7 Habits of Highly Effective People Summary- Best Book

A habit is a behavior that is repeated regularly and often becomes automatic. Habits are formed through repetition, and they can be both positive and negative. Some habits, like exercising regularly or eating a healthy diet, can have a positive impact on a person's life, while other habits, like procrastinating or smoking, can have a negative impact.

Habits are an important part of our daily lives and can have a significant impact on our health, well-being, and overall quality of life. They can be difficult to change, but it is possible to develop new habits or break old ones with effort and commitment.

To develop a new habit, it is helpful to set specific goals, make a plan, and be consistent in practicing the new behavior. It is also important to be patient and to be kind to oneself, as it can take time and practice to form a new habit.

So, in this subject I wanted to share one of my favorite book in its field. Steven Convey explain how to adapt habits to your life with 7 effective rules.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People Summary

Another important fact of self-development is developing effective habits, according to Steven Covey, there are seven habits of highly effective people. 

These are being proactive, beginning in mind later, in reality, creating win-to-win relationships, first understanding others, putting first things in priority, synergy, and continuously developing yourself. Creating correct habits enables one to develop a better self. 

With this one can settle down and enjoy a comfortable, stable life instead of thinking about the issues. Firstly, being proactive instead of reactive is very significant. Change happens here to be effective. 

“While the word proactivity is now common in management literature, it is a word you won’t find in most dictionaries. It means more than merely taking initiative. It means that as human beings, we are responsible for our own lives...Reactive people are affected by their social environment, by the “social weather.”

 When people treat them well, they feel well; when people don’t, they become defensive or protective” (Convey, 2020, pp 81-82). The most effective habit according to me is being proactive instead of reactive. 

A proactive person always takes the lead and does not expect from others. This type of personality is very important in teams. Because waiting is a waste of time and teams waiting for each other can never progress. 

According to Convey proactivity entails more than just acting. It means that we, as humans, oversee our own life. Our actions are determined by our choices, not by the circumstances.

The second habit explained by Convey is, that to begin with the end in mind, you must first have a clear knowledge of where you want to go. You have a goal in mind, and you dream it before you achieve it. 

They say dreaming is half the realization and all things are created twice first in the mind and later in the physical. We can make anything we can dream of come true. The third one is about the time management matrix the fundamental focus of the fourth generation of management. 

In general, we divide our time into four categories. So, first things need to be done first. Forth one, is the benefit of human interaction, creating winning relationships and mutual benefit for both sides. 

Both partners have a clear agreement. The focus relies on the result rather than the process. They are usually organizations or customer-employee or employer relationships. So, if a problem occurs it is usually the system. 

Fifth, only a small percentage of people have any formal training in listening. We should first listen to be understood. He states this usually as empathy when we put ourselves into someone else shoes. As we understand, we can search to be understood. The sixth habit is synergy, he explains this as an opportunity for new possibilities in communication. 

Both parties involve revealing excitement through mutual learning. This puts everybody to the creation of a task as if everybody there on the same road. And the last habit is about continuous learning, keeping your best habits. 

The personal habit must be pressed on until it becomes a habit and to do this, we have to be proactive to reach this physical dimension. This can be achieved by gaining habits such as exercising, nutrition cycle, or stress management.

Here are some steps you can follow to develop a new personal habit:

1. Identify the habit you want to develop: Start by deciding what habit you want to develop. It could be something as simple as drinking more water or exercising more regularly.
2. Set a specific goal: Next, set a specific goal for your new habit. For example, you might set a goal to drink 8 glasses of water per day, or to exercise for 30 minutes every day.
3. Make a plan: Develop a plan for how you will implement the new habit into your daily routine. This could include setting a specific time and place for the new habit, or finding an accountability partner to help you stay on track.
4. Use triggers: Identify triggers that can help remind you to perform your new habit. For example, you might set a reminder on your phone, or put a sticky note on your bathroom mirror to remind you to brush your teeth.
5. Be consistent: Practice your new habit consistently, even if it's just for a short amount of time each day. Over time, it will become easier and more automatic.
6. Celebrate your progress: It's important to celebrate your achievements along the way, no matter how small. This can help keep you motivated and reinforce the positive changes you are making.
7. Don't be too hard on yourself: It's normal to have setbacks and make mistakes when trying to change a habit. Don't be too hard on yourself, and remember that it takes time and practice to form new habits. Just keep trying, and you will improve over time.