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Powerful Lessons from Stephen R. Covey
Posted by Pat on July 24, 2012 in Uncategorized | ∞
seven habits
Think of what the most important resources in your life have been. Stephen Covey’s death this last week brought to my memory one of my very favorite resources, the business AND personal growth book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” from 20 years ago.
The principles that Covey shared in his writings are timeless, a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty. His message was based on an immutable bedrock: Focus on your character, values, conduct, respect for others, and operate with unflinching integrity.
And I admit my teaching experiences in public school, in Toastmaster’s contests, in church classes and seminars, in mentoring folks in real estate, in doing Sunday morning talks at various churches-all bear evidence of my use of Covey’s principles because they are common sense, ethical, and so very fundamental to a successful life. Is it plagiarism to repeat powerful, meaningful, and wise concepts? If so, I guess I’m guilty, though I bet I’m not the only one!
He coined the concept of “Win-Win.” One of his most powerful, yet elegantly simple messages was “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” He dedicated two decades of studying hundreds of books, thousands of essays, legions of different philosophies, ideologies, methodologies-looking for the simple, universal truths.
One of his lasting legacies is seen in his urgent/important time management matrix, reminding us that the most important things in life are not usually urgent and thus we often neglect them in order to deal with the urgent items. Yet our effectiveness comes from the important quadrant where we think, plan, grow, learn, love, contribute.
Things which matter mostmust never be at the mercy of things which matter least.Goethe
I’m not sure which one of his “habits” is my favorite, but I know they are all very important:
Habit 1 Be Proactive
Habit 2 Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3 Put First Things First
Habit 4 Think Win/Win
Habit 5 Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit 6 Synergize
Habit 7 Sharpen the Saw
Have you read his books? What is your favorite “habit” or quote from his writings? I’d love to have you share in the comments!
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[…] are after is the feelings we expect when we achieve a goal. It’s thinking with the end in mind (see Stephen Covey!) And if the anticipated feelings seem worth it, then we’ll choose to take that journey towards that […]