The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R. Covey · 1989

1. 01About the Author

   Stephen R. Covey was an American educator and author, born in 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He earned an MBA from Harvard and a doctorate from Brigham Young University, where he taught. In 1989 he published The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which became one of the best-selling non-fiction books of all time. He died in 2012.

2. 02The Inside-Out Approach

   Covey argues that lasting success comes from character, not quick techniques. He calls this the inside-out approach: change yourself first, and your relationships and results follow. He introduces the idea of paradigms, the lens through which we see the world. When our paradigm shifts, our behaviour changes. The seven habits move us from dependence, to independence, to interdependence.

3. 03The Private Victory: Habits 1 to 3

   Habit one: Be proactive. Between what happens to us and how we respond, there is a space, and in that space is our freedom to choose. Focus on your circle of influence, not your circle of concern. Habit two: Begin with the end in mind. Imagine your own funeral and ask what you want people to say about you, then write a personal mission statement. Habit three: Put first things first. Using the time management matrix, spend more time on things that are important but not urgent, like planning, health and relationships.

4. 04The Public Victory: Habits 4 to 6

   Habit four: Think win-win. Look for solutions where both sides benefit, believing there is plenty for everyone. Habit five: Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Listen with the intent to understand, not just to reply. Covey calls this empathic listening. Habit six: Synergize. When people with different views cooperate with respect, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

5. 05Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

   Covey tells of a man sawing a tree for hours, too busy to stop and sharpen his saw. Habit seven is about renewing yourself in four dimensions: physical, mental, social and emotional, and spiritual. Exercise, read, connect with people, and reflect on your values. You are the most important tool you have. Keep it sharp, and every other habit becomes stronger.