The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People | Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People | Stephen R. Covey | one of the most influential books of my career

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The 7 Habits of Hi...

	The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stephen R. Covey Free Press, 2004 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 810 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Becoming More Effective

Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is absolutely, positively one of the most useful and clearly written nonfiction books I've ever read...and reread. Being proactive, the first step in what Covey calls the "private victory" is essential before a person can continue on to the other six steps, and rarely a day passes when the circles of influence and concern don't cross my mind. I can recall vividly the exactly spot on I-20 when I heard Covey talking about the first and second creations of (and in) one's life, a concept he discusses in the 2nd habit, "Begin with the end in mind." Whenever I'm at an impasse with a child, co-worker, friend, or my husband, I stop and remind myself of Covey's recommendation to "Seek first to understand, then to be understood," the fifth habit. I also like the last habit, "Sharpen the saw" and if I'm ever grumpy, out of sorts, or overly stressed, it's likely because I haven't taken the time to renew one of my four dimensions: physical, mental, social/emotional, and spiritual.

Truly, all of the habits are benefic to living an effective, well-balanced life. Covey's clear writing, his many anecdotes and illustrations, and his novel definitions of terms both old (maturity and integrity) and new (emotional bank account) combine to make the 7 Habits well worth reading...and rereading.

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one of the most influential books of my career

I had the distinct pleasure of participating in a 7 habits workshop with Dr. Covey in the early 1980s and on each reread of his message, it never gets tired. Leadership is not about dragging people through projects and initiatives, but rather, it is inspiring them to see the value in those ideas and to create an environment where they are encouraged to excel. In my management consulting career, I have been most successful and effective when I am able to get others to "own" their ideas. That means focusing on results, while allowing individuals latitude to discover their own best processes. What do those who work for you do when you're not around to oversee their efforts? After you've become a student of the 7 habits philosophy, you'll rarely lose sleep over that concern!

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Brilliant 7 Habits

I found the Book extremely helpfull and I believe everyone should read it at least once.
A great book by Stephen R Covey..

Don't Kill the Golden Goose

This book is the most famous title of Stephen R. Covey, a professor of Brigham Young University where he taught prior to the publication of this best-selling work. The audio version became the first non-fiction audio-book in U.S. publishing history to sell more than one million copies. Covey holds a BS degree in Business Administration from University of Utah in Salt Lake City, an MBA from Harvard University, and a Doctorate of Religious Education (DRE) in Mormon Church History and Doctrine from Brigham Young University. He also holds membership of the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity.

This book is mainly about the time management (chapters 1, 2, 3, 7) and interpersonal relationships (chapters 4, 5, 6). The other time-management books, like "Getting Things Done" by David Allen and "Time Drive" by Gleb Arkhangelsky, frequently overlook the importance of interpersonal relationships in the time management.

Many of the ideas and much of the language of this book recast the content of the classic 1966 Peter F. Drucker book "The Effective Executive", wherein Drucker wrote: "Effectiveness, in other words, is a habit", and which includes a chapter called "First Things First".

The author consistently opposes "quick-fix" solutions to life or business problems and insists that changes in paradigm or mindset to align with natural principles provide the "true" source of solutions. Covey points out, for example, that the paradigm that produces short-term results in business inevitably leads to an inability to produce results for the long term. He calls this "killing the golden goose". Covey advocates balancing short- and long-term productive capacities as the most effective mindset for the businessperson.

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Capable Advice for the Intellectual

I generally have a difficult time rating self help books highly due to the massive amount of repetition among them combined with a seemingly subconscious effort to leave the reader merely excited into action. I have read countless self help books on the subject of achievement and rate very few as above average. The 7 Habits is one I rate above average and recommend reading.

Covey offers a well laid out analysis of achievement. He details the soundness of his advice and leaves the reader with absolute confidence in his views by supporting his positions with sound logic.

Covey excels with this book by presenting a writing style intended for the intellectual. The 7 Habits reads like a qualified lecture which is refreshing compared the massive amount of personal achievement books available that more closely resemble a motivational speech than compilation of functional principals.

I recommend this book to those seeking improvement in their lives particularly in attitude and organization of priorities. Covey encompasses a wide array of information that promises to provide ample substance to people at all levels of ability and achievement.

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