not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us.
Two people can see the same thing, disagree, and yet both be right. It's not logical; it's psychological.Pin
Two people can see the same thing, disagree, and yet both be right. It’s not logical; it’s psychological.
But until a person can say deeply and honestly, I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday, that person cannot say, I choose otherwise.Pin
But until a person can say deeply and honestly, “I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday”, that person cannot say, “I choose otherwise”.
Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.Pin
Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.

“Every human being has four endowments – self-awareness, conscience, independent will, and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom: The power to choose, to respond, to change.”

Stephen Covey
Each of us guards a gate of change that can be opened only from the inside.Pin
Each of us guards a gate of change that can be opened only from the inside.
I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.Pin
I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.
The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.Pin
The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.
Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.Pin
Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.
The key to life is not accumulation. It’s contribution.Pin
The key to life is not accumulation. It’s contribution.

“Deep within each of us is an inner longing to live a life of greatness and contribution – to really matter, to really make a difference. We can consciously decide to leave behind a life of mediocrity and to life a life of greatness – at home, at work, and in the community.”

Stephen Covey
Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.Pin
Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.
What you do has far greater impact than what you say.Pin
What you do has far greater impact than what you say.
You can’t change the fruit without changing the root.Pin
You can’t change the fruit without changing the root.
Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.Pin
Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.
If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to keep getting what we’re getting.Pin
If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to keep getting what we’re getting.
When the trust account is high, communication is easy, instant, and effective.Pin
When the trust account is high, communication is easy, instant, and effective.
Strength lies in differences not in similarities.Pin
Strength lies in differences not in similarities.
Highly proactive people don’t blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.Pin
Highly proactive people don’t blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.
Treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers.Pin
Treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers.
How you treat the one reveals how you regard the many, because everyone is ultimately a one.Pin
How you treat the one reveals how you regard the many, because everyone is ultimately a one.
Little kindness and courtesies are so important.Pin
Little kindness and courtesies are so important.
Most arguments are not really disagreements but are rather little ego battles and misunderstandings.Pin
Most arguments are not really disagreements but are rather little ego battles and misunderstandings.
Start small, make a promise and keep it. Then, make larger promises and keep them.Pin
Start small, make a promise and keep it. Then, make larger promises and keep them.
We are free to choose our actions... but we are not free to choose the consequences of these actions.Pin
We are free to choose our actions… but we are not free to choose the consequences of these actions.
If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.Pin
If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control – myself.
Don't argue for other people's weaknesses. Don't argue for your own. When you make a mistake, admit it, correct it, and learn from it - immediately.Pin
Don’t argue for other people’s weaknesses. Don’t argue for your own. When you make a mistake, admit it, correct it, and learn from it – immediately.
Be a light not a judge. Be a model not a choice. Be part of the solution not part of the problem.Pin
Be a light not a judge. Be a model not a choice. Be part of the solution not part of the problem.
Primary greatness is on the inside. It's about character.Pin
Primary greatness is on the inside. It’s about character.
Our character is basically a composite of our habits because they are consistent. Often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.Pin
Our character is basically a composite of our habits because they are consistent. Often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.
The only thing that endures over time is the Law of the Farm. You must prepare the ground, plant the seed, cultivate, and water it if you expect to reap the harvest.Pin
The only thing that endures over time is the Law of the Farm. You must prepare the ground, plant the seed, cultivate, and water it if you expect to reap the harvest.
To learn and not to do is really not to learn. To know and not to do is really not to know.Pin
To learn and not to do is really not to learn. To know and not to do is really not to know.
Admission of ignorance is often the first step in our education.Pin
Admission of ignorance is often the first step in our education.
Education the heart is the critical complement to educating the mind.Pin
Education the heart is the critical complement to educating the mind.
Our most important financial asset is our own capacity to earn.Pin
Our most important financial asset is our own capacity to earn.
Courage is not the absence of fear but the awareness that something else is more important.Pin
Courage is not the absence of fear but the awareness that something else is more important.
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.Pin
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
Most meetings are a waste of time, because they are so ill-prepared and there’s so little opportunity for true synergy in producing better results.Pin
Most meetings are a waste of time, because they are so ill-prepared and there’s so little opportunity for true synergy in producing better results.
Once you have a clear picture of your priorities that is values, goals, and high leverage activities, organize your life around them.Pin
Once you have a clear picture of your priorities that is values, goals, and high leverage activities, organize your life around them.
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Stephen R. Covey Short Biography

Born on 24 October 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, Stephen Richards Covey was a New York Times Best-Selling author and businessman. He was awarded the 25 most influential Americans award by Times in 1996. (source)

He graduated from the University of Utah in 1952 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Covey went on to earn his MBA at Harvard Business School in 1957.

In 1970 he penned his first book; Spiritual Roots of Human Relations, and earned his doctorate in religious education six years later from Brigham Young University, in Utah.

Covey started his management consulting business in 1983, it is currently known as Franklin Covey Co.

Six years later, in 1989, Covey published The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, a business and self-help book that influences powerful lessons in personal change. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is still one of the best-selling non-fiction business books of all time.

Covey was awarded the International Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1994 (source) and became a professor of the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University in 2010.

Further Reading:

Here are the best Stephen R. Covey quotes so you can gain inspiration and tips to help you grow your business ventures. 

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Stephen Covey Quotes on Leadership (7 HABITS) - Gracious QuotesPin
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