You can only serve God as you serve other people, and you don’t feel the pulse of people unless you also feel the pulse of God, because you know that they are divine brothers and sisters to you.

Stephen R. Covey

Feel the Pulse of God

Theme: Compassion

In an organisational context, “sharpening the saw” means that the top-people have to be out in the field, and they have to get to know the people they affect and know their families and their situations. This is not a waste of time, it is renewal; if you don’t feel the pulse of people, you can’t serve them and you can’t feel the pulse of God. You can only serve God as you serve other people, and you don’t feel the pulse of people unless you also feel the pulse of God, because you know that they are divine brothers and sisters to you.

Stephen R. Covey

Stephen R. Covey was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 24, 1932, and he passed away on July 16, 2012. He was more than an educator and author; he was also a family man deeply rooted in his faith. Covey was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His belief in God and universal principles significantly influenced his teachings and writings. Married to Sandra Merrill Covey for over 50 years, the couple had nine children. Covey's family life and faith were central to his understanding of leadership and personal effectiveness, themes he explored in books like "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families."

Covey was a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University at the time of his death. But he was best known for his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." This book was part of a broader collection of works that also includes titles like "First Things First," "Principle-Centered Leadership," and "The 8th Habit." These books weren't just about being effective in business; they were about how to live a balanced, meaningful life.

Stephen R. Covey left a lasting impression through his teachings and writings, but perhaps his most enduring legacy is the way he lived his life. He emphasized the importance of character, integrity, and ethical leadership. These were not just principles he talked about; they were principles he lived by. His lessons continue to influence people all over the world, encouraging them to lead lives that are not only effective but also grounded in good values.

(1932- 2012) Civil Religion, Civil Society

Covey, Stephen R. “Interview with Stephen R. Covey.” Globaldharma.org, The Global Dharma Center (GDC), 27 June 2006, bit.ly/2Kt9sZv. [Spiritual-Based Leadership Research Programme].

Stephen R. Covey

Theme: Compassion

About This Stephen R. Covey Quotation [Commentary]

Stephen R. Covey’s quotation beautifully frames the symbiotic relationship between serving God and serving others, suggesting that true service is grounded in a recognition of our shared divinity. Just as we can only feel the pulse of people by feeling the pulse of God, it implies that we can truly touch another’s heart only when we are in touch with our divine nature. Service, then, becomes an act of expressing our higher selves, while simultaneously acknowledging the inherent worth and divine nature in those we serve.

Covey’s mention of empowerment and its tie to cultural moral authority offers a deeper understanding of this concept. Empowerment is not just about visions and missions; it is about structuring policies and processes that enable individuals in an organization to align their daily practices with strategic goals. The connection with service arises here, in the act of empowering others, we extend our service beyond the personal level. By creating systems that empower, we serve both people and God, recognizing their intertwined divinity.

The concept of “sharpening the saw,” one of Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, underscores the necessity for continuous self-improvement or self-renewal. If we are to effectively serve others and God, we must not neglect self-care and personal growth, as it enables us to better feel the pulse of others and of God. So, empowerment, service, and personal renewal all intertwine to form a cycle of ongoing growth, service, and spiritual connection. The takeaway from Covey’s perspective is clear: to serve others is to serve God, and in empowering others and renewing ourselves, we deepen this service and bring it full circle.

Stephen Covey, Developing an Organisational Culture (Excerpt)

“Empowerment leads to the unleashing of human potential. Unleashing of human potential leads to cultural moral authority. And cultural moral authority is the key to the sustainability of the organization.
So empowerment is a precondition for cultural moral authority. But empowerment requires far more than visions and missions—it requires the establishment of structures, or systems, of policies and processes that enable the organization’s members to translate the more strategic goals into their daily practice.
In my book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I called the 7th habit “sharpening the saw”, by which I meant that we must continually renew ourselves physically, socially, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It’s the habit that increases our ability to live the other habits of effectiveness. In an organizational context, sharpening the saw means that the top people have to be out in the field, and they have to get to know the people they affect and know their families and their situations. This is not a waste of time, it is renewal; if you don’t feel the pulse of people, you can’t serve them and you can’t feel the pulse of God. You can only serve God as you serve other people, and you don’t feel the pulse of people unless you also feel the pulse of God, because you know that they are divine brothers and sisters to you.”

—Stephen R. Covey [“Interview with Stephen R. Covey.” The Global Dharma Center (27 June 2006)].

Give Service

“Anonymous service is particularly important. The philosophy that we will find our life when we lose it in service is a true paradox. If our intent is to serve, to bless others, without self-concern, a by-product of our service comes within—a kind of psychological, emotional, and spiritual reward in the form of internal security and peace. Such a reward comes in the second mile…

If our interest is to serve others without self-concern, we are inwardly rewarded with increased internal security and an abundance mentality.”

—Stephen Covey [Principle-Centered Leadership] pp. 141, 160.

Resources

“Interview with Stephen R. Covey.” Globaldharma.org, The Global Dharma Center website

Feel the Pulse of God

Resources

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