The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

by Stephen Covey

Stephen Covey expresses his views of how we perceive the world and that in order to change a situation we need to change ourselves. Not only that but, in order to change ourselves we need  change our perceptions. The book is filled with messages from a long term study into the principles of success on how to live a happier and more effective life. Covey outlines that in today’s age, success is measured by personal performance, skill and status. He argues that the best way to reach long lasting success is by following seven of these fundamental 'rules'/principles, the First Rule being to have a productive mindset. This means replacing reactive language such as ‘I am going to fail’ with proactive language such as ‘I need to study harder’. It also means understanding what you can control, influence and determine in one’s own life by using your own agenda. The Second Rule is to begin with an end in mind. This basically means having a clear vision to follow and that all decisions and all steps made are towards a specific goal. This acts as a guideline towards what you want to accomplish and what you stand for in general. The Third Rule is to put things first. This is getting into the habit of prioritising based on what is most important and not what is more urgent. This requires the discipline to focus and stay on track no matter how displeasing the task is. The Fourth Rule is to think 'win-win'. This means creating scenarios which results in a situation where both parties are happy. This teaches us to be considerate towards others as well as to have the courage to stick to what you stand for. The Fifth Rule is to seek, understand, then be understood. This means listening to others and putting your points forth and is one of the most important qualities of being a leader. The Sixth Rule is to synergise which means that your approach should always be based on respect and cooperation: make yourself easy to work with. Lastly, the Seventh Rule, is maintenance. This entails taking care of yourself mentally, physically and spiritually. This renewal process allows us to continue up the spiral of self-betterment. Personally I feel the book opens our minds on how to perfect our leadership skills and how to pave your way towards being a healthier person both inside and out. It teaches values such as patience, integrity, humility and innovation as well as refreshing facts that keep the book interesting. Since reading the book, I applied these principles in my day to day life and have seen a sure improvement in my perceptions on how much I can achieve.

Nyawira Mburia

Rating: 4 Interesting

 


 

The 7 Habits of highly effective people is another one of Coveys great books. It reminds one of whom they really are, bringing one back to themselves, and motivating them to take charge of their lives, while encouraging them to take responsibility for their actions. The 7 Habits convince one to see themselves as a programmer for their own future, giving you power. These habits also highlight the importance of empathetic listening and teamwork. Learning the importance of seeing the world from the perspective of others. For a large part of the book, the focus is on gradual internal improvements and achievement on meaningful personal growth. He talks about how it takes time to adapt to new habits and a better mentality and how it doesn't all just happen overnight and that it requires continual conscious effort. The first part of the book mainly centers around Private Victories. Meaning the first three habits are the ones that emphasize on self-definition and personal fulfillment. After being able to effectively manage yourself, the next part, which include the next three habits, mainly focus on public victories, theses habits accentuate leadership skills and inculcate the ability to inspire others to do the same. Lastly, the seventh habit then ties everything together, emphasising on how to master all the basic principles which require continuous reshaping and relearning to welcome a new and better life style. After reading the 'Seven habits of highly effective teens', I was quickly inspired to wanting to read Coveys next book. This book really encouraged me to want to work harder and more persistently. I loved how It highlights on time management and personal change quite effectively. Overall this is a great book, and I would highly recommend it!

Faraja Laiser

Rating: 5 Recommended