I’ve always tried to incorporate planning and structure into my daily life. Upon starting employment, I was thrilled to receive a work planner from my employer. The planner had every conceivable feature I could want in a daily scheduler.
As I flipped through the pages, I saw something interesting: the bottom of each one had the word “habit” written. I didn’t understand their context at the time, but they all sounded encouraging.
Throughout my employment there, I would learn more about the seven habits or hobbies for which the organization is known.
Outside of the office, I’ve also begun using them. Dr. Covey, a prominent author, educator, and public speaker, developed these practices and published them in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Time management, motivation, and interpersonal skills are just a few examples of how the seven habits can improve our professional and personal life. What we can learn from each of Stephen Covey’s seven practices is detailed below.
Lessons for Living from Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”
1. Take the Initiative
You’ve heard it before, but the first habit is to take the initiative. Responsibility is what Covey means when he talks about being proactive.
The ability to choose how you react to a given scenario is a powerful tool, but it’s easy to forget that you have that choice sometimes.
People who think proactively prefer to concentrate on solving problems within their control. They are very “I can/I will/I prefer” oriented in their thinking.
Reactive people are more likely to blame outside forces for their problems and feel helpless in the face of adverse circumstances.
Reactive people tend to dwell on the negative and express themselves through phrases like “I can’t,” “I have to,” and “If only.”
It’s easier to say than to accomplish, but give it a shot! Your awareness of your reactions, attention to the things you can change, and general outlook will improve, even in relatively minor situations.
2. Think About the Final Result When You Start
Goals are the central focus of this pattern of behavior. Keeping the eventual goal in mind as you start calls for some creative thinking.
Think about the things you’d like to accomplish and the places you’d like to live in the future. The next step is to use that goal to inspire today’s actions.
Whether it’s anything in your private life, at work, or in a romantic connection, this phrase has broad applicability.
Where do you want to go, and what steps can you take to get there? This practice links up with taking the initiative by propelling us to act.
Covey recommends creating a Personal Mission Statement to stay motivated and focused. A custom one can be written for you, or you can get assistance making one.
A clear mission statement can help you zero in on your objectives and determine the best course of action to get there.
3. Prioritize Crucial Concerns
To put it plainly, this is the practice of setting priorities. By prioritizing the most critical tasks and recognizing that the rest can wait, you are practicing the art of time management.
You need not put undue pressure on yourself. You must instead focus on what matters. Despite the challenges, we must focus most of our efforts on Quadrant 2.
In his book, “First Things First,” Stephen R. Covey explains how to prioritize your work.
It’s making decisions and going after goals based on what you know to be correct and accurate rather than on what others want from you or what pressures are exerted on you.
The third habit, when practiced regularly, opens the door to a more well-rounded existence.
4. Always Attempt to Benefit Both Parties
By focusing less on rivalry and more on teamwork, you can reap the benefits of this practice. By considering both parties’ needs and wants, win-win thinking aims to find a compromise that works for everyone.
Like the others, this practice can be applied professionally and privately. Respect, maturity, honesty, and confidence are all displayed when one considers the interests of others along with one’s own.
This way of thinking can enhance one’s personality and personal connections.
Covey says, “If it isn’t a win for both of us, we both lose in the long term.” Because of this, there is no viable option in interconnected realities other than win-win cooperation.
5. Put the Other Person’s Needs Ahead Of Your Own When Trying To Reach an Agreement
The foundation of this practice is communication and, more specifically, the ability to listen. It’s human nature to want to interject our ideas when we overhear someone else’s delivering a narrative or giving directions.
Where’s the harm in that? We risk missing the other person’s point total and missing out on a potential connection if we do this.
Usually, when we talk to one another, we listen to think of what to say back rather than try to grasp what was said.
As soon as you alter this perspective, you may find that your entire reaction modifies. This is a beautiful method to get to know someone better and strengthen bonds with them.
6. Synergize
Teamwork is what’s meant by the term “synergy.” “Synergy is not the same as a compromise,” as Covey puts it. For the sake of compromise, one plus one equals, at most, 1.5.
When two people can work together harmoniously, they have taken the time to appreciate one another’s differences fully.
Your mutual comprehension will be a source of continued growth and enlightenment.
The ability to approach a challenge with an open mind is critical in synergizing. Having experienced synergy can be recognized in several ways, as described by Covey. If you:
- Reconsider your position.
- Get a charge out of the fresh excitement.
- Try to look at things from a different perspective.
- Sense that something has changed in your connection.
Successfully arrive at something superior to the sum of your contributions.
7. Hone Your Tools
The last habit you should form is to put yourself first. Taking the time to ‘sharpen the saw is a metaphor for investing in one’s growth and regeneration.
To maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle, it is crucial to prioritize self-care. Too often, we claim to be “too busy” to take care of ourselves.
This line of reasoning, while understandable, can quickly lead to burnout. We can’t go toward our goals and develop as people if we aren’t giving it our all.
A well-honed saw is a glue that holds the other six habits together. When we nourish our body and mind, we can achieve anything.
A couple of Covey’s suggestions for honing your skills are as follows:
In terms of the body, this means physically healthy behaviors like eating, exercising, and sleeping.
Cognitive processes include but are not limited to:
Nature, meditation, music, art, prayer, and community service are all examples of spiritual activities.
With any luck, you’ll be motivated to make significant changes in your life after reading this list of seven behaviors. To what extent do you believe each of these habits will help you? If you know, please share it with us!
