Some of you may have already viewed my newest blog page ‘books’.
In the past six months I’ve dedicated much of my spare time to reading business
books. Therefore, the page is dedicated to listing the books that I would
recommend to improve management and leadership, personal and PA skills. One of
the books first on my list is Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Effective People.
What drew me to Covey’s
book was the fact that it’s all about enhancing personal effectiveness, which
in order to be successful is broken down into seven habits
- Be Proactive
- Begin with the end in mind
- Put first things first
- Think win-win
- First understand and then be understood
- Synergize
- ‘Sharpen the saw’
Within these seven habits Covey discusses the transition from
dependence, independence to interdependence. In order to achieve the first
habit you need to break away from dependence by taking responsibility for your
own actions without blaming circumstances or conditions. You need to start
being proactive by visualising what
you want to achieve and the goals you want to accomplish in future. That way
you can begin with the end in mind. To
know where you want to go in life, according to your values, beliefs and
principles.
Next, in order to put first
things first Covey suggests ways of taking control of the important things
in life that aren’t necessarily the most urgent. He talks about the following:-
- Planning
- Building relationships
- Personal mission statement
- Work outs
It’s all about using your time effectively to focus on your
important goals in life. Covey describes this as the time that you then reach
independence and that’s when you can improve your effectiveness with others.
In order to do so think
win-win around others and make them feel like winners. You need to be able
to think of solutions to problems that allow all parties involved to benefit
(including you). You must believe that there’s plenty for everyone. Remember
one person’s success does not mean another person’s failure. Covey states that
you need to understand first, then try
to be understood. If you start to actively listen to those around you and
take the time to do so, then you could actually learn something from them. Diagnose
before you prescribe, says Covey.
Finally synergize, be open to fresh and
creative ideas. Value the differences between yourself and others and build
upon them. Understand and adapt to different working styles to find creative
ways out of a conflict situation. Once you achieve the effectiveness with
yourself and others, you have then reached interdependence. You are effective
and admired. Your relentless thirst for learning and exploring means that you
continuously try to improve yourself, as Covey sums up ‘you sharpen the saw’.
The book focuses on the central issue of what drives people
to do things and how they can be happy at doing them. The breakdown of habits
in sequential order really gives you the tools to be effective in your work and
personal life - beginning with yourself and then moving onto others. The 7 Habits of Effective People is detailed
book that I would highly recommend for anyone striving for effectiveness and
interdependence.
