The Human Resource

Twentieth-century rules guiding business and workers during the Industrial Age are quite different from the rules guiding knowledge workers in the Information Age. Stephen Covey, author of one of the bestselling business books of the 20th Century, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, presents a roadmap for the 21st century with his new book, The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness.

Following the model of the Industrial Age, writes Covey, "absolutely suppresses the release of human potential. Tapping into the higher reaches of human genius and motivation-what we could call voice-requires a new mind set, a new skill set and new tool set-a new habit."

With its emphasis on the idea of treating each

worker as a whole person-body, mind, heart and

spirit-the book might sound more like one of the early works of '70s self-help guru Wayne Dyer rather than the writings of America's favorite productivity wiz. But Covey's point is clear and valid: The only sustainable competitive resource for a company is its human resource. Lead it to greatness or lose it to mediocrity.

Covey's book is right on time. As bestselling author and management consultant Peter Drucker has pointed out, business is shifting so radically that when historians look back, it won't be the computer revolution they write about but the change in how workers were managed and utilized. For the first time, Americans will have to learn to manage themselves-very few will be prepared for this task.

Covey helps readers hone this skill set in a book filled with graphs, charts, examples and a DVD with 16 companion films. The 8th Habit directs us towards personal and organizational greatness by helping us find our own voices first-then showing us how great leadership can inspire others to find theirs.

-Lois Bolin