18/07/2023
THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE
by Stephen Covey
1.Be Proactive: In short, we are in control of your reaction to circumstances. Focus on things that are in our control, and we’ll be capable of improving abilities and skills, which in turn will expand our area of control.
2. Begin with the End in Mind: To avoid the randomness, we need to have a clear vision of where we want to be when the goal has been achieved, and then create a roadmap that aligns with our principles to achieve that goal.
3. Put First Things First: There are always going to be multiple tasks appearing at once.
4.Think Win/Win: To achieve a winning attitude, we must first acquire three essential character traits:
Integrity (know who you are and what you value, and remaining firm in those beliefs)
Maturity (the ability to express your beliefs with a balance of courage and consideration)
Abundance mentality (believing there is plenty for everyone)
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: Communication is the most important of the life skills. And while we may master the art of communication, we often fail to listen. According to Covey, there are four levels of listening:
Ignoring
Pretending to listen
Attentive listening
Empathic listening
The goal is to achieve all steps, but too often we stop at #2. To become an attentive listener, we should take these steps:
Evaluating: judge and then agree or disagree
Probing: ask question from own frame of reference
Advising: advising based on own frame of reference
Interpreting: interpreting his action and feelings based on own frame of reference
Once we fully engage in attentive listening, empathic is to be sure the person talking understands we have heard and understand. This doesn’t mean agreeing, it means considering their thoughts and relaying that we hear and understand their point of view.
6. Synergize: Covey explains synergy as “better than my way or your way. It’s our way.” To synergize we are employing creative cooperation, with the understanding that through teamwork we can find new solutions to old problems.
7. Sharpen the Saw: In order to see a change in habits, this last one involves taking care of oneself. We must keep a balance of these four key dimensions:
Physical
Spiritual
Mental
Social/Emotional