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Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw Part 2

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(Not my image)      As I end this blog with a final post I want to reflect back on the last section of Habit 7 as well as reflecting on my journey to effectiveness. The last portion of Habit 7 covers control, balance, and the upward spiral. Covey talks about how we often try to control the lives of other people through "scripting". He warns us about this because of the negative effects it can cause on others through interference. Like the last blog post, Covey reflects back to balance once last time to the overall renewal balance. He emphasizes the role balance has on effectiveness. With a healthy body, mind, and spirit an individual can reach their maximum capabilities of being an effective person. Lastly, Covey introduces the Upward Spiral. The occurrence is watering yourself, like a plant. The better you are at watering the more you grow. In this case, watering refers to positive doings.     As I reflect back on my journey to effectiveness, I can't ...
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Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw Part 1

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     Habit 7 is all about renewal. Covey goes over the 4 dimension of renewal, physical, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional dimension. The physical dimensions is about taking take of our bodies through eating healthy, resting, and regularly exercising. The Spiritual dimension reflects back to your core, your center, like habit 2. The area in your life you feel makes you who you are. Whatever it is, focus on it and engage. The Mental dimension focuses on continued growth of our minds. Covey shares that this can be through education in school, books, media, and even television. However, he clarifies that an effective learner getting information from the media must be able to discriminate the different information circling the media. Lastly, the Social/Emotional dimension is about relationships and practicing empathy.      Reading this book has made me realize how important it is to pay attention to ourselves, our choices, and how we perform the...
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Habit 6: Synergize Part 2

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     The second portion of Habit 6 prioritizes the practice of Synergy. The first area Covey covers is "Valuing The Differences". The "Differences" refers to the different beliefs, viewpoints, and mentality that people have. Covey claims, "And the key to valuing those differences is to realize that all people see the world, not as it is, but as they are," (p.464) further highlighting the different perspectives we have. To accomplish Synergy a person must develop an open mind, accepting that their way may not be the way of other people. Covey says this is a trait of an effective person, that there are no perceptual limitations.  (Not my image)     For this blog, I tried the "Synergy Celebration" activity.  A Synergy Celebration refers to the celebration of collaborative work. A few days ago, it was my nephew's birthday. Most of the family worked and those who were available helped with the cooking. Myself and a few of the younger kids were as...
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Habit 6: Synergize Part 1

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  (Not my image)       Synergy refers to the cooperation of two sides and creation of something greater than what they could accomplish alone. In the first section of Habit 6, Covey analyzes the term Synergy and areas to find it. Covey says, "Synergy is everywhere in nature," (p. 440). Synergy does not only apply to humans but to everything else. Covey uses the example of nature to convey the depths of Synergy, when two seeds are planted near one another, they can combine and create a bigger plant. In a team setting, Synergy prioritizes the enhancement of everyone's abilities. Instead of taking apart each individual and creating conflict, it works on using everyone's best trait to produce the best outcome possible.      Synergy is a level of communication, the top level to be exact, Win/Win from Habit 4. It is the level of communication where all sides are benefiting. It requires heavy amounts of cooperation and trust in one another. Synergy is al...
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Habit 5: Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood Part 2

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     In the last blog post, I covered the importance of Empathic Listening, in this blog post, I will cover the steps of seeking to be understood. In the second portion of habit 2 delivering is the main point covered. The first step is to understand, after listening to the speaker think about what they said, don't just think about it, understand it. Perception is a crucial point author Covey makes. Perception helps a listener visualize and recognize why the speaker stands where they stand. A good listener must be considerate and fully accomplish Empathic Listening. Mutual respect is another step in good communication. Each individual must be considerate and not be stuck on their "own thing".   (Not my image)     At the beginning of Habit 5, Covey brings up The Emotional Bank Account. An Emotional Bank Account refers to the levels of trust, and respect people have for one another. Positive interactions deposit into the bank, while negative interact...
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Habit 5: Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood Part 1

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    (Not my image)      Today, I learned that I am not an Empathic Listener. Empathic Listening refers to the ability to listen and empathize, and eventually create effective communication with others. I am what Covey claims as "Listening with the intent to reply," (p. 393). What Covey describes in the text as a listener with only replying in mind fits exactly how I am as a communicator. I have a hard time putting myself in others' shoes so I reply with "Yes me too, here is my story," not exactly something many would want to hear. Empathic listening is a strong tool because it provides a listener with strong data, and from that the listener can create a strong and well-thought-out response.      Most of the time we only hear what we want to hear, like, selective hearing. This reminded me of bias, only wanting to read what we want to be true, completely blocking out other perspectives. In this section Covey also analyzes the different typ...
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Habit 4: Think Win/Win Part 2

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     In this blog post, I want to focus on the importance of the Win/Win mentality. In the second portion of Habit 4, Covey highlights the importance of developing a Win/Win mindset within personal and professional environments. There are 5 dimensions to Win/Win, character, relationships, agreements, support systems, and processes. Covey says, "Character is the foundation of Win/Win, and everything else builds on that foundation," (p. 353), implying the importance of beginning with character. A well-developed character fit for Win/Win involves integrity and maturity. The Win/Win paradigm requires a lot of agreements and compromise, which can be very difficult without maturity and integrity.      Healthy relationships are built on trust and respect. If you want a relationship to last you must start with strong foundations because all relationships face challenges. When confronting an issue it is important to discuss in a mature manner, listen to one a...
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