Stephen Covey noted that great achievers were frequently plagued by desolation in his encounter with successful people. Covey contends that a person’s character, not personality, must be developed to attain long-term success (Covey, 2004). What we are speaks much more about us than what we do or say. Hence, a set of concepts underpins the “Character Ethic.” Covey contends that these concepts are apparent and present in most religious, ethical, and social systems and can be applied everywhere.
Routines of great achievers
Covey’s seven behaviours are made up of the fundamental character concepts that underpin success and happiness. These habits include;
- being proactive,
- starting with the final goal in mind
- putting first things first
- Thinking to win/win
- Striving to understand first before being understood
- Synergizing
- Sharpening the saw
Being proactive entails taking charge of your life. As a result, you don’t blame your conduct on outside causes like circumstances but rather embrace it as an element of a deliberate choice founded on your principles. Whereas reactive individuals are motivated by emotions, proactive persons are motivated by values.
Start with the final goal: Covey asks you to visualize your funeral to better grasp this behaviour. He urges you to contemplate how you want your family and friends to remember you, what you want them to recognize as your accomplishments and impact on their lives. This thought exercise will assist you in identifying the core principles that should guide your actions. Hence, every day of your existence should complement the overall goal you have in life. Recognizing what is essential to you allows you to spend your life pursuing what is essential to you.
Set first things: The habit emphasizes developing competent self-management skills via an autonomous will. It is concerned with prioritizing your obligations and the most critical things. As a result, individuals develop the discipline to reject anything that does not align with their guiding beliefs.
Think win/win: Covey contends that win/win is a concept of human engagement. It is a mentality that pursues the mutual gain of everyone involved. It indicates that all solutions and agreements are mutually beneficial, and all participants are content with the outcomes. This perspective can be adopted by viewing life as a collective effort rather than a contest.
Strive to understand first, then to be understood: Covey asserts that if you intend to augment your interpersonal interactions, you must first strive to comprehend a circumstance before being heard. Through empathetic listening, you express your thoughts in line with your audience’s perspectives and worries.
Synergize: Synergy is defined as balancing a group’s psychological, mental, and emotional differences and, as a result, developing new frameworks of thinking among the team members. It entails team building, collaboration, and the formation of oneness with other people.
Sharpening the saw: To “sharpen the saw” implies consistently and regularly exercising and expressing all four dimensions of regeneration, including the physical, social/emotional, mental and spiritual aspects. It is important to balance each area since overindulging in one implies neglecting another.
Correlation: The relationship between habits one, two, and three focuses on progressing from dependency to autonomy and enhancing self-mastery. On the other hand, habits four, five and six focus on developing communication skills, teamwork and collaboration and progressing from autonomy to interdependency. Habit Seven is all about constant development and improvement, encompassing all the other qualities.
The abundance mindset: An abundant mentality is a belief or viewpoint that everyone can share sufficient resources and accomplishments (Castrillon, 2020). An abundant mentality is founded on appreciation, a profound sense that the universe is filled with opportunities and chances. Assisting others in accomplishing their objectives can help you reach your own.
The scarcity mindset: On the contrary, the scarcity mindset believes there are insufficient resources and opportunities for everyone to share (Castrillon, 2020). A scarcity mindset sees life as an inadequate pie; the rest will remain with little if a person gets a large piece. It is a mindset that keeps many people from accomplishing their goals.
References
Covey, S. R. (2004). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change. Simon and Schuster.
Castrillon, C., 2020. 5 Ways To Go From A Scarcity To Abundance Mindset. [online] Forbes. Available at: <https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2020/07/12/5-ways-to-go-from-a-scarcity-to-abundance-mindset/?sh=786e16401197> [Accessed 31 October 2021].
