Weeks 6, 7:  Habits 1, 2, 3, 4

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,
By Stephen Covey

An Introduction

 

Purpose:

Change from the inside out

Take steps to encourage life-long fulfillment, happiness

–   Put things in perspective

Maintain HIGH QUALITY relationships

 

Expectations per Covey:

Improved self confidence and self esteem

–   YOU are in control

Improved relationships

Capacity to influence and motivate others will be enhanced

Spirit of adventure, zest, joy

 

Key concepts, Chapter 1

Personality Ethic

Character Ethic

Paradigm

Paradigm Shift

Principle-Centered Paradigm

Inside-out change

7 Habits

 

Personality vs. Character Ethic

Personality Ethic.  

–   Success is a function of:

•   Personality,

•   Public image,

•   Attitudes and behaviors,

•   Skills and techniques, that lubricate the processes of human interaction.

 

Secondary Trait

–   Social recognition of talent.

 

Character Ethic.

–   Success depends on:

•   Integrity,

•   Humility,

•   Fidelity,

•   Temperance,

•   Courage,

 

Primary Trait

–   Goodness of character.

 

Paradigm

Paradigm 

–   A model, theory, perception, assumption, or frame of reference.

–   The way we see the world

•   Perceiving, understanding, interpreting.

Paradigm Categories:

–   Realities = the way things are

–   Values = the way things should be.

 

Character Ethic and Principles

  Based on idea that principles govern human effectiveness.

–   Natural laws accepted as RIGHT

 

  Examples of Principles:

•    Fairness

•    Integrity/honesty

•    Human dignity

•    Quality/excellence

A New Level of Thinking

 

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is a

•    Principle-centered

•    Character-based

•    Inside-out approach to personal and interpersonal effectiveness.

 

Effectiveness & Production Capability

  Effectiveness  = a function of (P), (PC) 

–   P symbolizes production of desired results.

–   PC symbolizes production capacity.

–   Effectiveness is the focus on both P and PC, balancing the two or optimizing P by optimizing PC.

  Organizational PC

–   Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers.

 

 

 

Habit 1:  Be Proactive

  The Social Mirror can be a trap

  (3)  theories of determinism:

–   Genetic determinism :  you inherit your personal tendencies and character.

–   Psychic determinism :  your upbringing and childhood experiences mold you.

–   Environmental determinism environmental factors are responsible for who you are.

 

Proactivity

As human beings we are responsible for our own lives.

–   Reactive people are driven by feelings, circumstances, conditions, the environment.

–   Proactive people are driven by carefully considered, selected and internalized values.

Taking the Initiative

Does not mean being:

–    pushy,

–   obnoxious,

–   aggressive.

It does mean recognizing our responsibility to make things happen.

WHAT principle is involved in Habit 1?

 

Proactivity vs. Reactivity

  I am responsible for my life

 

  My choices control my behavior

 

  Factors beyond my control create my life

  My conditions, conditioning, and feelings control my behavior

 

Disowning

   “There’s not enough time in the day”

   “I was never very good at public speaking”

   “I lost my temper”

   “Find out what the prof wants and do it”

 

Owning

     “I’ve overscheduled myself”

     “I’ve avoided public speaking because I’m uncomfortable with it”

        “I gave way to my feelings”

        “I decide what’s needed & get the system working on it”

 

 

 

Circle of Concern/
Circle of Influence

Where do you focus your time and energy?

–   Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence.

–   Reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern.

 

Direct, Indirect, and No Control

Problems fall in one of three areas:

–   Direct control:

•   problems involving our own behavior.

–   Indirect control:

•   problems involving the behavior of others.

–   No control:

•   problems we can do nothing about, e.g., our past.

 

Key to changing habits:

Changing our habits,

Changing our methods of influence,

Changing the way we see our no control problems

     Are all within our Circle of Influence.

 

 

Self-Test Web Sites:

http://www.usaweekend.com/respond/covey_urgency_quiz.html

http://www.usaweekend.com/cgi-bin/5minute_b.pl

 

Week 7 continued . . .

Habit 2

 

Begin with the End in Mind

Habit 2 of

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Toward what end are you working?

•     What are you doing each day that is really important to you?

•     What really matters to you?

•     Do you allow external influences to write your life script?

 

Chapter 2 thesis:

•     We may be busy, we may be efficient, but…

 

  We will only be effective if we begin with the end in mind.

 

 

All things are created twice:

•     A mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation

•     Most endeavors fail with the first creation.

–   We are either the second creation of our own proactive creation, or,

–   We are the second creation of other people's agendas, of circumstances, or of past habits.

Leadership & Management

•     Leadership is the first creation.

    = doing the right things.

•     Management is the second creation.

     =  doing things right

  People try to manage before they clarify values.

Rescripting: Becoming
Your Own First Creator

•     Proactivity is based on the endowment of self-awareness.

•     Two other endowments allow us to expand proactivity and exercise personal leadership in our lives:

–   Imagination allows to visualize potential

–   Conscience allows us to develop our talents within the context of principles and personal guidelines.

At the Center

•     Whatever is at the center of our life will be the source of:

–   Security,

–   Guidance,

–   Wisdom, and

–   Power.

•     What is at the center of your life?

Life Centers

•     People often act as if some combination of “centers” were the basis of their actions

•     None of these centers (or combinations) is complete in itself

•     Spouse

•     Family

•     Work

•     Money/Possession

•     Friend/Enemy

•     Church

•     Self

•     Pleasure

 

 

 

An alternative:
Principle-centeredness

•     Not reactive

•     Most effective decision

•     Consistent with your ultimate values

•     Allows one to be interdependent

•     Can feel comfortable with decision--not ambivalent

 

Principle Center

•     Our lives need to be centered on correct principles -- deep, fundamental truths, classic truths, generic common denominators.

•     As a principle centered person, you try stand apart from the emotions of situations and from other factors to evaluate options.

 

Your Mission Statement

•     The key to the ability to change is a changeless sense of who you are, what you are about, and what you value.

•     A mission gives you the essence of your own proactivity.

–   The vision and values that direct your life.

–   The basic direction from which you set your goals.

 

Your Personal Mission Statement

•     What you want to be

•     What you want to do

•     Values and principles that guide what you are and do

 

Starting your mission statement

•     List two values that you admire

•     Start keeping a list of notes, quotes, and ideas, which may be helpful to you in formulating what you stand for.

 

Upcoming classes:

•     Covey, Habits 3, 4, 5

•     BPS:  Action oriented speeches

•     Learning log due soon on Covey