The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

by Stephen R. Covey

As the name of the book suggests, it lists down 7 important habits that could change your life positively if practiced consistently. I personally find it very useful and interesting, as it helps us in improving our organizational and personal lives.

Habit 1-Be Proactive

Proactive people do not let the situation determine how they feel. It is up to us to determine how we feel because only we can do so.

Most of us have a habit of reacting negatively to problems we cannot control, thus affecting our mood and the rest of our day. Instead, we should genuinely and peacefully accept these problems and learn to manage with them.

Habit 2-Begin with the End in Mind

Think of how you want the outcome to be, only focus on that and work hard to achieve it. This exercise is called “visualisation”. Olympic high jumpers see themselves jumping over the beam, and put in a great amount of effort to achieve their goal. You can start by developing your own personal mission statement and focus on what you want to be or do at the end of the day. Our company has its own mission statement, which is to be the preferred company by 2012. However, it requires more than just visualisation. Staff at all levels will have to work dedicatedly to achieve it because without commitment, there will be no result.

Habit 3-Put First Things First

This habit is all about effective management, by recognizing the things in your day or life that should be given priority to.

People who always spend time dealing with crisis and deadlines will result in high stress and burnout. Effective people spend more time planning their workload and prioritizing their tasks to manage stress.

Habit 4-Think Win/Win

Win/Win means that agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial or satisfying to all parties. With a Win/Win solution, all parties will be committed to the action plan. Win/Win sees life as a cooperative, not a competitive arena.

“It’s not your way or my way; it’s a better way, a higher way.”

So, it doesn’t matter whether you want to build your character, whether you are in a relationship, or whether you are negotiating to come to an agreement, always think Win/Win.

Habit 5-Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

This is a very important habit that is often neglected by many people. Whenever there’s a conversation, most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with intent to reply.

“Oh, I know exactly how you feel! I went through the very same thing. Let me tell you about my experience.”

Or, if they have a problem with someone, their attitude is,

“That person just doesn’t understand.”

Problems often occur due to miscommunication, because not only we did not seek to understand, but we also did not seek to be understood. Whenever we communicate an instruction or message, it is our responsibility to ensure that the receiver understands what we are trying to tell them. Do not assume that they know what we think and expect them to produce it.

Habit 6-Synergise

Synergise describes a way of working in teams. It explains that when synergy is pursued as a habit, the result of the teamwork will exceed the sum of what each of the members could have achieved on their own.

Similarly, if all these habits were to be practiced together consistently, it could definitely change our lives. Imagine what a better place this world could be if everyone who read this could practice all these habits together every day?

Habit 7—Sharpen the Saw

This last habit emphasises the importance of self-renewal, which include all 4 dimensions of our nature: physical, spiritual, mental and social/emotional. It’s to preserve and enhance the greatest asset that you have - YOU.

Suppose you were to come upon someone in the woods working very hard to saw down a tree.

You look exhausted! How long have you been at it?

Over 5 hours! This is hard work!

Well, why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen the saw? I’m sure it would go a lot faster

I don’t have time to sharpen the saw. I’m too busy sawing!

Does this sound familiar in your life? Well, the choice is yours.

Lee Kah Hee

Adapted from ‘AXA and You’, issue Q2 2009