Trust is more than a soft skill; it’s the one thing that changes everything. This fall, MASSP is launching an innovative, asynchronous book study based on Stephen Covey’s The Speed of Trust. Designed for busy school leaders, this book study, which is led by MASSP Executive Director Wendy Zdeb, provides the flexibility of self-paced learning while combining the power of professional reading, authentic conversations, and reflective practice.
How It Works
Participants will move through the book in three major sections, each aligned to Covey’s framework of the five waves of trust. The experience is fully asynchronous, meaning you can engage on your own schedule, while still connecting with the voices of colleagues across Michigan. Each section is paired with a set of podcast episodes featuring educational leaders who reflect on the book’s themes through the lens of their own leadership. These conversations bring Covey’s ideas off the page and into the realities of Michigan schools.
About the Book
In The Speed of Trust, Covey challenges the common belief that trust is simply a matter of character or goodwill. Instead, he makes the case that trust is a measurable competency and one that accelerates the speed of collaboration, decision-making, and change. The book explores five waves of trust:
- Self-Trust: developing credibility through integrity, intent, capabilities, and results.
- Relationship Trust: demonstrating 13 specific behaviors that build confidence with others.
- Organizational Trust: aligning systems and structures to reinforce trust.
- Market Trust: strengthening reputation with stakeholders and communities.
- Societal Trust: creating value through contribution and transparency.
Each wave provides tools and strategies that leaders can immediately apply in schools to strengthen culture, communication, and performance.
A Unique Podcast Integration
What sets this book study apart is its integration of podcast conversations with current Michigan educational leaders. Each episode features a building leader sharing how the concepts in The Speed of Trust connect to their leadership journey. These candid stories highlight both the challenges and opportunities of building trust in real schools. The result is a learning experience that blends theory with practice and keeps leadership learning rooted in authentic voices from the field.
Take It Further with DLN
To deepen the experience, MASSP’s Digital Learning Network (DLN) has created a companion course series that allows book study participants to engage with reflection prompts, apply learning to their own context, and earn SCECHs. These courses walk participants through each section of the book and its related podcast episodes, encouraging leaders to not only learn but also to translate insights into action steps for their schools.
Start with Section One
The first section of the book, covering the introduction and The One Thing That Changes Everything, is now available. This includes the first four podcast episodes, which you can listen to on Spotify. Registration for the first DLN course (Part 1) of the series is open now, and additional sections of the book and podcasts will drop later this fall.
MASSP invites you to join this statewide book study to reflect, connect, and grow as a leader. Trust is the foundation of effective schools and together, we can build it at speed.
Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts