-
=X
Welcome Log out
Are you a life coach, business coach or NLP practitioner? Join us Log in
Find a coach
  • Home
  • Coaching Areas
  • NLP
  • FAQs
  • Articles
  • Local events
  • Your stories
Welcome !
Member's AreaLog out
Log inJoin us
Bookmarks (-)
  • Home>
  • Articles>
  • The 7 habits of highly effective people

The 7 habits of highly effective people

Paul Hemphill, Horizons Life Coaching
by Paul Hemphill, Horizons Life Coaching, listed life coach
1st April, 2016
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
Bookmark
1st April, 2016
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
Bookmark

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is a highly influential book, first published in 1989, written by Stephen Covey, an American leadership consultant. Although the book is mainly aimed at business managers, the habits it advocates really apply to everyone. So whilst reading the whole book is highly recommended, it's good for everyone to have some knowledge about the seven habits that Covey advocates:

1. Be pro-active

Being effective begins with acknowledging that it's up to you to take control of your own life - and to decide how you are going to react to the world around you. As Covey says: "It's not what happens to us but how we respond to what happens to us that hurts us". This is also the core principle of coaching.

2. Begin with the end in mind

Knowing what you want in life is the first step towards achieving it. This seems obvious but it is amazing how many people can't answer the question "What do you want to happen?". They know what they find annoying and that they want things to be better - but can't say exactly how they would like things to be. 

3. Put first things first

This is all about distinguishing between things that may be urgent but are not very important (answering every e-mail as soon as it arrives) and things that may not be urgent but are very important (such as planning your next career move). Being busy is very different from being effective!

4. Think win/win

Lots of people live their lives on the principle that that they can only regard themselves as a winner if they "beat" others along the way. But Covey argues that the most effective people are those who think we can all be winners when we work together and recognise each other's strengths and aspirations. The best leaders want the people they lead to all feel successful.

5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood

Many of us act as if the most important part of any conversation is whether or not we have told our story well and have got others to hear our opinions. But in Covey's view, highly effective people (whether they are leaders, sales people or friends) begin by asking lots of questions and listening very carefully to the answers.

6. Synergise

Synergising is about recognising that every person has their own unique strengths and qualities. You are not better than anyone and no-one is better than you. We are at our most effective when we are allowed to use our own strengths to the maximum and when we allow others to do the same, with encouragement rather than criticism.

7. Sharpen the saw

President Lincoln once said that if he was given six hours to chop down a tree he'd spend the first four sharpening the axe (or saw). Similarly, Covey believes that if you are working a nine hour day and want to be more effective, the answer is not to start working for 10 hours a day. Rather it would be better to cut your hours at work and spend more time looking after yourself with exercise, relaxation, friendship and spiritiuality - so that you can bring your best, most creative self to work the next day.

How coaching can help

Stephen Covey's 7 Habits are not just relevant for business managers. They are the underlying principles of most coaching programmes - especially in relation to:

  • Taking responsibility for your own life and emotions.
  • Deciding what you most want out of life, inside and outside work.
  • Working in partnership with others, helping them to achieve their own goals as they help you to achieve yours.
  • Ensuring you have a good work/life balance

Following these principles, coaching can literally transform your life.

ConfidenceWork/life balancePersonal development
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Life Coach Directory is not responsible for the articles published by members. The views expressed are those of the member who wrote the article.

Paul Hemphill, Horizons Life Coaching

About Paul Hemphill

Paul Hemphill is a leadership and well-being coach who specialises in bringing a positive psychology approach to his coaching. Over the last five years he has helped literally hundreds of clients to restart their lives, develop new levels of confidence, change careers, improve their work/life balance, or become better leaders and managers.… Read more

Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Can also offer telephone/online appointments.

To book an appointment, please get in contact:

View profileEmail meCall me07905929953
Four ways to transform yourself from a ‘night owl’ into a ‘morning person’ How to promote a positive work/life balance in your business
Find a business or life coach near you
advanced search

print this page

Real stories View all

Confidence Work/life balance Stress
Jane: "Coaching helped me find my confidence again."
Jane: "Coaching helped me find my confidence again."
In January 2017 I was a having a crisis of confidence. I had left my job which had become...
Work/life balance Hobbies
Sally: "My life coach enabled me to see things differently."
Sally: "My life coach enabled me to see things differently."
I had become depressed and bored with my life and, as I'm a solution-focused person, I...
Confidence
Sam: "I treat myself much more kindly now."
Sam: "I treat myself much more kindly now."
The most important thing my life coach helped me to realise was how negatively I talked...

Related articles View all

Personal development Motivation
Article author image
What's the secret to lasting change?
By Emma Cartwright
When I started my personal development journey, I wanted big long-lasting change and I...
Personal development
Article author image
In midlife? Trying to work out what to do in your second half?
By Carol Pearson
Are you in midlife? No longer loving your job? Feeling a lack of energy and...
Work/life balance Motivation Energy
Article author image
Should I take a break from my phone?
By Bonnie Evie Gifford
It’s hard to deny: we’re all (well, most of us) a bit overly attached to our phones....

Connect with us

Facebook
Twitter
"NLP practitioner (ANLP accredited) 16 days modular programme" in Bowness-on-Windermere is starting Mon 18th Mar… https://t.co/gNjSe9cX7R
Get involved
More information
  • Home
  • About
  • Legal terms
  • Cookie policy
  • Privacy notice
  • Browse by region
  • Links
  • Press Centre
  • Site help

Company Details

  • Life Coach Directory, Building 3
  • Riverside Way, Camberley
  • Surrey, GU15 3YL
  • Membership Services Team: 0333 325 2501 *
  • Contact us
  • * Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling an 01 or 02 number and count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.

Copyright © 2019
Site by Memiah Limited

Healthy ideas that change the world

Get our free monthly e-magazine straight to your inbox

Find out more at happiful.com

Happiful magazine cover
Before using our site, please take a moment to review our Privacy Notice and Cookies policy. By continuing to use this site we'll assume you agree to both.
Ok