Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Powerful and profound!
I've read "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" several times now (I've also taken the "Seven Habits" management course), and the book's powerful message never ceases to have a positive effect on nearly every aspect of my life. This is a book about organizational excellence, but with a key difference than most others on the same subject: Covey believes that the foundation of organizational excellence is personal excellence. The seven habits he describes in great detail are tools leading to that goal. They can be applied in nearly every situation in our lives, and, if successfully practiced, will help us to improve our lives at home, work and play. A word of caution, though: the book may not be for everybody; you have to be willing to face yourself honestly and courageously, and apply the seven habits daily, in order to become more effective. For the most part, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" is well written. Covey tends to "sermonize" in places, and his writing style is at times long-winded and a bit patronizing (a flaw common to many writers of management books who think of theirs as the "best way"). However, despite its stylistic shortcomings, the book's message is powerful and profound...for those who have the courage to accept it and put it into practice.
Rating: - Sound principles, practical advice, but somwhat long-winded
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People might be described best by the subtitle that does not appear on the cover: "restoring the character ethic." It is this principle that defines all of the habits, the idea that in order to achieve the goals of each of the habits, one must begin, in Covey's words, from the "inside out," and develop character traits before any real personal growth can occur.The 7 habits, as they appear in the book, are 1. Be Proactive, 2. Begin with the End in Mind, 3. Put First Things First, 4. Think Win-Win, 5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, 6. Synergize, 7. Sharpen the Saw. The first three habits he calls private victories, and the second three are public victories. Habit 7 is the renewal process that encompasses all of the other habits. The first 5 habits are mostly self-explanatory from the titles, but the last two merit some additional clarification. Synergy, as defined by Covey, is basically the dynamic of situations that result when the physical strength, mental capacity, or other such abilities of multiple participants are joined together so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. As Covey is fond of phrasing it, one plus one equals three or more. Sharpening the Saw is the act of refreshing or renewing oneself so as not to become bored or burned out. It involves taking time for reflection, spirituality, or investing in "quadrant 2-important, but not urgent" activities such as reading, learning a new proficiency, or spending time with family or friends. Covey's style is somewhat didactic, especially to explain or justify the psychological basis for the habits (usually by explaining "paradigms"), and he does belabor the points somewhat at times, but once I came to expect these qualities in each chapter, I was able to look past them and absorb what really is a good book. Each habit is very practical, and Covey's anecdotes are often entertaining while instructive. Overall, it is easy to recommend this book, as it does provide an excellent basis for personal growth that is both realistic and attainable.
Rating: - Sage Wisdom
Covey's work has been a major influence at my current and prior employer. His ideas on prioritization, management and even business development have guided the principles behind planning and personnel management in both places. Understanding the meaning behind the Covey-jargon has been a key to succeeding in both places. Applying his lessons to non-work activities is the key to personal balance.The first three habits are called private victories - controling one's own destiny. (Be Proactive, Begin with the end in Mind and Put First Things First) Seems obvious, but how often do we only look one step ahead? When you hear someone ask, "What are we really trying to accomplish here?" you know you're on the way to beginning with the end in mind. The next three are about public victories, increasing the performance of the group as a whole. (Think Win/Win, Seek first to understand, then to be understood and Synergize) This is about approaching life from a point of view of abundance - we are not trying to split a pie amongst ourselves, we are trying to understand each other and grow the pie. Synergize, like re-engineering, has been bastardized in modern management vocabulary. It has a very specific meaning here that does apply. Sharpen the saw is the last habit, which is about continuous improvement and renewal. This is especially vital in today's hyperspeed downsized environment. Two other concepts included in the book are worth discussing:
1 - Covey talks about building an emotional bank account with people. Thinking about investing in relationships is a great way to move beyond treating interactions like transactions.
2 - Covey divides the world into four quadrants of time management, encouraging us to focus our efforts on the high valued "Important but not urgent" quadrant 2 activities. If you can introduce this lexicon into your workplace, it will add to your team's mutual time management. I highly recommend this book to people looking to improve the organization, balance and effectivess of their work and personal lives.
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