THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE

by Stephen R. Covey, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1989

Synopsis by Chuck Peterson

The 7 Habits are especially appropriate to a long range planning with habits 1 & 2 initiating the planning process with the correct destination.  Habit 3 can be very useful in analyzing the SWOT.  If you’ve read his book or listened to it on audio tape, let this serve as a quick review.  If you’re unfamiliar with Covey’s 7 habits, I hope this synopsis will provide additional insight to our planning process.

People. Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People provides effective principles for leadership and life.  His premise is that old habits can be broken and new behavior patterns learned.  He stresses the difference between the “personality ethic” that is currently in vogue and the “character ethic” that drove people to make America great.  His principles, or habits, are guidance on developing the “character ethic.”  To make effective change we must do so from the “inside out” rather than adopting the modern “image is everything” attitude.

HABIT 1: Be Proactive (Initiative). Being proactive means choosing to take responsibility.  It means taking the initiative rather than reacting.  Pro-activity empowers us to create circumstances.  Proactive people look for opportunities rather than wishing things were different.  Covey discusses spheres of influence.  Proactive people focus their time on those things they can influence rather than wasting time worrying about things outside their sphere of influence.

HABIT 2: Begin With the End in Mind (Creativity). Covey suggests that we personally look at what we want our legacy to be, how do we want to be remembered.  That “end” helps put things in perspective.  With that end in mind we can choose to spend time working toward that end or wasting time on things we don’t really value.  This concept isn’t really a morbid fixation on death but a powerful illustration to force us to focus on what’s important.  This same principle can be applied to our home life, our careers and everyday projects.  It requires visionary thinking to rise above the daily drudgery or climb out a rut.

HABIT 3: Put First Things First (Productivity). Steven Covey categorizes our endeavors into one of four quadrants:

Quadrant 1 is comprised of tasks that are both urgent and important - crises, pressing problems, forest fires.  The more time we spend focusing on quadrant 1, the bigger it gets.  Quadrant 1 drives out of a “proactive” state and into a “reactive” state.

Quadrant 3 includes matters that are urgent but not important, phone calls, interruptions, meetings, e-mail.  Many people spend far too much time reacting to unimportant fires.

Quadrant 4 includes matters that are unimportant and not urgent such as busy work and some “escape recreation.”

Quadrant 2 is the key to effective living and leadership.  It includes items that are important but not urgent, yet.  It includes long-range planning, exercise, building relationships.  We learn to be proactive by learning to say no to quadrant 3 and 4, spending more time on matters of quadrant 2.  By doing this we take control of our time and minimize the number of things that enter quadrant 1.  Operating in quadrant 2 allows us to be proactive.

HABIT 4: Think Win/Win (Interdependence). The Win/win attitude seeks mutual benefit in all interactions and especially in conflict resolution.  Win/win does not define life as a “zero-sum” game with winners and losers.  It breaks that paradigm by assuming that one person’s success doesn’t require another’s failure.

HABIT 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood (Empathy). Can you imagine receiving a new pair of glasses from the optometrist before he checks your eyes?  Covey says this is how we typically give advice.  We prescribe before we diagnose.  We must first understand the entirety of another person’s position, belief, or predicament before giving advice.

HABIT 6: Synergize (Valuing Differences). Synergistic communication assumes cooperating people will share insights with an open mind.  Various opinions will be valued and new alternatives will be developed in place of roadblocks.

HABIT 7: Sharpen the Saw (Consistency). Habit 7 includes introspection and physical and spiritual exercise; our personal development of mind, body and soul.  It is the definitive quadrant 2 activity.  The physical aspect includes diet, exercise, rest and relaxation.  The spiritual aspect gives direction to our lives and the mental dimension requires continuous education and challenge.

Covey describes these as “habits” rather than principles in the hope that we will build these into our lives rather than tacking them on.  The development of the “character ethic” must come from the inside out.