
Covey holds that competition belongs in the marketplace.Ĭovey points out that, from childhood, many people are conditioned to a win/lose mentality by school examinations, by parental approval being rationed to ‘success’, by external comparisons and league tables. Interdependence occurs when there is co-operation, not competition, in the workplace (or the home). Habits 1-3 are grouped under the banner of ‘Private Victory’, as they are the basic paradigms of interdependence. This approach transcends the office diary or day-planner, embracing all roles in life – as manager, mentor, administrator, strategist, and also as parent, spouse, member of social groups, and as an individual with needs and aspirations. Habit 3 is therefore about managing oneself effectively, by prioritising according to the principles adopted in Habit 2. Quadrant IV – irresponsibility, dependency, unsuitability for employment. Quadrant III – short termism, loss of control, shallowness, feelings of being a victim of circumstances. Quadrant I – stress, burn-out inability to manage time (& thus loss of control of one’s own life). On the other hand, the results of placing one’s main focus on the other quadrants are: The outcomes of a Quadrant II focus include, vision, perspective, balance, discipline, & control.
Stephen covey 7 habits of effective people tv#
Quadrant IV – Not urgent & not important – for example, trivia, time wasters, gossip, excessive TV watching.Quadrant III – Urgent but not important – for example, interruptions, meetings.Quadrant II – Not urgent, but important – for example, planning recreation, relationship-building, doing, learning.Quadrant I – Urgent & important – for example, crises, deadlines, unexpected opportunities.He breaks down life’s activities into four quadrants: It argues that the important thing is not managing time, but managing oneself, focusing on results rather than on methods when prioritising within each compartment of work & life. Habit 3 – Put first things firstĬovey’s first major work, First Things First, sets out his views on time management. However, only by clearly establishing one’s own principles, in the form of a personal mission, does one have a solid foundation. Of course all of these have some influence over the life of every individual. Most people adopt something as the basis (or pivotal point) of their life – spouse, family, money, church, pleasure, friends (and, in a perverse way, enemies), sport, etc. To identify the end, and to formulate one’s route or strategy to achieving that end, Covey maintains the need for a ‘principle-centred’ basis to all aspects of life.

It depends on control, guidance, and rules.

Management, on the other hand, is about efficiency – how best to accomplish the vision.

It calls for direction (in every sense of the word), purpose, meaning, and sensitivity. Leadership is about effectiveness – the vision of what is to be accomplished. When pro-active people make a mistake, they not only recognise it as such and acknowledge it, they also correct it if possible and, most importantly, learn from it. Those who allow their feelings to control their actions have abdicated responsibility and empowered their feelings. Pro-active people recognise their responsibility to make things happen. Covey breaks down the work responsibility into two parts: response(especially choosing a response) and ability. Pro-active people are responsible for their own lives. Covey’s 7 habits of highly effective people Habit 1 – Be Pro-active.Ĭovey distinguishes between pro-active people – people who focus their efforts on things which they can do something about – and reactive people, who blame, accuse, behave like victims, pick on other people’s weaknesses, and complain about external factors over which they have no control (for example, the weather).
