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Introduction

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is an empowering life philosophy which resonates deeply. The teachings of this philosophy, by Stephen Covey, builds a foundation for approaching life through timeless principles of effectiveness.

Jim Collins:

I think of what Stephen Covey did for personal effectiveness as analogous to what the graphical user interface did for personal computers… there has been hundreds of years of accumulated wisdom about personal effectiveness, from Benjamin Franklin to Peter Drucker, but it was never assembled into one coherent, user-friendly framework. Covey created a standard operating system - the “Windows” - for personal effectiveness, and he made it easy to use.

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7 Habits Tree Diagram

The tree diagram below, referenced from the 30th Anniversary eddition of The 7 Habits of Highly Effetive People, shows how the habits progressively build upon each other.

  • Private Victory (Habits 1-3): The first three habits, build up from the roots of the tree, known as the private victory habits, which are not seen from the outside world. The private victory preceeds the public victory which
  • Public Victory (Habits 4-6): The next three habits, are known as the public victory habits which deal with the interdependent nature of relationships. As these deal with the external world, they are seen by others and are visible, like the trunk and leaves of a tree.
  • Renewal (Habit 7): The final habit, Sharpen the Saw, is the habit of renewal. It is the habit of continuous improvement and growth. It is the habit that ensures that the tree remains healthy and continues to grow.

7 Habits Tree Diagram (30th Anniversary Edition p.66)

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Habits 1-3: Private Victory

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Habit 1: Be Proactive

Be Proactive, opposed to reactive. The first habit is about taking responsibility for your life. You can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can control how you respond to it. Focus on your Circle of Influence to expand it. If you let your Circle of Concern control you, it will cause your Circle of Influence to shrink.

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Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

In life there are two creations - the mental creation and the physical creation. The mental creation is the vision, the physical creation is the reality. Begin with the end in mind is about creating a vision of what you want to achieve in life. Think about what you want people to say about you at your funeral. What do you want to be remembered for?

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Habit 3: Put First Things First

Put First Things First is about prioritizing your life. It is about focusing on what is important, not just what is urgent. It is about living by your values, not by the agenda of others. It is about planning and executing based on your priorities.

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Habits 4-6: Public Victory

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Habit 4: Think Win/Win

Think Win/Win is about seeking mutual benefit in all human interactions. It is about creating a win for yourself and a win for others. It is about finding a third alternative that is better than what either party could have come up with on their own. It is about being open and honest in your communication.

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Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood is about listening with the intent to understand, not with the intent to reply. It is about empathizing with others and seeing things from their perspective. It is about being open and honest in your communication and learning to be humble and open-minded.

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Habit 6: Synergize

Synergize is about working together with others to create something greater than the sum of its parts. It is about valuing the differences in others and using those differences to create something new and innovative. It is about being open and honest in your communication and learning to be humble and open-minded.

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Habit 7: Renewal

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Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Sharpen the Saw is about taking care of yourself. It is about renewing yourself in four areas - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It is about taking time to rest and recharge so that you can be at your best. It is about investing in yourself so that you can continue to grow and improve.