Management is doing things right leadership is doing the right things. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out. Stephen Covey Leadership Quotes of Stephen Covey Leadership Quotes of Stephen CoveyĮffective leadership is putting first things first. The way we see the problem is the problem. There are three constants in life… change, choice and principles. The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Live out of your imagination, not your history. Stephen Covey Stephen Covey Quotes of imagination Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Look out for the next in our ‘seven habits’ series, ‘Synergise.Top Quotes of Stephen Covey Stephen Covey Quotes I hope there are some useful things in here for you to take away and have a think about. When we listen emphatically we try to understand the situation through the other person’s eyes and in doing this, we can create more win-win situations. Listening emphatically is listening without jumping to one of four responses: agreeing/disagreeing, asking (often loaded) questions, advising and interpreting the situation in your way.Ĭommunication is one of the most important skills in life and one that is absolutely crucial to successful business. In doing this we are not truly communicating, which leads to confusion, mixed messages and a lack of clarity (not good communication!) What Covey suggests we do is listen emphatically. We are often so intent on getting our point across in a conversation that we only partially listen to what the other participants are saying. It’s likely that, naturally, you seek first to be understood. “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand they listen with the intent to reply.” – Stephen Covey This habit is 100% concerned with listening – listening attentively and not jumping to ‘advice’ or ‘solution’ mode too hastily. Seek first to understand then to be understood The habit we’re honing in on this week is number five, Seek first to understand then to be understood.

Each blog gives you insight into each habit and provides tools to help you develop these highly effective behaviours.Ĭollect all seven habits crib sheets (links at end of this post) for a complete guide to developing effective personal leadership through the lens of Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. If this is the first time you have heard about this series we’re sharing, the aim is to provide a reminder of Covey’s ever-valuable habits, with a personal leadership twist. It’s time for habit five of seven in our 7 Habits of Highly Effective People blog series!

Stephen covey listen to understand