It is not enough to want to succeed. You need to know the principles for success and put them into practice.
Steven Covey, the author of the book ‘7 habits of highly effective people’, explains in details certain habits that will make you effective in life.
Success in life, however, begins in your mind. Our perception of the world and life in general is a product of our mind set. To change your life, you need to begin by changing your mind set.
The first 3 habits (1, 2, 3) of highly effective people focuses on self-mastery and a movement from dependence to independence.
The next 3 habits (4, 5, 6) focus on teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills. These habits also focus on moving from independence to interdependence.
The 7th habit focuses on consistent growth and improvement.
Let’s take a deeper look at the seven habits that will make you effective in life and help you achieve the success you have always dreamed of.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Your life is in your hands. Everything that happens in your life is a result of your choices.
While reactive people wait for things to happen, proactive people make things happen. Proactive people understand that they are responsible for their success and so they work consciously to ensure that they achieve success.
When it comes to success in life, you are either reactive or proactive. Being proactive is, however, a sure way to ensure effectiveness.
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind
For everything you do, always begin with the end in mind. This gives you focus and ensures that you take the necessary steps towards achieving your goals.
Habit 3: Put first things first
Be disciplined. Put first things first. Actions in your day to day life must align with your goals. Don’t just wake up without a plan. Have the will power to do something even when you don’t feel like it. This is a sure way to ensure effectiveness and success in life.
Habit 4: Think win-win
Create effective interdependent. In this kind of relationship, both parties in a relationship are winners, nobody loses. This prevents us from trying to manipulate others in a bid to make progress with our own plans. Don’t achieve your goals without putting others into consideration.
Habit 5: Seek first to understand then be understood
In our interactions with others, we need to practice emphatic listening by understanding them in a bid to offer solutions that meet their needs.
You have to build the skills of empathic listening on a base of character that inspires openness and trust.” -Stephen Covey
Seeking to understand requires consideration; seeking to be understood takes courage.” -Stephen Covey
Habit 6: Synergise
All the aforementioned habits prepare us for the habit of synergising. This habit helps us understand and celebrate another person’s differences. This in turn allows for openness and creativity.
Habit 7: Sharpen the saw
This habit is focused on renewal. We need to take out time to renew ourselves physically, spiritually, socially, mentally and emotionally. Renewal helps us practice each habit as well as achieve effectiveness.
All these habits need to be practiced consistently overtime to ensure effectiveness in life.
