7 Habits of Highly effective people - Stephen Covey

Here at The Like-Minded Collective, one of our favourite books is ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey. We have bonded many times in the office about our “true north” principles and thought we would share some of our favourite key takeaways from the book in this week's blog.

The book starts with exploring the characteristics of those who have achieved much external success, but who find themselves struggling internally with their relationships and own perceptions. Covey’s fundamental argument is that in order to change our situation, we must change ourselves - and to do this, we need to change our perceptions. Here at The Like-Minded Collective this is why we pride ourselves on our holistic approach to work, business and health.

Covey’s book advocates for what he calls ‘the character ethic’. In doing so, he encourages the reader to align their values with the universal principles, and then use such values to govern our behaviour - ultimately resulting in consequences that our habitual behaviour will reflect those fundamental ideals we hold near and dear. Covey presents his values as a series of habits, that progress from ‘independence’ (“be proactive”; “begin with the end in mind”; “put things first”) to ‘interdependence’ (“think win-win”; “seek first to understand, then to be understood”; “synergize”) and finally ‘continual improvement’ (“sharpen the saw”).

These habits focus on different things, designed to alter your perceptions around different experiences in your life. The first three habits, for example, focus on self-mastery, while the second set of three focus on communication and collaboration. The last habit, habit 7, is one focused on continual growth, and fusing all the other habits together. Indeed, it is this last habit that we particularly love. When Covey talks about “sharpening the saw” he is talking about aligning ourselves as one - physically, spiritually and mentally. In doing so, he notes that there are four dimensions of our individual selves that must be enhanced in order to be the most ‘effective’ person possible. These are our physical dimension, spiritual dimension, mental dimension, and social/emotional dimension. Our workshops at TLMC, and our stop to start experiences, have broken these down into what this actually means. Not only that, but we have discussed active ways in which we can not only achieve this habit - but ensure it is one we can easily fit into our lives.

Covey was right in saying that without aligning the mind and body together, we are not fully equipped to be the best versions of ourselves. Indeed, that is why The Like-Minded Collective came to fruition in the first place. We recommend checking out Covey’s book https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519