7 Habits of Highly Effective People

summary

How do you give direction to your life in a constructive and effective

way? The book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989),
provides an answer to this central question, based on 7 Habits of
Highly Effective People. Stephen Covey expresses the ‘action plan‘ in
the following structured model of development.
1. Be proactive

Pro activity has a lot to do with a person’s “circle of influence”. What

you can control, what you can influence and what is out of your reach.
Pro activity is strongly related to acknowledging your own
responsibility and influence. The first big step that has to be taken is
the step from dependence to independence. Here you will begin to
determine your own life by using your own agenda. You are aware of
the fact that you are the architect of your own life (habit 1 of the seven
habits of highly effective people) and with this knowledge you set to
work.

2. Begin with the end in Mind

This is the habit of vision, objectives, and mission. Beginning with the
end in mind means that when you make decisions today you
consistently take into consideration what you stand for ‘in general’.
Habit 2 has to do with the principles and guidelines you choose to live
by. You determine what you find important in life, what you stand for,
what you want to accomplish.

3. Put first things first

This habit has to do with integrity, discipline, sticking to your

agreements. What is life about, and how do you wish to shape your
own life? Knowing this, you will get to work pro-actively while setting
the right priorities. The second big step is that of independence to
(self-selected) interdependence.

4. Think win-win

This is the habit of the Paradox. Temptation is strong to think in terms

of winning OR losing- or wanting to be right. The trick is to recognize
that a paradox provides an opportunity to unite the poles. You will be
independent but at the same time you realize that you can accomplish
more by cooperating with other people. You know what you are worth,
but you also realize that you need the other person and that it is
important to give and receive love. You can accomplish this by
thinking in terms of win-win. In case of conflicts you will always
search for solutions that are fair to all parties and in which there are
no losers.

5. Seek first to understand then to be understood

Concentrate first on understanding the other person and then put
energy into being understood. This is the habit of listening, one of the
basic qualities of a leader or a coach.

6. Synergize

The sixth habit of the seven habits of highly effective people, that is
required to achieve interdependence is synergizing. This means that
your approach is fundamentally based on respect, cooperation and
trust. This is the habit of strengthening. the pitfall is compromise. The
objective is to find the third path: how can two paradoxes be
combined into something better?

7. Sharpen the saw

The last, seventh habit of the seven habits of highly effective people is
maintenance. This is the habit that tells you that are with improving
yourself and perseverance. By taking plenty of exercise, rest,
meditation, etcetera, you will keep your body, mind, relationships and
spirituality in balance.