Book: The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. R. Covey

Why We Love It: This book reframes trust as a measurable leadership capability that directly impacts performance in banks and credit unions. Stephen M. R. Covey explains how trust is not a soft skill but a critical driver of speed, efficiency, and service quality. When trust is high, communication is clearer, decisions are made faster, and teams operate with confidence. When trust is low, even simple processes become slow, cautious, and transactional. The book provides practical behaviors leaders can use to build credibility, strengthen relationships, and create high trust cultures that improve both employee engagement and member experience. For financial institutions, it reinforces that trust is the foundation of every customer and member interaction and every internal decision.

Takeaway Tip: Select one leadership moment this week such as coaching a team member, handling a customer/member concern, or setting expectations with your team and focus intentionally on building trust. Ask yourself what action will increase clarity, consistency, and follow through in that moment and use that as your guide for how you respond.