7 habits of highly effective people

1.     Habit 1: Be proactive

Reactive people allow outside influences (feelings, circumstances) to control their responses.

Proactive people pause to allow themselves the freedom to choose their responses based on desired results.

 

Proactive language                                                         Reactive Language

“Let’s look at the alternative”                                        “There’s nothing we can do”

“I can choose a different approach”                                “That is just the way I am”

“ I control my own feelings”                                               “He makes me so mad”

“I can create an effective presentation”                          “They won’t allow that”

“I will choose an appropriate response”                          “I have to do that”

“I choose”                                                                                “I can’t”

“I prefer”                                                                                   “I must”

“I will”                                                                                         “If only”

Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind—the habit of vision

Paradigm:

Ineffective:  I live by default

Effective: I live by design

Result

·         A clear definition of desired results

·         A greater sense of meaning and purpose

·         Ability to decide what is or is not important

·         Improved outcomes

Behavior

·         See the vision before you act

·         Create and live by a personal mission statement

A Personal Mission Statement is a statement by which you make all decision for your life.  Highly effective people shape their own future instead of letting other people or circumstances determine it.

Benefits of a personal mission statement:

·         Clarifies what is important to you

·         Provides focus

·         Helps you design your life instead of it designing you

·         Guides your day to day decisions

·         Gives you a  greater sense of meaning and purpose

Key characteristics of an effective Personal Mission Statement

·         Express principles of effectiveness that provide quality-of-life results

·         Provides direction and purpose

·         Challenges and inspires you

·         Communicates your vision and values

·         Addresses your most important roles and responsibilities

·         Addresses all four human needs (physical, social/emotional, mental and spiritual)

·         Represents the best within you

Habit 3: Put first things first (the habit of integrity and execution)

Paradigm

Ineffective: I put urgent things first

Effective: I put important things first

Result

·         Increased organization and productivity

·         A reputation of follow-through

·         Fewer crisis

·         More life balance and peace of mind

Behavior

·         Focus on top priorities

·         Eliminate  the unimportant

·         Plan weekly

·         Plan daily

 Private victory to public victory

The Private Victory must precede the Public Victory. You can’t invert the process any more than you can harvest before you plant~ Stephen Covey

Habit 4: Think Win-Win (the habit of mutual benefit)

Paradigm

Ineffective: There is only so much, and the more you get, the less there is for me

Effective: There is plenty out there for everyone, and more to spare

Results

·         Faster solutions to problems

·         More team involvement

·         Richer relationships

 

Behavior

·         Balance courage and consideration

·         Seek mutual benefit

·         Create Win-Win agreements

·         Build Win-Win systems

Habit 5: Seek first to understand then to be understood (the habit of mutual understanding)

Paradigm:

·         Ineffective: I listen with the intent to reply

·         Effective: I listen with the intent to understand

Result

·         Greater influence with others

·         Solutions to complex problems

·         Faster problem solving

·         Clarity on real issues

Behavior

·         Diagnose before you prescribe

·         Listen empathically

·         Seek to be understood from other’s perspective

Habit 6: Synergize ( the habit of creative cooperation)

Paradigm

·         Ineffective: Is either your way or my way, or a compromise

·         Together we can create a better way, a higher way

Result

·         Innovation and invention

·         New and better solutions

·         Transformed relationships

·         Appreciation of diverse perspectives

Behavior

·         Value and celebrate the differences

·         Practice creative cooperation

Habit 7: Sharpen the saw (the habit of renewal)

Paradigm:

Ineffective:  I focus on getting the golden eggs

Effective: I nurture the goose that lays the golden eggs

Result

·         Improved capacity

·         Stronger relationships

·         Greater reserves

·         Continuous improvement

Behavior

·         Renew regularly in the four dimensions (physical, social/emotional, mental, spiritual)

·         Be strong in hard moments

These notes are from the Stephen Covey seminar I attended titled 7 habits of highly effective people

 

 

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