an online book by David Gurteen
Stephen Richards Covey (October 24, 1932 – July 16, 2012) was an American educator, author, businessman, and speaker. His most popular book is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. His other books include First Things First, Principle-Centered Leadership, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, The 8th Habit, and The Leader In Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time. In 1996, Time magazine named him one of the 25 most influential people. He was a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University (USU) at the time of his death.
Credit: Wikipedia - Stephen_R._CoveyMost people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. Credit: Stephen Covey Posts where this quotation is embedded Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we listen in order … Continue reading Listen with the Intent to Understand Not to Reply Stephen R. Covey
Most people think of leadership as a position and therefore don’t see themselves as leaders. Credit: Stephen Covey Source: The 8th Habit Personal Workbook: Strategies to Take You from Effectiveness to GreatnessPosts where this quotation is embedded Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm … Continue reading Most People Think of Leadership as a Position Stephen R. Covey
If I were to summarize in one sentence the single most important principle I have learned in the field of interpersonal relations, it would be this: Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Credit: Stephen R. Covey Posts where this quotation is embedded Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact Learn to Listen and to … Continue reading Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood Stephen R. Covey
Many people have not really experienced even a moderate degree of synergy in their family life or in other interactions. They’ve been trained and scripted into defensive and protective communications or into believing that life and other people can’t be trusted. This represents one of the great tragedies and wastes in life, because so much … Continue reading Many People Have Not Really Experienced Synergy in Their Lives Stephen Covey
The essence of synergy is to value differences – to respect them, to build on strengths, to compensate for weaknesses. Credit: Stephen Covey Posts where this quotation is embedded Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we … Continue reading The Essence of Synergy Is to Value Differences Stephen Covey
In the space between stimulus (what happens) and how we respond, lies our freedom to choose. Ultimately, this power to choose is what defines us as human beings. We may have limited choices, but we can always choose. We can choose our thoughts, emotions, moods, our words, our actions; we can choose our values and … Continue reading In the Space Between Stimulus and Response Lies Our Freedom to Choose Stephen Covey
A cardinal principle of Total Quality escapes too many managers: you cannot continuously improve interdependent systems and processes until you progressively perfect interdependent, interpersonal relationships. Credit: Stephen Covey Source: Covey on Quality (paper)Posts where this quotation is embedded Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, … Continue reading A Cardinal Principle of Total Quality Escapes Too Many Managers Stephen Covey
Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly. Credit: Stephen Covey Posts where this quotation is embedded Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm what we already think … Continue reading Motivation Is a Fire From Within Stephen Covey
Trust is the life-blood of an organization. Credit: Stephen R. Covey Posts where this quotation is embedded Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we listen in order to reply? Listen to Ignite Thinking Listening is not a passive … Continue reading Trust Is the Life-blood of an Organization Stephen R. Covey
Stephen R. Covey was an American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker. His most popular book is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I discovered Stephen’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in 1989 shortly after it was first published. The book had a massive impact on me and I attended one … Continue reading Stephen R. Covey Educator, Author and Speaker
In the industrial age, leadership was a position. In the knowledge age, leadership is a choice. Credit: Stephen R. Covey Posts where this quotation is embedded Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we listen in order … Continue reading In the Knowledge Age, Leadership Is a Choice Stephen R. Covey
Are leaders born or made? This is a false dichotomy – leaders are neither born nor made. Leaders choose to be leaders. Credit: Stephen R. Covey Posts where this quotation is embedded Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm what we already think … Continue reading Are Leaders Born or Made? Stephen R. Covey
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey is a self-help book that outlines a framework for developing habits that can lead to success personally and professionally. The 7 habits are: 1. Be Proactive – Take initiative and responsibility for your life rather than blame others. 2. Begin with the End in Mind … Continue reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic by Stephen R. Covey (1990)
Spirituality Signal-to-noise Ratio Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Life presents numerous challenges and opportunities. It is crucial to identify areas under our control versus those beyond our influence. The “Circles of Engagement” model guides us in directing efforts where they can create meaningful change. Circle of Concern and a Circle of Influence Stephen … Continue reading Circles of Engagement ** Aligning efforts with impact
The Power of Curiosity ** Measures, Targets, Rewards and Punishments Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter I want to look at three related concepts, power, influence, and leadership, and explore their meaning in the context of Conversational Leadership. What is power? There are many definitions of power, but I am interested in the power … Continue reading Influential Power ** You can never not influence
Politics Is Life Lashon Hara Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter We often complain that we have no choice, but we all have the freedom to choose if we choose to. How many times have you said or have you heard someone say, “But I’ve got no choice.” We always have a choice, even … Continue reading We All Have the Freedom to Choose If We Choose To The last of human freedoms
The Dérive Dialogic Organization Development Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The meaning of dialogue The word dialogue has several meanings depending on the context in which it is used. If you look up the word in most dictionaries, you will find definitions like this. A conversation between two or more persons. e.g. A … Continue reading Dialogue Dialogue is a disciplined form of conversation
Let’s Have More Interesting Conversations Organizational Conversation ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter One reason people often give for not taking a more conversational approach to their work is the lack of time. Many even see it as a waste of time. But it is not! We learn, make sense of the world, … Continue reading Conversation Sharpens the Saw It is not a waste of time
The Mind Is a Fire to Be Kindled The Fourth Industrial Revolution Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we listen in order to reply? Or do we listen to discover something new? Do we enter into a conversation with a willingness to learn … Continue reading Learn to Listen and to Tell the Truth Do we listen, to confirm what we already think or do we listen in order to reply?
Reframing Questions Raising the Ships on the Sea Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Trust is the force that holds our society together. It is the glue that connects us, builds communities, and is one of the foundations on which society depends. It is vital for society to function. Our civilization would collapse totally … Continue reading Exploring the Multifaceted Roles of Trust in Relationships and Society Without trust our civilization would collapse
Tell the Truth Listen Empathically ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Listen to ignite thinking: We tend to think of listening as a passive act. This is a mistake. Listening is not passive. It’s a powerful act of creation. Twenty or more years ago, I came across this statement from Stephen Covey in … Continue reading Listen to Ignite Thinking Listening is not a passive act – it’s a powerful act of creation
Listen to Ignite Thinking Listen with the Intent to Understand Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. Credit: Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Resources Using empathic listening to collaborate by Stephen R. Covey Continue reading Listen Empathically ** Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply
Genuine Commitment Engagement ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly. Credit: Stephen Covey Economists and workplace consultants regard it as almost unquestioned dogma that people are motivated by rewards, so … Continue reading Motivation ** Motivation is a fire from within
Listen Empathically ** Don’t Discourage Dissent Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Listen with the intent to understand: Don’t listen with the intent to judge or reply. We all appreciate the benefits of listening, such as listening to ignite other people’s thinking, but most of us are not that good at it. As Stephen … Continue reading Listen with the Intent to Understand Don’t listen with the intent to reply
