Academic Master

Education, English

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (Analysis)

The textbook selected for critical analysis is 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The author highlights the habits that people need to acquire to be interdependent. Society currently teaches people to be independent and follow their dreams, which seems less likely as we live in an interdependent society (Covey, 2013). People rely on one another to achieve their goals because doing things ourselves seems futile. The reason why I have selected this book is that the contents piqued my interest. Covey has presented seven habits that people need to acquire to become highly productive citizens in society. I can improve my habits and change some of my attitudes by reading this book.

The book is based on seven habits as illustrated by Covey on how to become interdependent. Covey starts by drawing a line between principles and values. He presents three stages through which people can move from dependency to independence and interdependency. The author describes the different steps in the book that focus on specific habits the audience must acquire to be highly efficient. In stage one, the author has given three patterns that help a person assess his capabilities and also help him define a balance between things that need to be done first. In stage two, Covey talks about three more habits that focus on making a friendly environment in the workplace. Covey advises his audience to sympathize with others as it shows they are mature. He also asserts that arguments should only be carried out if they are beneficial. He then moves on to the next habit and says people should develop effective listening habits. Instead of providing a diagnosis first, people should assess the other person’s situation and then move on to providing a solution for the problem. He proceeds to say that people should know how to end their differences to maintain peace among themselves. Lastly, he says that to be effective, people need to maintain balance in their lives.

The key lesson the author wants his readers to take away is that people need to change their attitudes to succeed and be useful in working environments. We cannot work effectively and produce better results if we do not assess our capabilities first. Most often, people do more than they can handle without knowing their limits. The result is a disaster and a waste of our energy. Therefore, the author asserts that we must look at ourselves first and evaluate our abilities before we can begin working towards goals. Also, the author focuses on making a clear picture of whatever mission we want to achieve. It is best to strategize the whole thing before starting out on anything. Key lessons are essential as they help us identify the areas that we need to focus on and work on to become productive employees as the author suggests in the book. Some key lessons the author wants his readers to have are character-based ethics, being sympathetic to others, ending differences, and maintaining a balance between personal life and work.

Key lessons are essential in business as they allow employees to work efficiently. Knowing work ethics helps employees in achieving their goals. Being sympathetic to others and acting maturely keeps a peaceful environment in the workplace. Understanding the difference between values and principles helps people do what they believe in instead of working on the words of others. People need to learn to be active listeners to help others in their time of need. To be an active listener, people need to set aside their judgments and quietly listen to what the other has to say. Letting others speak without interrupting them helps them trust the other person more. In a workplace, people must be active listeners to help colleagues and solve their problems. Communicating with others allows an individual to look at things from various perspectives.

The principles that I can apply in my life are being proactive and knowing what I am capable of doing to influence others instead of being affected by external forces. Keeping everything in order and knowing how to do things correctly will help me achieve my goals. Thinking through everything and developing a strategy will help me long-term. Knowing how to end differences and not arguing unnecessarily will keep me from ending up in a dangerous situation at the workplace. Being an active listener is beneficial in the long run as it will allow me to look at things from various angles. Presenting a solution without listening to the other person will not do any of us any good.

To achieve long-term goals and success, we should all practice the habits the author mentions in his books. Covey urges his readers to not focus on working alone instead we should work together to complete our missions and attain success. Building strong relationships in the workplace helps in creating a peaceful environment. Trust is an important factor when working with people, and trust can only be produced if everyone works together and sympathizes with each other.

References

Covey, S. R. (2013). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change. Simon and Schuster.

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