The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

“We see the world, not as it is, but as we are – or, as we are conditioned to see it.” 

― Stephen R. Covey

I rarely come across a list of recommended business or self-help books that does not include The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. It’s one of the most lauded self-improvement classics, alongside titles like Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and the Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason.

So let’s find out what the excitement is all about and maybe there are a few things you could learn from it.

First, you have to be proactive, get off your behind and do something if you want to get closer to achieving your goals. The second is that you should begin with the end in mind –don’t go around working aimlessly. If you’re working towards your goal make sure those goals and your actions are aligned. The third is to prioritise your work and avoid distractions, get into the habit of putting first things first.

The fourth is to think win-win, and that means when dealing with others you don’t always have to get the biggest slice of the pie, you can still win by being fair. The fifth habit is to seek first to understand, then to be understood. When someone comes to you with a problem, take the time to listen well and when you have fully understood them then you can offer a solution.

The sixth is about synergy. This is a very important habit that we can easily overlook. When you work together with others the sum of your efforts can result in greater rewards than if you’d gone at it alone. You can achieve more when working with others.

The last habit is to sharpen the saw. This habit will help you stay balanced and not overstretch yourself. When you sharpen the saw you enhance your greatest skill or asset so that you can increase your capacity and be able to continue with the rest of the habits.

Some of these habits are not the most ground-breaking advice you’ve heard, they’re pretty obvious and self-explanatory. However, it is helpful when it comes to guiding you to mastering these habits that many would find challenging. I’d recommend The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People for people who are looking for ways to organise their lives to help them become balanced, efficient and effective in working on their goals.

Check out my next review on The 7 Habits of Happy Kids