Revision as of 13:10, 26 February 2021

Edited by Cecilia Thuy Duyen Nguyen-Cong (s184300)

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a self-help book written by Stephen R. Covey and was first published in 1989.^[1] Covey presents 7 habits that are fundamental principles to effectiveness in life in the modern society, where life has become more complex, stressful and demanding. Although the book is related to business management and the professional life, it gives general good advice to self-management and confidence-building in the private life. The book has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and is awarded as one of the 25 most influential business management books by the US TIME’s magazine and an International Bestseller. Even though the book was written over 25 years ago its wisdom is timeless and has inspired presidents, CEO’s, educators and many people over the world. ^[2]

This book has met a lot of positive publicity, and here is one:

• “Every so often a book comes along that not only alters the lives of readers but leaves an imprint on the culture itself. The 7 Habits is one of those books." - Daniel Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When and Drive”^[1]

This article explains the essentials of the 7 principles or habits as Covey presents them in the book. This article will also include the overall approach of the concept and how it can be included in a project management context. Lastly, there will be a critical reflection of the application of the principles.

Overall Concept of The 7 Habits

In the book Covey quotes from the Greek philosopher, Aristoteles[link]; “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” [Book, p. 65] Real effectiveness is a function of two factors, on one hand is it about what is produced and on the other hand it is about the ability to produce. That is a balance that Covey calls the P/PC-Balance; P for the production and PC for the production capacity. It is the paradigm of effectivity that The 7 Habits is based on. [Book, p. 73]

The 7 Habits is a concept that examines and adjusts a person’s character, motives and behaves. The foundation of its knowledge lies in the idea of how you see the world and should interact with others. Overall, the idea about The 7 Habits is to manage our time and goal in your life, define the character you want be and build productive relationships. The concept not meant to be a quick fix but a process of change and growth.

The 7 Habits are created upon a maturity scale, and together The 7 Habits provide an integrated method to personal growth and development. The order of the maturity scale is from the lowest level, dependence, secondly independence and interdependence as the highest level of maturity.

Between each level of maturity Covey describes the first three habits as the one that take a person from dependence to interdependence – this is the private victory. The habits from four to six take a person from independence to interdependence – this is the public victory. Here is a list the first six habits:

• 1. Habit: Be proactive
• 2. Habit: Begin with the end in mind
• 3. Habit: Put first thing first.
• 4.Habit: Think win-win
• 5. Habit: Seek first to understand, then to be understood
• 6. Habit: Synergize

Lastly the 7th habit is about “Sharpen The Saw”, and is the maintaining and order of all the 6 habits – this is beyond the maturity scale and is about renewal. Covey illustrates the whole paradigm of The 7 Habits as shown the figure seen below.

This is a bottom-up structure, that indicates, that you have to win the private victory in order to win the public victory etc. Habits in general can make you do great things and make things happen but is can also be the block on the road stopping you for what you really desire to achieve.

Details of The 7 Habits

Each habit has a directly opposite negative habit, from its perspective it will be easier to get acquainted with it to understand the foundation.

Habit 1: Be proactive

Habit 1 takes two opposites, reactive and proactive, into account. The habit of being reactive means that you are governed by mood, emotions and impulses, and as Covey describes it; that you are prone to respond in a certain way to a certain stimulus. [Book, p. 97] You complain about the things you cannot control and does not take action or ownership of the things you should do. The main reason that some people behave reactive can be explained from the deterministic theories [link] of how we evaluate a person or ourselves from the outside. As people we sometimes convince ourselves that we are a product of our parents and surroundings, and that is how we define ourselves without any control of how it influences us – simply “that is just how I am, so therefore I can’t…”. It could also be other complaining factors such as economic issues, what people think you etc. That is the root of the problem of the habit of being reactive. We blame everything else, instead of taking control and making the best we can, out of what we have – taking the responsibility and choosing our own reaction. From the ability to do so, and with acknowledgment, imagination, conscience and the willing of our own, then we will become proactive.

To be proactive:

• Stop making excursions for yourself.
• Your decisions determine your life, not your conditions.
• You can control how you react in a certain situation
• Focus on the things you can control and have influence on.
• Take action to improve the things you can control.

Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind

Habit 3: Put first thing first

Habit 4: Think win-win

Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood

Habit 6: Synergize

Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw

How to Include The 7 Habits as a Manager (UNFINISHED)

As mentioned in the beginning the concept of The 7 Habits is not a quick fix. The 7 Habits includes suggestions for the application of each habit, which also has a focus to implement it into the life as a manager.

“The project manager plays a critical role in the leadership of a project team in order to achieve the project’s objectives. (…) a project manager may be involved in evaluation and analysis activities prior to project initiation. These activities may include consulting with executive and business unit leaders on ideas for advancing strategic objectives, improving organizational performance, or meeting customer’s needs.” – PMI Standard []

In this section the role of a project manager can be achieved successfully by applying the concept of the 7 habits.

P/PC-balance:

• Between employees, customers and stakeholders
• “always be to your employees, as you would be to your best costumers.” [book, p. 77]

Become Real Leaders / Great leadership

• A true leader is not only about managing people and resources.
• About unleash the full potential of the team behind the project, to get the best and highest outcome.
• About character

Managing yourself effectively

Habit 1: Be proactive is relevant for teams and organizations, especially when it comes to carry out projects and working in fast environments. From the PMI Standard the manager is explained as the conductor leading a large orchestra. As a manager it is first of all important to manage yourself effectively, by being proactive and be responsible before you can lead others. Otherwise, the symphony(product) will become disorganized and incoherent, resulting in a bad experience for the spectators(costumers). It is important starting focusing on the things that is in control, instead stressing yourself and your team with the problems that are in uncontrol or still unknown. As a project manager you are the first accountable for being proactive to find a solution, keep moving forward and take your team in your hand and bring them with you in collaboration. The primary focus should be in the things you can control, accept the things you cannot and make good things happen.

Habit 2: begin with the end in mind…

Limitation

• Critical reflections of the application-section.

References

(Summarize and outline the relevance of each key reference (100 words per reference))

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} [The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey, Danish version: Gyldendal Business, 4th edition, 2020]
2. ↑ The 25 Most Influential Business Management Books, by Stephen Gandel, TIME BUSINESS GUIDES, August, 2011