The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People written by Stephen R. Covey, is a business and self-help book. In it, Covey describes the seven habits for how to be effective in attaining goals:
1 - Be Proactive
- The first step is to take responsibiltiy for our choices and to accept the consequences of those choices. Effective leaders understand the importance of every decision and that each is a primary determining factor for the effeciveness of life.
- 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.
2 - Begin with the End in Mind
- A manager must manage his own person. Personally. And managers should implement activities that aim to reach the second habit. Covey says that rule two is the mental creation; rule three is the physical creation.
3 - Put First Things First
- Genuine feelings 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 than if only one person in the situation had gotten his way.
4 - Think Win-Win
- Use empathic listening to be genuinely influenced by a person, which compels them to reciprocate the listening and take an open mind to being influenced by you. This creates an atmosphere of caring, and positive problem solving.
5 - Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
- Combine the strengths of people through positive teamwork, so as to achieve goals no one person could have done alone.
6 - Synergize
7 - Sharpen the Saw
- Balance and renew your resources, energy, and health to create a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle. This habit emphasizes exercise for physical renewal, prayer (meditation, yoga, etc.), and good reading for mental renewal. It also mentions service to society for spiritual renewal.
In essence, one should always attempt to integrate and master these principles at progressively higher levels as development renders a different experience and deeper understanding. The Upward Spiral model consists of three parts: learn, commit, do . . . in order to propel oneself along the path of personal freedom, security, wisdom, and power.[3]
Note: Sean Covey (Stephen's son) has written a version of the book for teens, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. It simplifies the 7 Habits for younger readers to assist better understanding. In September 2006, Sean Covey also published The 6 Most Important Decisions You Will Ever Make: A Guide for Teens. This guide highlights key times in the life of a teen and gives advice on how to deal with them.
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