Stephen Covey, in his book The 8th Habit, decribes a poll…
““Stephen Covey, in his book The 8th Habit, decribes a poll of 23,000 employees drawn from a number of companies and industries. He reports the poll's findings: * Only 37 percent said they have a clear understanding of what their organization is trying to achieve and why * Only one in five was enthusiastic about their team's and their organization's goals * Only one in five said they had a clear "line of sight" between their tasks and their team's and organization's goals * Only 15 percent felt that their organization fully enables them to execute key goals * Only 20 percent fully trusted the organization they work for Then, Covey superimposes a very human metaphor over the statistics. He says, "If, say, a soccer team had these same scores, only 4 of the 11 players on the field would know which goal is theirs. Only 2 of the 11 would care. Only 2 of the 11 would know what position they play and know exactly what they are supposed to do. And all but 2 players would, in some way, be competing against their own team members rather than the opponent.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Most employees lack clarity, enthusiasm, alignment, support, and trust, leading to fragmented effort.
In simple terms: People often feel disconnected from purpose and goals.
Key Takeaway
Improve communication, alignment, and trust in organizations.
Themes
leadership
engagement
alignment
trust
motivation
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
practical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- performance reviews
- goal‑setting workshops
- employee onboarding
- change management
Key Concepts
organizational behavior
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders create visible line‑of‑sight for tasks?
- What incentives boost genuine enthusiasm?
A Different Perspective
Changing culture is complex and may face resistance.