Book Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Introduction
This review is of the best-selling book in the self-help genre by Stephen R. Covey, entitled “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, which – according to the front cover – has sold over 10 million copies since it was first published.
Following Covey’s extensive study of “success” literature going back over 200 years and in particular his and his wife’s experiences with their own son, Covey – using the ideas and lessons he had learned firsthand – wrote the book to provide others, his readers, with the means to improve their effectiveness on a personal level, by following a series of guiding principles that he named as “habits.” The main reason for reviewing this particular book is that almost every published review acclaimed it as either a must read or quite exceptional or similar, so it seemed one that should not be missed – perhaps the key to my own success would be within its pages!
It’s remarkably easy to read, even though it sometimes appears to be a little “technical” for someone not familiar with some of the terminology used. However, there’s no difficulty in understanding the messages Covey is transmitting to the reader, especially as he uses easy-to-follow examples to get the point across. For example, when he referred to what he called “the character ethic” which he defined as possessing qualities like “integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity, modesty” he cited as an example the autobiography by Benjamin Franklin that illustrated the attempt to “integrate certain principles and habits deep within his nature.” He also illustrated the view that you should practice the desired qualities full-time, and that it is not the answer to have just a short period of intense effort whenever you think it is needed. To emphasize that point, Covey asked the rhetorical question whether that approach would work if running a farm – another natural process. The answer of course is that it wouldn’t, that you can’t neglect a farm for months then put in a massive amount of work in just a short space of time and expect to achieve the same success and the same bountiful harvest as others who work at it year round.
Yet another example that was easy to follow was that if one were lost in Chicago, but had only a map of Detroit, then even the best map reading skills would not help. That was used as a means of explaining that we need to perceive the world in the correct way. If we don’t, then progress is virtually impossible. Throughout the book Covey wrote in this fashion, using examples to clarify ideas and principles that he wanted the reader to understand.
Covey’s book is not one of those that guarantee success or riches to those following his principles; he doesn’t offer the solution to all our problems, but simply shows how to adopt the right attitudes to make the best of what we have. The following is a typical example, where Covey quoted Thoreau, in order to illustrate that we need to deal directly with the roots of our incorrect attitudes and perceptions if we are to make a significant change in them: In the words of Thoreau, “For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root.”
Regarding the credentials of the author, in addition to being a highly-acclaimed author who wrote at least a dozen books including this one, Covey was a respected businessman, professional speaker, university professor and graduate of the Harvard Business School. He was also a Mormon and a Doctor of Religious Education.
Rather than using the book to tell people explicitly what they should or should not do in certain situations, Covey cleverly – again by illustration and examples – led readers in the directions he wanted by giving them insights through reporting actual situations and/or scenarios, many concerning his own life, experience, and family. One such was when he recounted how he tried to use reason and psychology to convince his young daughter to share her toys with friends, while in the presence of those friends and their parents. When those methods failed, Covey simply used force to make her share, so that he did not suffer the embarrassment of being defeated in the exchange. In his view (in hindsight), using the strength of his position and his authority to overcome the daughter’s will, merely created weakness in the relationship between father and daughter, and replaced potential cooperation with a response based on fear.
Overall, Covey’s book attempted to encourage and steer readers to improve their personal effectiveness by a range of attitude changes “the seven habits” – all geared towards overall improvement. Beginning with advising readers to be proactive rather than reactive, he also recommended developing one’s own mission statement based on principles. He recommended time planning, so that the plans and goals identified as important can all be accommodated. As regards relationships and/or agreements, Covey advised to always go for those that are mutually beneficial, and to withdraw from any that cannot be so. Another maxim he proposed was to always be a good listener, trying to see the other person’s perspective as an essential ingredient of true listening.
His final two “habits” or pieces of advice were to try to solve conflicts by utilizing “mutual trust and understanding” and what he called to “Sharpen the Saw” meaning continually endeavouring to renew the balance between what Covey named the “four dimensions of renewal.” Those are the spiritual, mental, social, and physical personal dimensions. The example he gave to explain the naming of this habit was the tale of a man in the woods furiously attempting to saw down a large tree, but clearly exhausted by the effort. A passer by commented that the work would go faster and easier if the man took time out to sharpen the saw. The response was that he was in too much of a hurry to take time out to do that. Covey’s underlying meaning essentially was that by taking time to review one’s options, all other things can be made more possible.
Summary
In the event, the book was well worth reading. Whilst the philosophy of Covey’s book and the messages he imparts may not in their entirety suit everyone, it is a book that should not only be read, but kept somewhere handy in the bookshelf to read again, or maybe to take it out and “cherry pick” some of it from time to time.
Covey used stories and even personal experiences to illustrate and emphasize points, which not only added to its depth but made it more convincing and believable. It’s a book that can always inspire, and – because personal circumstances change with time – there’ll more than likely be something that you’ll find is particularly pertinent or relevant each time you open it.
In my own case, the book stimulated some reflective thinking about attitudes and concepts that could be reviewed or maybe reconsidered, to make me a better person and perhaps by association a more successful person too. Before really getting into the book, it seemed at first that it was going to be a difficult read, but perhaps it was a case of initial lack of familiarity with Covey’s style. The further into the book, the easier it became to read and to understand the deeper meanings behind his words. I would not want to change any of it. It also seems as relevant now as when Covey first wrote it.
Works Cited:
Covey, Stephen, R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York. Free Press: A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2004. Print.
