Stephen R. Covey is one of the most impactful communicators I’ve encountered in person. His work on leadership, values, and personal responsibility helped define a generation of personal development thinking, but what stayed with me most was his insistence that leadership begins with character.
I had the opportunity to speak alongside Covey at a church event in 1990, not long after the release of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. What I witnessed wasn’t simply an effective presentation—it was a lesson in presence. He spoke without notes, moved with intention, and connected with the audience in a way that felt grounded rather than performative. His credibility came not from technique, but from belief.
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
That line captures the essence of Covey as a communicator. He listened as much as he spoke. He treated communication not as persuasion, but as respect. The audience felt seen before being led.
Covey’s influence continues to shape how I think about communication—not as a skill to master, but as an extension of who we are. Long before the language of authenticity became common, he demonstrated that clarity, trust, and connection begin with character.
