THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE

- Steven Covey

1. Be proactive

Proactive people are those who focus efforts on things which they can do something aboutProactive people are Responsible for themselvesProactive people Recognize their responsibility to Make Things HappenMake Things HappenProactive people not only Acknowledge their Mistakes, but also Learn from it

2. Begin with an end in mindLeadership is about Effectiveness: the Vision of what is to be AccomplishedIt calls for Direction,Purpose,SensitivityManagement is about Efficiency: how Best to accomplish the VisionIt depends on Control,Guidance,RulesTo have a solid Foundation: Clearly Establish Own Principles, in form of a Personal Mission

3. Put first things first

Important thing is not managing Time, but managing Oneself, focusing on Results rather than Methods4 types of activities:

1. Urgent & Important2. Not urgent but Important (Essentially)3. Urgent but not Important4. Not Urgent & Not Important

4. Think win/win

Interdependence occurs when there is Co-operation, not CompetitionScarcity Mentality-only a finite cake is to be shared, restricts ability to share recognition,credit,power or profitSometimes, it is necessary to walk away if the other party is interested only in a win/lose situation. This is “Win-Win”.

5. Seek first to understand, then to be understoodMost people want to make their point first, or are so busy looking for opportunities that they fail to hear & understand the other partyDifferent levels of Listening:

1. Hearing but ignoring2. Pretending to listen3. Selective listening(hear only what u want to

hear)4. Attentive listening without evaluation(lecture

notes)5. Empathic listening(with intent to understand)

6. Synergize

Where two parties with different agenda value each other’s differencesEg. Both sides of brain working in tandem on a situation/problem: the intuitive, creative right side and the analytical, logical left side

7. Sharpen the sawIn doing a task, we generally become so engrossed, we tend to neglect the basic toolsCorrect principles are like compasses: they always point the wayPersonality involves learning a new skill, character involves changing habitsPrinciple-centered leaders are men/women of character who work with competence.They build principles into center of their lives, communications, management processes and their Mission statements.