The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” was first published in 1989 and has since become a best-seller. The book presents seven habits that Covey argues are common among highly effective people, and provides practical advice on how to develop these habits in one’s own life.
Be Proactive
Being proactive means taking responsibility for your own life and not letting external factors dictate your decisions. It involves choosing your response to any given situation, rather than reacting impulsively. By taking control of your own life, you can achieve your goals and make positive changes in your life.
Think Win-Win
Thinking win-win means looking for solutions that benefit both parties in any given situation. It involves seeking mutually beneficial relationships and finding ways to collaborate with others to achieve shared goals. By doing so, you can create long-lasting relationships based on trust and mutual respect.
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Seeking first to understand means listening actively to others and trying to see their perspective before sharing your own. It involves putting yourself in their shoes and empathizing with their point of view. By doing so, you can improve communication and build stronger relationships.
Sharpen the Saw
Sharpening the saw means taking care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to improve your effectiveness. It involves investing in yourself through activities like exercise, meditation, and self-reflection. By doing so, you can increase your energy, creativity, and overall well-being.
Start with the end in mind.
The Circle of Influence
The circle of influence represents the things that you have control over in your life, such as your attitude and your actions. Focusing on your circle of influence can help you stay motivated and take action towards your goals, rather than getting bogged down by things that are outside of your control.
Put First Things First
Putting first things first means prioritizing your time and energy on the most important tasks that will help you achieve your goals. It involves identifying your key priorities and organizing your schedule to focus on them first. By doing so, you can avoid wasting time on less important tasks and increase your productivity.
To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.
The Emotional Bank Account
The emotional bank account represents the trust that you have built up in your relationships over time. By making deposits into the emotional bank account, such as by being honest, respectful, and considerate, you can build stronger and more trusting relationships with others.
Begin with the End in Mind
Starting with a clear vision of what you want to achieve can help you stay focused on your goals and make decisions that align with your values. By setting clear goals and defining what success means to you, you can create a roadmap for achieving your vision.
Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.
Synergize
Synergy means working together to achieve more than you could alone. It involves combining your strengths with others and finding ways to complement each other’s skills. By doing so, you can create a team that is more effective and productive than any one person could be on their own.