Stephen Coveys Seven Habits
Stephen R. Covey, author of the iconic self-help book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, spent his life teaching others how to think, behave and lead successful lives. He believed that each of us has the capacity to become better, more efficient and more productive people, and that with these habits, any individual could make progress toward becoming the leader of their own life.
Habit 1: Be Proactive.
The first of Covey’s habits is one of the most fundamental: Be Proactive. Being proactive means taking action to improve yourself or the situation around you, instead of passively waiting and reacting to events. It also involves taking ownership of your life, not blaming others and taking responsibility.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
The second habit of Covey’s is “Begin with the End in Mind”. This habit speaks to a person’s need to visualize the future and determine their desired outcome before taking any action. By having a clear vision in mind, individuals can use this habit to focus on the final goal and make the necessary decisions for success.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
The third habit of Covey’s is “Put First Things First”. This habit is about prioritizing the important against the urgent. It’s important to remember that not everything that calls for attention is necessarily important, but developing a method of evaluating what is truly important to you can help you to maintain the focus needed to succeed.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win.
The fourth habit of Covey’s is “Think Win-Win”. This habit speaks to looking at the bigger picture and win-win solutions where everyone is a winner. Covey saw this habit as an important part of maintaining effective relationships. All too often, it’s easy to get caught up in seeing the world in terms of winners and losers, and this habit can help an individual maintain the focus on collaboration and compromise that’s needed for successful, positive relationships.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
The fifth habit of Covey’s is “Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood”. This habit is about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and making an effort to see things from their point of view. By listening, empathizing, and trying to understand another person’s position, Covey saw this habit as being key to creating mutually beneficial situations and resolving conflicts.
Habit 6: Synergize
The sixth habit of Covey’s is “Synergize”. This habit is about the power of collaboration and tapping into the power of synergy. It’s based on the idea that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole, and that by combining different skills and mindsets we can achieve more than we could by ourselves.
Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw
The seventh and final of Covey’s Habits is “Sharpen The Saw”. This habit speaks to the importance of self-care and taking time for personal growth. It’s about recognizing that we need to take time for ourselves in order to stay sharp and ahead of the game.
All of Stephen Covey’s habits are designed to help individuals reach success and become more efficient and effective in their lives. By embracing these seven habits, individuals can make an effort to become the leader of their own life, and take personal responsibility for reaching their goals.
