Principle Centered Leadership Review

Principle-Centered Leadership Book Review

김태휘

Introduction

Principle Centered Leadership by Stephen R. Covey shows us a proper way to become a true leader emphasizing the four main dimensions: Security, Guidance, Wisdom, and Power; and four main principles: Trustworthiness, Trust, Empowerment, and Alignment. In our case, when things goes wrong whether in our daily life or at work people tend to rely on quick-fix plans, other strategies, and techniques for improving and altering the environment. But in “Principle Centered Leadership” Stephen approach in a different way. He claims that, “To solve the problem, you need to alter not the external circumstances but your perspective”. Covey effectively introduces a new management paradigm that could

The four business paradigms are scientific management paradigm, human relationship paradigm, human resources paradigm and principle centered paradigm. First, in scientific management paradigm it assumes human nature as “economic man” which means man gets motivated to work only for the pursuit of money because they believe money equals stability and happiness. Secondly, in human relationship paradigm they assume they are “socioeconomic man”. These socioeconomic managers are like a benevolent dictator where they become laissez faire leader, gentle and generous just like a father trying to give his child everything he can but, when people disobey they would change without any hesitation and say, “I have done everything I can do for them but, look at what they are doing to me right now.” Third type of paradigm is human resource paradigm. In this paradigm managers work based on the effectiveness. People at this stage begin to take advantage of their potential, creativity, and imagination based on their broad understanding of human nature. To achieve member’s goal at work, human relationship-based managers work hard to construct an environment where they can display their talent but they lack concept of spiritual beings. Lastly, principle centered leadership is a paradigm with human relationship-based managers with concept of spiritual beings. In this paradigm, leaders ultimately seek for a feeling that they are working but not efforts to no