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8 Habits of Highly Effective people by Stephen Covey Summary

8 Habits of Highly Effective people by Stephen Covey Summary



8 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey Summary


The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey

Introduction


 “The 8th Habit” by author Stephen Covey is not just a continuation of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which was wildly successful and among the best sellers list. “The 8th Habit” is a book on the paradigm shift in thinking from an industrial age to a knowledge-based era. Not surprisingly, the emphasis once again is on core character of an individual rather than on personality development.


Stephen Covey says that human beings have a choice to determine their destiny, as against animals who are dependent on the forces of nature. This ‘choice’ which we are gifted with must be harnessed to better our situation in life as well as benefit others and the society as a whole.


Discovering Your Voice
The modern leader has to discover his voice. By this we mean understanding our strengths and weaknesses, identifying opportunities, and acting upon our lofty ideals. Achieving greatness must be our goal and this can happen only if we empower ourselves and our colleagues to discover our unique and individual voice.


The Nature of Self: Mind, Body, Heart, and Spirit
The author, Stephen Covey, has beautifully explained the nature of self and cogently explained individual personality as a combination of four dimensions:

  1. Mind:
    The mind is a powerful engine. Our imagination propels us to act and function in a productive fashion. Our IQ or Intelligence Quotient is a measure of our ability to perform and is an important factor in determining our abilities. However, mere IQ is not enough if we wish to become leaders. The mind provides the vision and an image of what we wish to become.

  2. Body:
    The body reflects our PQ or Physical Intelligence. Our body is our temple. But most of us ignore our body and, in fact, abuse it by not exercising and keeping fit. Our well-being depends on a healthy body. This brings control or discipline in our lives, which is necessary to convert vision into reality.

  3. Heart:
    This is EQ or Emotional Intelligence. This form of intelligence was ignored till the late twentieth century. Many of us have observed that some intelligent people are failures in life whereas people of average IQ come up tops. We need EQ to succeed and become leaders. This means awareness, sensitivity, and empathy. Our colleagues and employees are now more sensitive to our behavior and attitude. Passion is critical to success. The fire to succeed should engulf our very soul. This effulgence will touch every aspect of our lives and inspire others.

  4. Spirit:
    SQ or spiritual intelligence is a powerful concept that is often ignored. It orchestrates the action of the other three intelligences. The ultimate goal of our lives is to gain mental peace and equanimity. Our spiritual development would show us the right path and direction. It is the conscience—a candle that illuminates the way in darkness. Our character is our biggest asset and must be nurtured.


Three Aspects of Character

  • Integrity: Complete honesty, based on the principle of natural laws.

  • Maturity: Compassion and understanding while dealing with others.

  • Abundance Mentality: A feeling of plenty; sharing results in a Win-Win situation.


New Age Leadership and Organizational Success
The new age organization has to be powered by a different fuel. This requires an alignment of our personal goals and that of the organization. The four pillars of success today are:


  1. Modeling: Behaving in a manner which evokes trust.

  2. Pathfinding: Providing direction to the organization—a moral compass.

  3. Aligning: Working towards a common objective rooted in moral principles.

  4. Empowering: Providing people with tools to work in harmony with natural laws.


Empowerment is achieved by bridging the following six gaps:

  • Clarity

  • Commitment

  • Translation

  • Enabling

  • Synergy

  • Accountability

Each of these gaps must be addressed to realize potential.


The Four Disciplines of Execution


 Lofty ideals are meaningless if they cannot be executed. To realize our dreams, we must:

  1. Focus on what is wildly important

  2. Create a compelling scoreboard and update it constantly

  3. Practice accountability at every step

Accountability is the final goal post for a successful and enriched life.



Also read: Getting To Yes Book Summary And Analysis

Also read: Ghosts of The Silent Hills  By Anita Krishan Book Review

Also read: Difficult Conversations Book Summary And Analysis

Also read: Built To Last by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras Book Summary

Also read: The Long Tail by Chris Anderson Book Summary

Also read: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey



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