THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE (Human Resource)

Posted by Winnie Melda on October 19th, 2018

Book Review

In this book “THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE” by Stephen R. Covey discusses seven common attributes and positive values that got observed in different successful individuals around the globe who include managers and Chief Executive Officers. The book documents more than 25 years experience of the author working with numerous individuals in organizations, enterprises, institutions and families. The author builds on the development of character ethic and personality ethic in history as foundations of success. Character ethic is fundamental principles of efficient living. Personality ethic entails human and public relations strategies and positive mental attitude so as to attain success.

The seven habits of successful people developed in this book represent the internalization of right principles that are the foundation for enduring happiness and success. Our attitudes and behaviors towards things lead us into the manner in which we view things assuming that is the way they are or the way they should be. A demonstration is essential in revealing the real picture of stuff hence acquiring the power of paradigm shifting that is significant in influencing our attitudes and behaviors. Our paradigms reflect the manner in which we perceive the world or situations. The way we see situations is essential in developing our real being. The author also discusses the principles of growth and change. It was interesting to understand that growth and development undergo systematic phases that are necessary, that take place each at its own time, and no step can get skipped. The stages apply in different aspects and are like a ladder that elevates one to great heights as a person acquires new skills and capabilities at each stage (Kochan & Pascarelli, 2005). The author uses the example of a child learning how to walk and run, they first turnover, then sits up, then crawl and finally walk and run. The use of example is a great technique used by the author to assists the reader to acquire the correct bigger picture getting explained. The demonstrations assist us in relating with the incidences in the book. The section in which the author discusses the manner in which we see the problem is quite intriguing and informative. People usually struggle with things since they perceive them as difficult or unattainable hence losing the battle before it begins. The book uses the above principles to arrive at the new level of thinking in which we should adopt so as to solve tough challenges. The author notes that fundamental problems cannot get resolved on the same superficial level as they got created. The new level of thinking gets founded on the inside-out approach to personal and interpersonal performance. The approach entails starting first with self that is your character, paradigms and motives.

Habit refers to the integration of knowledge, skill and desire. It is a powerful factor in people’s lives as it influences their performance. Characters get considered as a composite of habits as the author quotes “Sow a thought, reap an action, sow back an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character, sow a character, reap a destiny” (Covey, 1989).

The first habit of effective people in the book is being proactive. Our outcomes are as a result of our initiatives and actions, and not our feelings, thoughts, and moods. Our behavior and response in a particular manner towards a situation is as a result of our decisions and not conditions. The author compares reactive and proactive people. A reactive person gets affected by physical surrounding and social environment and creates their emotional lives around people’s behaviors hence empowering the weakness of others to control them. On the contrary, proactive people get driven by values and may get influenced by external stimuli, but their response is a value-based choice.

The second habit is "beginning with the end of one’s initiative in mind". All actions have to get undertaken focusing on achieving a specific goal. The habit is specifically crucial in attaining personal leadership for managers. The third habit of effective persons entails putting first things first. The habit gets based on the principles of personal management. Characters such as showing personal integrity and keeping commitments are core in achieving organization's objectives. The fourth habit is to think win-win and gets based on the principles of interpersonal leadership. A character is a foundation of the habit, and people should ensure that their interactions result in mutual benefits. The fifth habit is to seek first to understand and then to get understood. The habit gets to build a good character and communication, empathic listening, as well as understanding and perception. Effective communication skills are essential for managers and supervisors so as to create an appropriate working environment as well as achieve the defined objectives (Cenere, Gill, Lawson & Lewis, 2015). The sixth habit is “synergize” that get based on the principles of creative cooperation. The seventh habit of competent people is “sharpen the saw” and gets based on the principles of Balanced Self-Renewal. It expresses four motivations namely the economic (physical), the way people get treated (social), the development of individuals (mental), and the service and the contribution offered (spiritual).

The book is a great motivation and inspiration piece for a different kind of audience regardless of their age, educational level or social class. It mainly targets individuals struggling to develop and improve specific aspects of their life especially organization management and responsibility. However, the book would influence positively any person who would read. Before I read this book, I didn’t know that success can get learned, but I significantly benefited from the experiences and lessons in the book. Therefore, all persons should acquire a copy and read it.

References

Cenere, P., Gill, R., Lawson, C., & Lewis, M. (2015): Communication Skills for Business Professionals 7. Cambridge University Press.

Covey, S. (1989): The seven habits of highly successful people. Fireside/Simon & Schuster.

Kochan, F. K., & Pascarelli, J. T. (2005): Creating successful telementoring programs (Vol. 3). IAP.

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