Principle Centered Leadership

Principle Centered Leadership is a leadership theory developed by Steven Covey, and based upon the premise of servant leadership.  By helping ourselves to look at the world based on principles, we can empower others by aiding them to realize their potential.  In education this is important because if I have focus and confidence in leadership abilities, I can empower others to realize their potential so that the organization as a whole will raise.  This theory is explained in detail by Covey in his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (1989).  Covey describes the leadership style as:

If you focus on principles, you empower everyone who understands those principles to act without constant monitoring, evaluating, correcting, or controlling.

8 Characteristics of Principle Centered Leadership

• Continually Learning - Learn from their experiences
• Service Oriented - Life is a mission
• Positive Energy - Cheerful and optimistic
• Believe in others - See the potential in others and help to achieve
• Lead Balanced Lives - Stay current with social events
• See Life as an Adventure - Savor life
• Synergistic - Creative change agents
• Exercise Self-Renewal - Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual

Seven Directives

• Be Proactive
• Begin with the End in Mind
• Put First Things First
• Think Win-Win
• Seek First to Understand and then to be Understood
• Synergies
• Sharpen the Saw

Principle Centered Leaders promote:

• Shared vision
• Creativity
• Interdependency
• Continued learning
• Emotional stability
• Servant leadership
• Self-Supervision

Steven Covey video, Do the Big Rocks First

Works Cited

Covey, S. (2004). Seven Habit of Highly Effective People. New York: Free Press.

fawntb. (2010, July 23). Principle Centered Leadership. Retrieved May 19, 2011, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpqYekcr3x8

Marzano, R. J. (2005). School Leadership that Works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.