![seven habits of highly effective people chart seven habits of highly effective people chart](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fc/b1/c6/fcb1c6aaf5291178536a6bf095b9e6b5.gif)
Habits 1-3 help us achieve a private victory and take us from dependence to independence. We need others in order to achieve or have what it is we want. The final habit then ties it all together.īeing dependent in any way (physically, mentally, emotionally, intellectually, financially etc.) means to rely on someone else for these aspects of ourselves. This is Stephen Covey’s “Maturity Continuum”. Starting from dependence, the first three habits take us to independence, and the next three take us to interdependence. The structure of the 7 habits can be seen in the graphic below.
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But once we break out of that initial gravity well, we have a lot more freedom. He says that habits also have a strong gravitational pull, it’s difficult to set (or break) them. Covey gives an excellent analogy here: Spaceships which go on voyages of hundreds of thousands of miles, spend more energy during lift off, than the rest of the trip. Our habits are what make up our character. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” He argues, the more we align our maps with these fundamental truths, “the more accurate and functional they will be”. Covey refers to our values and paradigms as the “maps” which guide us to actions and thoughts. Unlike practices (skills, tricks, techniques etc.), “ principles are deep, fundamental truths which have universal application.”. While I believe these are subjective, I think 99% of people would agree that all of these are truly positive and important values.įundamental principles Stephen Covey mentions: To embody elements of the character ethic we must accept that there are some natural principles of human behavior.Ĭovey’s point here is that there are some naturally positive and innate principles which we should value. Internal, fundamental change is the only way to solve problems permanently. I think you’re starting to get the point. And this requires a strong change in perception and changing the fundamentals of your beliefs and values: a Paradigm Shift. Covey learned that we can only achieve true and enduring success and happiness through integrating these principles into our character. Character ethic is based on meaningful values such as “integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience” etc. In contrast, he noted that earlier literature focused on the character ethic as the foundation of success. In fact, I believe these personality ethic ideas have become even more pervasive through today’s literature, entertainment, and social media. Now, he wrote this back in 1989, but things definitely haven’t changed.
![seven habits of highly effective people chart seven habits of highly effective people chart](http://image.slidesharecdn.com/the-7-habits-of-highly-effective-people-121027090717-phpapp01/95/the-7habitsofhighlyeffectivepeople-summary-1-638.jpg)
Covey referred to this as “social band-aids”: short-term solutions based on manipulation, duplicity and self-centered motives. And the new literature attempts to teach us techniques to hack our way to outward success. In the personality ethic, success is purely an outward measure determined by public image, displays of wealth etc. Newer books hada strong emphasis and focus on what he calls the personality ethic. He noticed a pattern: most of the literature written shortly after World War I, was very different from that which was written before.
![seven habits of highly effective people chart seven habits of highly effective people chart](https://teamreferralnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/8-habits-700x990.jpg)
He studied many books, articles and essays on the topic of self-improvement. Through his own experiences, he found that to change the situations which affect us, we have to change ourselves, which requires a change of perception.Ĭovey spent time researching the idea of perception. Covey says these self improvement goals are deep problems which cannot be solved with a quick fix. These are all examples of common goals that many of us struggle with no matter how much we want to achieve them. Having a better relationship with our family, getting in shape, learning new skills. You can’t change outcomes until you change yourselfĮven those who achieve success in the various outward aspects of life (career, academia, wealth, business, fame etc.), find themselves longing for an internal and personal congruency and effectiveness, as well as deep and meaningful relationships with others.