Book Review — “The 7 Ways to Be Effective” by Stephen R. Covey

With more than 30 million copies sold, the best-seller, first released in 1989, is undoubtedly one of the classics about self-management.

In “The 7 Paths to Effectiveness,” Stephen R. Covey focuses on the individual being and addresses the following questions:

• How do I find out what I live for?

• How do I achieve my goals and live my values and dreams?

• How can I shape my life by taking on personal responsibility?

In his book, Covey describes seven ways that can contribute to private and professional success. He creates a close network of paradigms and principles derived from them, which, according to him, are the basis for achieving our personal and professional goals.

1st way: Be pro-active

Take a stand and be prepared to take responsibility for yourself and your decisions. Personal freedom is based on conscious and independent decisions and prevents people from becoming victims or falling into a reactive mode.

2nd way: Have the end in mind right from the start

What should be said about you at the end of your funeral? Which dreams would you like to fulfill in your life? What values do you stand for? These questions can help you develop a personal mission statement that will give you the framework for all decisions in life.

3rd way: Do the most important things first

The basis is the personal mission statement and the Eisenhower matrix. The important things first: Plan your priorities and implement them.

4th way: thinking win-win

Interdependence: We are successful together. When developing possible alternative solutions, always focus on the common advantage for all parties involved, both professionally and privately.

5th way: First understand, then be understood

First the diagnosis, then the prescription. Sensitive listening means: without judgment, without bias, sincerely and honestly. This is the basis for understanding your counterpart correctly and gaining trust.

6th way: Create synergies

Synergies are achieved through the willingness to neglect one's own proposed solutions and to be open, creative and flexible to alternatives. Therefore, try to solve problems together, take initiative and resolve disagreements.

7th way: Sharpen the saw

In the four basic dimensions of our being — physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual — we must constantly renew ourselves. Be ready to expand your capacity, renew, and reflect to implement the paths to effectiveness in your life.

Our opinion.

We were not able to develop unreserved enthusiasm for the book other than that we would now want to follow this work religiously. Because among other things, we ask ourselves the question: Are these really all paths that lead to private and professional success? What about the topic of courage, gut feeling and happiness, for example? Nevertheless, there were elements that fascinated and inspired us: “Culture is based on trust” is a credo for us that we not only say, but live by.

What inspired us?

The book is a life guide regardless of whether you consciously pursue the difference between effectiveness and efficiency. In doing so, Covey succeeded in linking the 7 paths logically and comprehensibly. For us, the clear focus on the personal responsibility of the reader in particular has stuck.

Also exciting: Even though the book is now older than some of our colleagues, the content is suitable for everyone, provided that there is a willingness to deal with the topic.

Some of us have also taken the initiative and taken time to develop a personal mission statement: This can help to prioritize our time and energy differently and promote satisfaction.

What didn't convince us?

We basically ask ourselves the question: Do we have to constantly optimize ourselves/ everything:s? Can't we just be?

Self-optimization without knowing what is good for you can be dangerous. The book doesn't directly dictate this, but suggests that we should work on our character to act more effectively to get the best out of every situation.

At the same time, we would like to see more focus on the here and now. We want to live in the moment and accept ourselves and others as they are.

The 5th way “First understand, then be understood” has won a lot of encouragement from all of us, because the most important thing is that we listen to each other and try to understand our counterpart and act empathically. We not only implement this as a team, but also attach great importance to working with our customers.

Our favorite quotes from the book.

• “We are what we do repeatedly.” (book recommendation Atomic Habits)
• “Sow a thought and reap an action. Sow a deed and harvest a habit. Sow a habit and harvest a character. Sow a character and reap a fate.”
• “Management is when you the Things right does. Leadership is when you the right things does.”
• “The process of change or development cannot be abbreviated.”
• Albert Einstein: “You can never solve problems with the same way of thinking that created them.”
• “The whole of life consists of successive stages of growth and development.”
• “I can't be successful in the long run if my character is deficient and I don't mean it honestly.”

What do you think of the book? We are looking forward to the exchange!
We support local bookstores and order our books online and offline from Stojan Bookstore.

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