Book Summary of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R. Covey book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People summary
Do you want to learn how to succeed? By changing how you see the world and better understanding your personal definition of success, Stephen R Covey's renowned 1989 self-help book tells you how to become a more productive person not only in business but in life.
Since its publication, the book has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, and its popularity may be due to Covey's attempt to assist readers to adopt a set of timeless and universal ideas to guide them in developing habits that can be applied to any scenario.
His book is about altering your character and
how you see the world, not about providing you with a set of laws or principles to
follow. This then influences your actions and reactions to various situations.
There are no easy fixes in this situation!
The example of becoming lost in a new city is used in the book. It will be a frustrating waste of time for someone with a negative paradigm (the way they see the world). It will be a thrilling trip for someone who has a good mindset.
7 Habits of Highly
Effective People
by Stephen R. Covey try to change your
character so that you see the world in a more favourable light. Because the
titles of these behaviours can be a little confusing at first, we've attempted
to decipher them for you.
- Be proactive in your approach.
- Make a start with the finish in
mind.
- Start with the basics.
- Consider the phrase
"win-win."
- First, seek to comprehend, then
to be comprehended.
- Synergise
- If you wish to keep sawing, sharpen the saw.
What exactly do these words imply? Continue
reading to find out.
1. Be Proactive (Take the initiative)
Many people are reactive (allowing external circumstances to dictate their behaviour), rather than proactive, according to Covey in this chapter (taking responsibility for their decisions and behaviour). Rather than blaming the world for your troubles or allowing others' actions, or even terrible weather, to dictate your attitude, you can be a more productive person by concentrating on the things you can control or affect (your Circle of Influence) and ignoring the ones you can't.
2. Begin with the end in mind (Always start with the end in mind)
When you do an action, according to Covey, you actually do it twice. The first time is when you see yourself doing it, and the second time is when you really do it. He gives the example of constructing a home. After visualising the house and creating precise blueprints for the layout and materials required, you can begin construction. If you didn't plan ahead of time, you're sure to make a lot of costly blunders.
The takeaway here is that visualising an activity and its desired outcomes first, rather than pushing ahead, maybe in the incorrect direction, increases your chances of success.
This is the distinction between efficiency and effectiveness. There's no purpose in completing a large number of activities in a short period of time if the end result isn't what you desire.
3. Put first things first (Prioritize your tasks)
Prioritization is the key to this practice.
You must determine what is most important and place it first at all times. But
how do you figure out what matters the most? Take a look at this illustration:
|
|
Important |
Not important |
|
Urgent |
Quadrant 1: Important and Urgent |
Quadrant 3: Urgent but not Important |
|
Not urgent |
Quadrant 2: Important but not Urgent |
Quadrant 4: Not Urgent and Not Important |
Tasks are divided into one of four quadrants by Covey. Focus on Quadrant Two first, he advises, because these are the items that will have long-term benefits and will help you achieve your broader goals. The more you concentrate on them, the fewer chores will emerge in Quadrant One, which most people assume is the most important. Of course, you should prioritise the Quadrant One activities, but Covey recommends working on Quadrant Two items on the side, a little each day.
4.Think “win-win” (Consider "win-win" scenarios)
Negotiation is great power in Life. Many people desire a "win-lose" outcome when they enter a scenario with others; every interaction they have, whether at work or in their personal lives, is viewed as a competition. Effective people, on the other hand, see the value of distributing a fair portion of the pie and cultivating positive long-term relationships. Approach every scenario with the intention of negotiating until both sides are satisfied; you'll reap the benefits in the end.
Relationships, according to Covey, are like "emotional bank accounts." This means that every time you connect with someone, you are either putting money into or taking money out of their account. Finding a win-win solution or carefully listening to someone could be a payment. A withdrawal could indicate that you're battling for a win-lose situation, that you've broken a promise, or that you're merely pretending to listen.
The most significant deposit you can make into someone's emotional bank account is to strive to fully understand them and learn what they value.
5. Seek first to comprehend, then to be comprehended.
"Most people don't listen to comprehend; they listen to respond," Covey adds.
He argues that we often don't genuinely listen to people, instead of projecting our own situation onto them and assuming that their thoughts and feelings are the same as ours. We then provide them remedies that don't actually work. People are hesitant to trust advice from someone they do not believe truly understands them or their situation.
To understand someone academically and emotionally, you must firmly listen to them and enter their frame of reference. To receive the complete picture, pay attention not only to what they're saying but also to their body language. Only then will people begin to trust your advice and thoughts.
6. Create a synergy
Synergy simply means that when two things are joined, the result is larger than the sum of the two distinct components. If you work together, 1+1 can truly equal 3 or more. It's always preferable to work together to overcome a task, utilising everyone's own abilities, than to battle each other and try to do it alone. To do so, you must first comprehend, trust, and respect one another.
7. If you want to keep sawing then sharpen the saw.
Self-improvement is the focus of the seventh habit. Your tools may be appropriate for the work, but if you don't sharpen them regularly, they will lose their effectiveness. Covey compares it to a lumberjack sawing down trees: if he keeps sawing without stopping to sharpen his saw, it would ultimately grow dull, and he will be unable to cut down trees.
Covey's fundamental point here is that you need to look after yourself, stay physically healthy, maintain your emotional and mental well-being by learning new things, and maintain your social well-being by having excellent relationships with others. Allowing yourself time to recuperate rather than working nonstop can make you a far more effective person in the long term.
Conclusion.
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