By Jennifer Davis
Students have the choice to be great leaders Stephen R. Covey told students Monday night, Jan. 23, 2006.
'You represent Israel,' Covey said. 'The role of Israel is leadership. Eventually Israel will become the rulers of God''s kingdom on this side of the veil, and eventually on the other side of the veil. That''s who you are.'
Covey, speaking before an audience that filled both chairs and aisles in the JSB Auditorium, is well known for his empowering ideas focusing on leadership as a choice and not just an attribute.
Covey started his speech by reminding students of who they are - just one generation away from God. Knowing who one is gives a sense of meaning and purpose Covey said. If one stays true to beliefs, a peace of conscience is developed, and that is where courage comes from.
'This kind of courage, if you maintain it over time, leads you to become a powerful source - a leader,' Covey said.
Leadership does not have to mean huge changes he said. Just as a huge ship can be changed in its direction by a small rudder called a trim tab people can make huge differences in their lives by small changes.
'The secret to the big is the small,' Covey said. 'It is identifying a need and doing something about it. Each and every day you are faced with moments of choice, moments where you can choose to be a trim tab.'
The secret to becoming a trim tab is to have a mission statement, he said. To visualize consistently the end in mind will deteriorate the social software, or concern of what other people think. A family statement is also important for those who have a family or who are preparing to have a family.
There are two paths that can be taken. Covey said one is the path that leads to reaching full potential and the other is the path that leads to mediocrity. Those who reach their full potential are those who choose to.
Reaching full potential does not depend on circumstance, he said. Those who choose not to reach full potential because they feel victimized are those who are products of the past. It is possible for humans to overcome the past because of who they are - sons and daughters of God.
'I don''t know of anything more rewarding than to realize we can become a transition figure, or cycle breaker, in our own family,' he said.
Personal inspiration developed by feasting on the words of Christ on a daily basis helps develop the conscience, Covey said. One becomes more receptive to the Holy Ghost and no longer becomes a figure of the past or of culture.
Listening is also a part of leadership. In school, students study reading, writing and speaking but not listening, even though it is 40 percent of communication, he said. Trying to see other people''s points of view is essential in listening.
'We do not see the world as the world is,' he said. 'We see the world as we are.'