Introduction
We all want to be succeed. And one path to success is
identifying the habits that can help us on your journey
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
is a self-improvement book. It is written on Covey's belief that the way we see
the world is entirely based on our own perceptions.
In order to change a given situation, we must change
ourselves, and in order to change ourselves, we must be able to change our
perceptions.
So in this article. I am explaining 7 Habits of Highly Effective People that will help really make you
a highly effective person.
1. Be Proactive
The first
and most fundamental habit of an effective person is to be proactive. More than
just taking the initiative, being proactive means taking responsibility for
your life.
The clearest
manifestation of proactivity can be seen in your ability to stick to the
commitments you make to yourself and to others. This includes a commitment to
self-improvement and, by extension, personal growth.
By setting
small goals and sticking to them, you gradually increase your integrity, which
increases your ability to take responsibility for your life.
Covey
suggests undertaking a 30-day proactivity test in which you make a series of
small commitments and stick to them. Observe how this changes your sense of
self.
2. Begin with End in Mind
This habit circles around one word, goals. Beginning with the
end in mind requires you to use a little imagination.
Look into the future at what you want to do in life, where
you want to be. Then, use that vision to plan what you’ll do today to help you
get there.
This can refer to your personal life, a project at work, or a
relationship. What is your end goal and what can you do to reach it? This habit
interlocks with being proactive by encouraging us to make things happen!
Covey suggests building a Personal Mission Statement to help
you keep on track. You can write your own, or have help to create one here.
Having a mission statement is something that can help you
focus on your goals and what you can do to meet them.
3. Put Things First
This habit when put simply means to prioritize. When you put
first things first, you’re taking the time to assess what you have to do, but
understanding some things can wait.
You don’t have to overextend yourself. Instead, have to look
at what is most important. Although it can be hard, we should be spending most
of our time in Quadrant two.
Covey states, “Putting first things first means organizing
and executing around your most important priorities. It is living and being
driven by the principles you value most, not by the agendas and forces
surrounding you.”
By implementing habit three when we can, it allows us to
access a more balanced life.
4. Think Win-Win
This habit looks at putting your attention less on
competition and more on collaboration. Thinking win-win seeks not only mutual
benefit for both people but also a solution.
This habit, like the others, can be used in a work setting or
in a personal relationship. When you take the time to look at what benefits
both parties, it shows respect, maturity, integrity, and confidence. Thinking
this way can positively affect your character and improve relationships.
According to Covey, “In the long run, if it isn’t a win for
both of us, we both lose. That’s why win-win is the only real alternative in
interdependent realities.”
5. Seek First To Understand, Then To
Be Understood
Communication specifically listening, is the basis for this
habit. So many times when people are speaking, telling a story, explaining
directions, we have the sudden urge to jump in with our thoughts.
What’s so bad about that? By doing this, we don’t always give
ourselves the chance to connect with the other person and you may miss their
point entirely.
When we communicate, most times we listen with the intent to
reply, not to understand. When you change this way of thinking, you may realize
your entire response changes. Doing this is another great way to work on
understanding someone on a deeper level and improving the relationship.
6. Synergy
Synergy refers to teamwork. Covey describes synergy, a word
he coined, as “not the same as compromise. In a compromise, one plus one equals
one and a half at best.”
When people experience synergy, they are taking the time to
truly accept the other person’s differences. You then use that understanding to
feed off of each other and gain new insight into your situation.
Synergyzing offers a way to problem solve by being
open-minded. According to Covey, there are ways you will know you have
experienced synergy. If you:
1. Have a
change of heart.
2. Feel new
energy and excitement.
7. Sharpen the Saw
This final habit focuses on the most important thing you
have, you. When you ‘sharpen the saw’, you are taking the time you need for self-renewal.
Taking care of yourself is extremely important when it comes
to keeping a balanced life. So many times we are ‘too busy’ to make time for
what we may need.
Unfortunately, thinking this way can easily cause us to get
burnt out. If we aren’t at our best, we’re limiting ourselves from the growth
and goals we spend all this time trying to reach.
Sharpening the saw is what keeps the rest of the six habits
together. When our body and mind are empowered, we have no limits.
I hope these
7 Habits of Highly Effective People will
inspire and encourage you to focus on positive personal changes.
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