Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

1. Be Proactive2. Begin With The End In Mind 3. Put First Things First4. Think Win-Win5. Seek First To Understand, Then Be

Understood6. Synergize7. Sharpen The Saw

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Underlying Principle – Individuals are responsible for their own choices and have the freedom to choose.

Key Paradigm – “I am responsible for my behavior and the choices I make in life.”

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Characteristics of a Proactive Person1. Respond according to their values S -> R or S -> freedom to chose -> R 2. Accept responsibility for their own

behavior. We make choices according to our values, purposes, and vision.

3. Focus on their Circle of Influence

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Proactive

“I choose to go.”

“I control my own feelings.”

“Let’s explore alternatives.”

Reactive

“I have to go.”

He makes me so mad.”

“There’s nothing I can do.”

Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind

Underlying Principle – Mental creation precedes physical creation.

Key Paradigm – “I can choose my own future and create a vision of it.”

“I will create results mentally before beginning any activity.”

Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind

Habit 1 says you are the programmer

Habit 2 says write the program

Mission Statement: A powerful document that expresses your personal sense of purpose and meaning in life. It acts as a governing constitution by which you evaluate decisions and choose behaviors.

Habit 3: Put First Things FirstThings which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.

Underlying Principle – Effectiveness requires balancing important relationships, roles, and activities.

Key Paradigm – “I will focus on importance instead of urgency.”

“I will fulfill my mission by acting on important goals in my life.”

Habit 3: Put First Things First

#1 You are the programmer; #2 You write the program; #3 You run the program.

The key is not to prioritize your schedule but to schedule your priorities.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

What are the first things in your life? First things are those things that you, personally, find most worth doing. They move you in the right direction. They help you achieve the principle-centered purpose expressed in your mission statement.

List five or six important things you want to put first in your professional and personal life, then prioritize them.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Importance – An activity is important if you personally find it valuable – if it contributes to your mission, values, and high-priority goals.

Urgency – An activity is urgent if you or others feel that it requires immediate attention.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Underlying Principle – Effective long-term relationships require mutual benefit.

Key Paradigm – “I seek the benefit of others as well as my own.”

“I get better results in my relationships by cooperating interdependently than by competing independently.”

Win-win is a belief in the third alternative. It’s not your way or my way; it’s a better way. --Stephen Covey

Habit 4: Think Win-WinThree Paradigms

Win-Win Characteristics1. Seeks mutual benefit2. Is cooperative, not competitive3. Listens more, stays in

communication longer, and communicates with more courage.

Habit 4: Think Win-WinThree Paradigms

Win-Lose Characteristics1. Is very common scripting for most

people2. Is the authoritarian approach3. Uses position, power, credentials,

possessions, or personality to get the “win.”

Habit 4: Think Win-WinThree Paradigms

Lose-Lose Characteristics1. Is the mindset of a highly

dependent person2. Is the same as a “no win” because

nobody benefits3. Is a long-term result of win-lose.

Habit 5: Seek First To Understand, Then Be Understood

Underlying Principles – Diagnosis must precede prescription. Understanding comes through listening.

Key Paradigms – “I assume I don’t fully understand, and I

need to listen.”“If I listen first to understand, then I will be

better understood.”

Habit 5: Seek First To Understand, Then Be Understood

Levels of listening1. Ignoring – making no effort to

listen2. Pretend listening - giving the

appearance you are listening.3. Selective listening – hearing only

the parts of the conversation that interest you.

Habit 5: Seek First To Understand, Then Be Understood

4. Attentive listening – paying attention and focusing on what the speaker says, and comparing that to your own experiences.

5. Empathic listening – listening and responding with both the heart and mind to understand the speaker’s words, intent, and feelings.

Habit 6: Synergize The essence of synergy is to value

differences – to respect them, to build on strengths, to compensate for weaknesses. --Stephen Covey

Underlying Principle – The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Key Paradigms – “I value the differences in others and seek the third alternative.” “Working together cooperatively takes time but produces better long-term results.”