In 1989 Stephen Covey published the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". This book has since sold over 15 million copies worldwide and has had an incredible influence in the lives of many people. In this article we will give an overview of these 7 habits for you to start implementing them in your life.
First Habit of Highly Effective People: Be Pro-Active
The first habit of highly effective people is that they are pro-active. These people take responsibility for what happens in their lives and do not simply respond to situations but create situations and choose their own thoughtful responses to situations, instead of allowing others to determine their reactions.
The Second Habit of Highly Effective People: Begin with the End in Mind
Highly effective people begin with the end in mind. These people have a personal mission statement for their lives which they can clearly visualize and by which they guide their lives and their actions.
The Third Habit of Highly Effective People: Put First Things First
Highly effective people put first things first; they prioritize their tasks and focus on tasks which will lead to long-term results. They are not ruled by the urgent, important activities are done before they become urgent, while activities that are not urgent and not important are not prioritized. In this chapter Stephen Covey also speaks of the principle of delegation and its importance to effective time management.
The Fourth Habit of Highly Effective People: Think Win/Win
Highly effective people are assertive, they think win/win and will try to find solutions to problems where both parties will be benefited instead of being aggressive or passive.
The Fifth Habit of Highly Effective People: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
When communicating with others and trying to offer advice highly effective people begin by listening empathetically. They try to really understand the other person before putting across their own points of view and as a result they will achieve the best results in the situation.
The Sixth Habit of Highly Effective People: Synergize
Highly effective people will create more value from working together as a team then each individual member working separately i.e. "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". By means of effective communication and problem solving, collaborative decision making, building on one another's strengths, valuing one another's differences, and leveraging collaboration and innovation; they are able to create this effective synergy.
The Seventh Habit of Highly Effective People: Sharpen the Saw
The last habit of highly effective people is that they "sharpen the saw", they take time to enjoy recreational activities where they can relax and recuperate and so prepare for the next period of productivity. Recreational activities are carefully planned in order to get the maximum benefit from them.
In conclusion, highly effective people are pro-active, begin with the end in mind, are assertive, empathetic, and they put first things first. When highly effective people work in teams they synergize in order for the whole to be greater than the sum of its parts. They also take time to relax and enjoy carefully planned recreational activities in order to "sharpen the saw". By implementing these 7 habits highly effective people are able to get the best results from individual work, team work and even relaxation and recreation.
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posted @ Wednesday, July 25, 2007 9:36 PM
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