The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, authored by Steven Covey Book report in APA format
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen Covey authored the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, to offer his expert, professional, and personal insight of seven habits, or traits, exhibited by effective people. While outlining the seven habits, he emphasizes that each previous habit is the building block for the next. He also shows how all the habits are tied together to effectively transition through the growth stages of dependence to independence to interdependence to become an effective person.
The Habits
Covey explains that the following seven habits are exhibited by effective people.
Be proactive
Begin with the end in mind
Put first things first
Think win/win
Seek first to understand, then to be understood
Synergize
Sharpen the saw
Practicing these seven habits will move the reader through three stages of personal growth: dependence, independence, and interdependence. We are all born into the dependence paradigm. As babies and children, we must rely on others to take care of us. As we get older, we naturally undergo a paradigm shift to independence in which we begin to take care of ourselves and no longer rely on anyone to take care of us. Interdependence, the last and final stage, is yet another paradigm shift in which we work closely, and cooperate, with others to achieve the things that could not be achieved on our own. Covey states that by simply changing our behaviors we will be more successful in achieving interdependence.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
The first three habits focus on obtaining private victory, or making change within yourself, to achieve independence from dependence. The first habit to begin this transition is to be proactive. Highly effective people do not resign to the fact that there is nothing they can do about a problem or situation. Effective people institute change with what they have the power to influence, and they feel that they can influence almost everything.
Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind
Stephen Covey authored the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, to offer his expert, professional, and personal insight of seven habits, or traits, exhibited by effective people. While outlining the seven habits, he emphasizes that each previous habit is the building block for the next. He also shows how all the habits are tied together to effectively transition through the growth stages of dependence to independence to interdependence to become an effective person.
The Habits
Covey explains that the following seven habits are exhibited by effective people.
Be proactive
Begin with the end in mind
Put first things first
Think win/win
Seek first to understand, then to be understood
Synergize
Sharpen the saw
Practicing these seven habits will move the reader through three stages of personal growth: dependence, independence, and interdependence. We are all born into the dependence paradigm. As babies and children, we must rely on others to take care of us. As we get older, we naturally undergo a paradigm shift to independence in which we begin to take care of ourselves and no longer rely on anyone to take care of us. Interdependence, the last and final stage, is yet another paradigm shift in which we work closely, and cooperate, with others to achieve the things that could not be achieved on our own. Covey states that by simply changing our behaviors we will be more successful in achieving interdependence.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
The first three habits focus on obtaining private victory, or making change within yourself, to achieve independence from dependence. The first habit to begin this transition is to be proactive. Highly effective people do not resign to the fact that there is nothing they can do about a problem or situation. Effective people institute change with what they have the power to influence, and they feel that they can influence almost everything.
Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind
References: Covey, Stephen R. (2004). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Free Press. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (1997). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.