Book review - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

There are a lot of books on life coaching, self help, self development and realising personal change... and although many are great reads others are truly awful. So as a pointer to the best I thought I'd include the odd book review.

First up 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen R. Covey

A few years back I was on a management course and part of the 'home work' we had to read this little gem, which has became a major best-seller.

Now Covey's seven habits aren't rocket science they're fairly obvious, simple, yet when you read them it's like a penny dropping from a great hight. His style can be a bit over the top - it's like he's found the secret to eternal life and is so enthusiastic to tell you all about it!! Ok some of it can be really over the top but at the heart of the book he just wants you to take control of your life, stick to your commitments and try do your 'thing' better than you do it now.

Covey has an interesting section on choosing your own definition of success, which will be the subject of some posts next week. You set your own goals, with the belief that you can change your life.

 It's a simple, logical piece of self-motivation, but it does require you to sit back, analyse your life, and work at change. There are no quick fixes here.

His seven habits -

Habit 1: Be Proactive - take the initiative with your life and realise how your decisions determine where your life goes. Any choice has a consequence that you are responsible for - so make the right choices.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind - Self-discover and work out what you value in life. Envision the ideal characteristics for each of your various roles and relationships in life.

Habit 3: Put First Things First - Plan, prioritise and execute your week's tasks based on their importance in your life rather than their urgency. Always making sure that your efforts held drive you towards the goals from Habit 2.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win - when you're working with others always strive for mutually beneficial solutions. If you respect and value what others are trying to achieve your combined efforts are likely to be successful.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, then to be understood - empathy and listening skills are really important when building consensus and helping influence people. If you can understand another person's view point it's then easier to get your point across.

Habit 6: Synergize - you can achieve more as a team than you can as individuals so create teams around common goals to drive success.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw - keep renewing your approach, goals and moivation to continue your progress and creata a sustainable long-term effective lifestyle.

So go and check it out!