7 Habits

Friends, the content of today’s letter is The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  While you can get a brief idea about the seven habits in the letter below, as a top-up, I put forward my insights on how we should implement these seven habits critical for every breathing human being to make it more result oriented. To be highly effective and lead a meaningful life one must employ each of the seven habits in the very manner Steven Covey has mentioned.  I guess what I am saying here is, there is no way we can choose and pick any favorite of the seven habits, we must implement all the seven habits and in the same pattern as suggested by Mr. Covey.These seven habits when put into one collective whole, produces the greatest strengths and hence the greatest outcome. I wrote this Letter to the Employees on Monday, 19th May 2014. My sincerest hope is that you will start implementing these seven habits most sincerely into your personal lives right from today. All the Best. 🙂

Most of us are aware of Stephen Covey’s Timeless Model – The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I personally feel many of us (me included) have short-sighted view of Covey’s details; although we know these habits we often miss the larger picture. Further, how many of us have really bothered to implement these habits sincerely into our lives? This Tuesday, I revisit these 7 Habits by one of the most revered writers and Leader of our time, Stephen Covey.

Of the Seven Habits, the first three habit deals with attaining self-mastery and proposes to move from dependence to independence; the next three habit talks about inter-dependence that is working with others. The final habit is that of continuous improvement in both the personal and interpersonal spheres of our Lives. I request you to pick one habit a day at a time (for next 7 days) and most diligently think of ways how can you improve in your work. Brainstorm! May be ask your friends or your supervisor. You must be sincere enough because only person who can ultimately help you is YOU. Believe in the power of YOU INC.

Habit 1: Be Pro-active. This is the habit of Responsibility, Accountability and Duty. Take initiative and the responsibility for your life and your decisions. Don’t wait for others, Step up, just step up and be responsible for making things happen. Initiate things which are not there. Become a Role model for others to follow.

Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind. This is the habit of Leadership. Have a clear vision and picture of where you are going. If you don’t know where you are going, how can you get there?  You need to understand what you really want out of life and what your true values are.

Habit 3: Put First things First. The third habit is the habit of Management. Now that you know where you want to go, who you want to be, look to prioritize things such that you put the most important things first. This is the habit I often struggle with. Covey’s Time Management Grid can be helpful. Segregate your activities into Urgent and Important (Quadrant1), Not Urgent and Important (Quadrant2), Urgent and Not Important (Quadrant3) and Not Urgent and Not Important (Quadrant4). Prioritize your activities in the said order and we should be able to deal with time crisis.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win. This habit is thinking mutual benefits. Seek mutually beneficial solutions. Do your best and Help someone win their game. Share your knowledge. Believe in Giving. Remember Giving is the beginning of Grace. Things will come back to you and believe me in multiple folds.

Habit 5: Seek first to understand then to be understood. The fifth habit is also called the habit of communication. I think this is one of the most powerful and difficult habits for us to implement.

Habit 6: Synergize. This is the habit of interdependence. This is about using our teams and resources in such a way that 2 plus 2 equals 22 or more. It’s about making the sum of the whole, more than the sum of the parts.

Habit 7: Sharpen the saw. The seventh is the habit of Continuous Improvement. This is about ensuring that we keep our resources refreshed so that they can continue to work and be effective. Keep updating yourself every single day. Invest time and money in your learning. Don’t ever let the blade of your mind turn blunt.J

Today, I most humbly challenge you and encourage you to study this book and make a genuine effort to permeate these habits deep inside your Lives. I hope this email has helped you to change the way you think, behave and work.

Narendra Gupta

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