Tuesday 25 September 2012

7 habits of highly effective people

I have volunteered to present part of Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People to the rest of my virtual work team, comprising of at least 25 nationalities spread across 15 countries.  The Company believes in development of its people and is now putting its money where its mouth is, by carving out time during the week of 15 October for a enterprise-wise bottom-up funfair-type activity.  No matter my grouses about the Company from time to time, it does take time out to SAYANG the employees.  That is much more than a lot of other companies do.

Extracted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seven_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People 
The First Three Habits surround moving from dependence to independence (i.e., self-mastery):
  • Habit 1: Be Proactive
Take initiative in life by realizing that your decisions (and how they align with life's principles) are the primary determining factor for effectiveness in your life. Take responsibility for your choices and the consequences that follow.
  • Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Self-discover and clarify your deeply important character values and life goals. Envision the ideal characteristics for each of your various roles and relationships in life. Create a mission statement.
  • Habit 3: Put First Things First
Prioritize, plan, and execute your week's tasks based on importance rather than urgency. Evaluate whether your efforts exemplify your desired character values, propel you toward goals, and enrich the roles and relationships that were elaborated in Habit 2.

Interdependence

The next three have to do with Interdependence (i.e., working with others):
  • Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Genuinely strive for mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in your relationships. Value and respect people by understanding a "win" for all is ultimately a better long-term resolution than if only one person in the situation had gotten his way.
  • Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Use empathic listening to be genuinely influenced by a person, which compels them to reciprocate the listening and take an open mind to being influenced by you. This creates an atmosphere of caring, respect, and positive problem solving.
  • Habit 6: Synergize
Combine the strengths of people through positive teamwork, so as to achieve goals no one person could have done alone.

Self Renewal

The Last habit relates to self-rejuvenation:
  • Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Balance and renew your resources, energy, and health to create a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle. It primarily emphasizes exercise for physical renewal, prayer (meditation, yoga, etc.) and good reading for mental renewal. It also mentions service to society for spiritual renewal.

I offered to present Habit 1: Be Proactive.  In most of the developmental reviews, I am deemed fearless in approaching others in resolving problems, once I have done my initial analysis.  Virtual presentations are tough in the sense of almost no immediate feedback from body language.  I cannot see if my audience is totally engaged or bored!

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