Introduction
Even the most successful among us occasionally feel as though their goals are beyond their ability to achieve. We all have dreams and aspirations. A key to unleashing our unrealized potential was the only thing still lacking. If you want to get the most out of life and yourself, you need to develop the right habits.
Case Study
Imagine yourself making your first trip to a foreign city. How will you navigate this place and get where you’re going? You might get some advice from a complete stranger on the street, such as to turn right or take the bus. And while these might be beneficial in the short run, they’ll eventually get misplaced again. A better tactic would be to locate a map that accurately depicts your surroundings so that you can navigate on your own, time and time again. Life navigation is similar.
Stephen Covey research
After studying self-help literature from the past 200 years, author Stephen Covey discovered an intriguing pattern. He found that the majority of advice followed one of two paradigms. Priority one is the personality ethic. This paradigm states that the key to success is learning a variety of shortcuts. It makes the claim that if you act or speak appropriately, you can achieve your goals.
Although this advice is persuasive, it frequently leads to only slight changes that have no long-term effects. The second paradigm is unique. It is based on a moral code of conduct. This approach asserts that there are principles for success. These rules don’t just apply in certain situations. They accomplish this because they are eternal truths that are profound and never change.
Application to the … real world
So how does this paradigm actually work in the real world? Let’s say you want to accomplish a goal. The personality ethic would advise adopting a new communication style or a particular type of behavior. On the other hand, the character ethic encourages you to become a better person. You can achieve your goal by creating a character that is based on your values.
Obviously, speaking is easier than actually doing. If you want to develop a morally-based inner character, you must change the way you consistently perceive and relate to the world. Simply put, if you want to change based on the character paradigm, you must establish positive habits. Let’s then get deeper on that.
Habit #1
Here is a simple question that has baffled scholars, thinkers, and common people for millennia. Truly, who are you? Some contend that genetics govern everything and that human evolution is reflected in our very DNA. Others bring up our parents. They contend that who and how we were raised matters more than anything else.
Others, however, insisted that what matters most are our immediate surroundings and circumstances. In actuality, none of these answers are sufficient. There are two deterministic throws. They contend that outside forces have the power to significantly change our lives. Successful people, on the other hand, have a propensity to see things differently.
They recognized that while we can’t control everything, we can control ourselves. Because we can recognize ourselves, humans differ significantly from other animals. Animals rely heavily on cues from their surroundings. When they encounter something in the outside world, they typically react in a predetermined way.
So where is the difference?
In his book, 7 habits of highly effective people, Stephen Covey claims that humans have the capacity to pause, reflect, and decide how to proceed. This is what we mean by being proactive. Initiative is the first behaviour of highly effective people. Being proactive gives you the ability to choose how you interact with the world and the opportunity to influence your own destiny. You have two options: you can actively decide to look for the good rather than let “unavoidable” circumstances ruin your plans.
You can cultivate the ability to control how you react to any given challenge. Take extra care to think through your options whenever you face a challenge at work or in your personal life. Don’t immediately give into your first inclinations. Instead, take a step back, reflect on the underlying causes of the issue, and then concentrate your efforts on the things you can actually control for the better.
#2 of 7 habits of Highly Effective People
Assume that you have sadly passed away. How do you want to be remembered and described by your loved ones? It’s challenging to think about, but it’s also enlightening. The trivialities of daily life vanish and all your true priorities come into sharp focus. You’re thinking about your relationships, your accomplishments, and the world you want to leave behind at this point.
Organizing your life requires that you take into account your ultimate goal. Because of this, highly effective people have a habit of carefully considering their actions. We now arrive at our second habit. Every task should be started with a goal in mind. You see, before you physically carry out a process, whether big or small or actually doing it twice, you must first imagine it by conjuring up a plan. These plans can be brief and informal, like a mental list of your to-dos, or they can be thorough and detailed, like a well-organized business plan. In either case, it’s crucial to consider the future because it will aid in navigating the present.
The real advantages of this habit are found when making long-term plans. To do this, create a personal mission statement that describes the life you envision for yourself. Write down your true aspirations, the principles you want to uphold, and what you consider to be true success after doing some serious introspection. Make decisions using this document as a guide, and track your development. It’s much simpler to stay on the right path when you clearly understand where you want to go. Now let’s review. Beginning each task with the desired result in mind is the second habit of highly effective people.
Habit #3
First things first, or put differently, prioritized tasks according to their urgency and importance. Let’s talk about how. There are many approaches to time management. Some favor making lists, others say you should schedule your tasks in advance. But the real secret to working effectively is organizing your efforts by priority, and for this you can use a time management matrix. A time management matrix is a grid where you list all your tasks according to two dimensions, urgency and importance. To make one, get a piece of paper and draw a two by two grid with four boxes.
Quadrant one is the box on the top left. That is for important and urgent tasks, such as a sudden emergency that cannot be ignored. the second quadrant, upper right boxes. Tasks that are significant but not urgent can be marked here. Consider lengthy initiatives like establishing client relationships. Quadrant 3 is in the bottom left. This is for urgent but not absolutely necessary tasks, like taking phone calls. Quadrant 4 is located in the bottom right corner. This is for non-urgent or non-important things, like playing solitaire. This division of all your responsibilities makes it simpler to determine where to concentrate your efforts.
Quadrant application
Even though the items in Quadrant 1 are significant, it’s the jobs in Quadrant 2 that should receive special attention. These are frequently the most neglected because they don’t seem as urgent, but that isn’t the case. They are still significant and frequently have the highest payoffs for deficiencies. If you take care of them right away, you’ll aid in stopping the emergence of fresh items in Quadrant 1.
Nobody can accomplish everything by themselves, of course. Sometimes prioritizing first requires you to assign tasks that don’t require your personal involvement. Make sure not to micromanage, though. Ask for specific results rather than assigning tasks. The result is ultimately what counts when it comes to efficiency. So keep this third behavior in mind. Order your priorities first.
#4 of 7 habits of Highly Effective People
Imagine that you are at a championship where the final game of the season is being played. There can only be one winner and one loser. No matter how well they played, one team takes home the trophy while the other loses. Thankfully, this is not always the case in life. Actually, if collaborative thinking is employed, the majority of situations can be profitable for both parties. As a result, successful people practice a fourth habit that is ultimately advantageous to everyone.
Win-lose thinking is a common paradigm, and it influences how people interact. A situation in which you winning means the other parties losing their chance to win.
Although this paradigm is beneficial in some situations, it is disastrous in others. It turns everything into a contest and turns potential allies into rivals. As a result, there will eventually be losers on both sides due to mistrust and discord. For instance, in a sales team where only the top performer receives a bonus and the others receive nothing. This win-lose arrangement encourages each player to only think about himself. When someone feels this way, they might hide leads or, worse yet, turn against one another. And what is the outcome? lower total sales? Everyone opposes that.
The win-win alternative
The win-win paradigm offers an alternative to this, though. This point of view substitutes cooperation for competition. It seeks outcomes that are advantageous to all parties. This might entail only awarding bonuses to members of that sales team when they successfully complete their individual sales targets. a single salesperson. A win for one also benefits everyone else. This win-win situation promotes collaboration and teamwork, which will boost sales and make everyone happier at work. OK. And how can you be sure that you’re always seeking the win-win scenario?
You can adopt a mindset of abundance. Success, joy, fulfillment, and even money are not viewed as rare commodities in this mindset. Rather, it is aware that there is always enough for everyone. Finding ways to work together to achieve more value is simpler when you are aware that there is always more to be gained. In conclusion, the fourth habit you should develop is to constantly seek out win-win situations.
Habit #5
The goal here is to improve relationships and communication. The majority of people offer solutions before fully comprehending the issue. People who are highly effective adopt a different strategy. Prior to speaking, they listen. Any meaningful relationship depends on clear communication. People want to be comprehended. But that only presents half of the story. You must also comprehend if you want to successfully foster personal relationships.
And you have to learn to listen if you want to truly understand someone. It entails truly understanding the thoughts and emotions of another person. Empathetic listening is the most effective strategy for achieving this. You must be able to tune into someone’s frame of reference both intellectually and emotionally in order to practice this kind of listening. It entails hearing their words but also uncovering the deeper sentiments behind them.
So what we do ?
One method to handle this is to cease giving advise right away, at least until you fully understand what the other person is trying to say. Try to understand the emotion the other person is trying to convey instead of responding with your own narrative. Reflecting can be as straightforward as noting how frustrating this is or how important you believe it to be. By doing this, you may keep the conversation focused on the subject you want to learn.
But this isn’t a technique or a quick fix for sympathetic listening at work. You need to be genuinely interested in other people. To do it correctly, it takes time, effort, and practice. However, if you try it, others will notice and value your focus. Your relationships will progressively become more honest, fulfilling, and significant.
#6 of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen Covey invites us on a stroll through the rain forest. It is vibrant and beautiful. What gives this place its vivacity and lushness? The birds in the trees, the ground’s ants? Perhaps the sunshine coming through the canopy above is the cause. Now, we can’t credit any one factor alone. All of these things are related. If you stop to think about it, such ecosystems evolve as a result of a complex web of relationships in life. and flourish. The whole is frequently superior to the parts in both nature and interpersonal relationships. Synergy is the term we use to describe this powerful phenomena.
People are continually open to maximizing its potential and creating major synergies when an open exchange of ideas is encouraged. It can be challenging to describe synergy, but to put it simply, it is the creative energy that develops when many people work together harmoniously. As you can see, each individual is different and has a certain set of skills and limitations. Thus, by working together, organizations can maximize one other’s positive qualities while minimizing their negative ones. A superior whole emerges in the end. Almost any circumstance can result in this. Creating an atmosphere where everyone feels secure and valued will promote synergistic energy.
This necessitates utilizing additional behaviors, such as empathic listening. People are more inclined to share ideas, build on one another’s contributions, and value the many abilities that others bring when these practices are practiced.
Habit #7
Think of yourself like a diligent lumberjack. You enter the forest every day and begin chopping trees. The initial few were simple. Over time, you do observe that it takes more wax to bring each tree down. You’ve probably guessed what’s wrong with this situation. You failed to remember to maintain your tools. This parable demonstrates that if they don’t take breaks, even the most motivated and committed workers will eventually burn out.
Because of this, the seventh and final habit of highly effective people is all about rejuvenation and rest. Set aside time to look after yourself. All of your other productive habits will start to suffer if your body, mind, and spirit are not in good condition. Therefore, it’s essential to devote time and effort to continuously rejuvenating oneself in four various dimensions.
The four dimensions of the method
The physical dimension comes first. This entails taking good care of your body by engaging in regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and getting plenty of relaxation. You will have the stamina to continue working over the long term if you develop these healthy habits.
The spiritual dimension is the second. Getting in touch with who you are, what you stand for, and the beauty in the world around you is the key to renewing this dimension. Spend a few minutes every day in thought, prayer, or meditation. You’ll discover that such routines keep you focused and equipped to deal with difficulty.
Mentality is the third dimension. similar to your body. Regular cognitive exercises are necessary. Always learning something new will keep you sharp. Learn new things, read new things, or try learning a language. These interests provide your life more depth and keep you interested in the world around you.
The social and emotional facets of your life make up the fourth and final component. Your social life does not have to suffer in order to pursue efficiency. Contrarily, it is imperative to maintain both your personal and professional ties. Regularly check in with loved ones, have a conversation with coworkers, and engage in play with your kids. You will continue to benefit if you commit to renewing each of these dimensions. You’ll always be prepared to act as a successful person if you develop this habit.
Summary of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:
And here is a brief summary of the seven behaviors is given below.
- The first is to actively manage how you react to the outside world.
- The second one starts each work by identifying the desired result.
- Put first things first to set priorities.
- Always try to find win-win situations.
- Establish deeper connections with others by actually comprehending them.
- By encouraging an open exchange of ideas, you can produce effective synergy.
- Make sure to schedule some alone time.
You will gradually begin to enjoy the benefits of an effective life if you internalize these and work to create a commitment to them.
From the book :
The 7 habits of Highly Effective People.
(American Businessman, lecturer and author)
