The Famous, ‘7 Habits Of Highly Effective People’, by Stephen Richards Covey

 

The Famous, ‘7 Habits Of Highly Effective People’, by Stephen Richards Covey

Stephen Richards Covey (October 24, 1932 – July 16, 2012) was an American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker. His most popular book was The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. His other books include First Things First, Principle-Centered Leadership, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, The 8th Habit, and The Leader In Me. He was a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University at the time of his death. [Wikipedia]. His books (which I highly recommend) can be purchased at your local book store (hardback, paperback and audio) or through online outlets such as Amazon USA or Amazon UK.

Books of Stephen Richards Covey

 

Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey’s best-known book, has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide since its first publication in 1989. The audio version became the first non-fiction audio-book in U.S. publishing history to sell more than one million copies.

The book first introduces the concept of Paradigm Shift and prepares the reader for a change in mindset. It helps the reader understand that there exists a different perspective, a viewpoint that may be different from his own and asserts that two people can see the same thing and yet differ with each other. Once the reader is prepared for this, it introduces the seven habits, in a proper order.

Each chapter is dedicated to one of the habits, which are represented by the imperatives: Independence or Self-Mastery.

The first three habits involve moving from dependence to independence (i.e., self mastery). The next three habits have to do with Interdependence (i.e., working with others). The Last habit relates to self-rejuvenation (self renewal).

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Take initiative in life by realizing that your decisions (and how they align with life’s principles) are the primary determining factor for effectiveness in your life. Take responsibility for your choices and the consequences that follow. You have the freedom and right to choose your own fate and path through life.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Self-discover and clarify your deeply important character values and life goals. Envision the ideal characteristics for each of your various roles and relationships in life. Create a mission statement. Mental visualization is extremely important. Covey says that all things are created twice: first, the mental conceptualization and visualization and a second physical, actual creation.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Prioritize, plan, and execute your week’s tasks based on importance rather than urgency. Evaluate whether your efforts exemplify your desired character values, and propel you toward goals. If you deal with crises, pressing problems and deadline-driven projects first, your life will be a lot easier.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Genuinely strive for mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in your relationships. Value and respect people by understanding a “win” for all is ultimately a better long-term resolution. Covey wrote, “One person’s success is not achieved at the expense or exclusion of the success of others.”

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Be a good listener and take the time to understand a concept, it will help you convey your opinions, plans and goals to others. This creates an atmosphere of caring, respect, and positive problem solving.

Habit 6: Synergize

Combine the strengths of people through positive teamwork, so as to achieve goals no one person could have achieved alone. Encouraging meaningful contribution. Synergistic communication, according to Covey, is “opening your mind and heart to new possibilities, new alternatives, new options.”

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Balance and renew your resources, energy, and health to create a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle. It primarily emphasizes on exercise for physical renewal, prayer (meditation, yoga, etc.) and good reading for mental renewal. It also mentions service to the society for spiritual renewal.

 

Book: The 8th Habit

Covey’s 2004 book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness was published by Free Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. It is the sequel to The Seven Habits. Covey posits that effectiveness does not suffice in what he calls “The Knowledge Worker Age”. He says that “[t]he challenges and complexity we face today are of a different order of magnitude.” The 8th habit essentially urges: “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs…”

 

Book: The Leader in Me

Covey released The Leader in Me — How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time in November 2008. It tells how some schools, parents and business leaders are preparing the next generation to meet the great challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century. It shows how an elementary school in Raleigh, North Carolina, decided to try incorporating The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and other basic leadership skills into the curriculum in unique and creative ways. Inspired by the success of Principal Muriel Summers and the teachers and staff of A.B. Combs Elementary School in Raleigh, other schools and parents around the world have adopted the approach and have seen remarkable results.

 

‘The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People’ Conclusion

Well, I hope you found something useful and enjoyed this article on, ‘The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People’, please don’t forget to let me have your thoughts in the comment box below. See you soon.