Seven Habits

This past week when I heard the Stephen R. Covey had died, I couldn’t help but reflect on his book ­Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  A few years ago, the school district had me go to a week’s worth of training on the seven habits.  I then in turn had to spend three days instructing teachers and administrators in what I had learned.  I found it a little intimidating, because it was mostly principals, but I feel like many of them were impressed with the information that I gave them.  I must say that the principles taught there certainly changed my life.  I have since encouraged my students to read the book and implement the habits in their lives.  The seven habits are:

 Habit # 1

Be proactive

• Take initiative

• Manage change

• Respond proactively

• Keep commitments

• Take responsibility and have accountability

• Have a positive influence on results

Habit # 2

Begin with the end in mind

• Define vision and values

• Create a mission statement

• Set measurable team and personal goals

• Start projects successfully

• Align goals to priorities

• Focus on desired outcomes

Habit # 3

First things first

·         Execute strategy

• Apply effective delegation skills

• Focus on important activities

• Apply effective planning and prioritization skills

• Balance key priorities

• Eliminate low priorities and time wasters

• Use planning tools effectively

• Use effective time-management skills

Habit # 4

Think Win-win

·         Build high-trust relationships

• Build effective teams

• Apply successful negotiation skills

• Use effective collaboration

• Build productive business relationships

Habit # 5

Seek first to understand then be understood

·         Apply effective interpersonal communication

• Overcome communication pitfalls

• Apply effective listening skills

• Understand others

• Reach mutual understanding

• Communicate viewpoints effectively

• Apply productive input and feedback

• Apply effective persuasion techniques

Habit # 6

Synergize

·         Leveraging diversity

• Apply effective problem solving

• Apply collaborative decision making

• Value differences

• Build on divergent strengths

• Leverage creative collaboration

• Embrace and leverage innovation

Habit # 7

Sharpen the saw

·         Achieve life balance

• Apply continuous improvement

• Seek continuous learning

In order to truly understand these habits, you need to read the book.  It gives detailed explanations of what he means by these habits.  Covey also has a book out that has stories that complement the habits.  Many of them are inspiration and well worth the read.  I’ve never met Covey, but I believe that his books are inspired and influential throughout the country.  I think the leadership principles there, if applied, would make this world a much more honest place, and a world full of people with integrity.

I would recommend this book to anyone.

12 Step Addiction Recovery

These past few months we have been studying “Addiction Recovery Program, a Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing,” in church.  I wondered about this choice but as we have continued to read and study, I’ve realized that we all have addictions.  Some of our addictions are more dangerous than others, but nevertheless, we are addicted.

Some people consider addictions to be simply bad habits that can be conquered by willpower alone, but many people become so dependent on a behavior or substance that they no longer see how to abstain from it.  They lose perspective and a sense of other priorities in their lives.  Nothing matters more than satisfying their desperate need.  When they try to abstain, they experience powerful physical, psychological, and emotional cravings.  As they habitually make wrong choices they find their ability to choose the right diminished or restricted.  As President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:  “Addiction has the capacity to disconnect the human will and nullify moral agency.  It can rob one of the power to decide. (Ensign, Nov. 1989)

Addictions can include the use of substances such as tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea, and drugs and behaviors such as gambling codependency, viewing pornography, inappropriate sexual behavior, and disorders associated with each.  These substances and behaviors diminish a person’s ability to feel the Spirit.  They harm physical and mental health and social, emotional and spiritual well-being.  Herein is the problem.  When we cannot feel the promptings of the spirit we are left to make many of our decisions and we will not accomplish the many things that our Heavenly Father has planned for us. 

The twelve step program includes:

 

Honesty

2.      Hope

3.      Trust in God

4.      Truth

5.      Confession

6.      Change of heart

7.      Humility

8.      Seeking forgiveness

9.      Restitution and Reconciliation

10.  Daily Accountability

11.  Personal Revelation

12.  Service

Periodically I would like to write about my experiences with these steps.  I think they are extremely important to incorporate in our lives.  Someday, I hope my thoughts and feelings on all of this will be beneficial to someone.