The Power of Being Proactive




 Blog 1: The Power of Being Proactive in the '7 Habits of Highly Effective People'

The book '7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen Covey is one of the most important masterpieces ever produced in today's modern, business, or personal development literature. Covey's first habit is being proactive; all the other six habits follow, as this particular habit is about taking charge and being in control of what you do and how you respond. Proactive is defined as acknowledging that one has the power to choose the response to a stimulus. Instead of reacting out of emotions or situations, proactive people respond from value and principle. One such aspect of proactivity is the 'Circle of Influence'. This principle dictates that the individual should pay attention to that which they can control as opposed to dwelling on that which they cannot. With such, individuals will expand their level of influence hence making them more effective in their personal and professional lives. Proactive people also understand the role of language. These are proactive words, containing a sense of responsibility and control, like 'I choose,' 'I prefer,' and 'I will.' On the other hand, reactive language will without exception have phrases like 'I can't,' 'I have to,' or 'If only.' Proactive language helps in the repetition of a mindset of being responsible and empowered. In other words, being proactive means taking responsibility for your life. It's to realize that your decisions, not your conditions, determine effectiveness. It is in this habit where Covey sets the stage for all the other habits in his book and is thus the first one and very essential to anybody interested in advancing personal or professional effectiveness.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Develop Proactive Habits According to 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People'

Image
  Blog 2: How to Develop Proactive Habits According to 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' Development of proactive habits, according to Stephen Covey's book 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,' follows specific key steps. The first step is to admit that initiation indeed matters. The proactive do not just take whatever comes their way but make it happen. That means going from being a passive onlooker to an active agent in one's own life. An effective way of developing proactive habits is to practice self-awareness; pay attention to your thoughts, behaviors, and how they may guide your actions. Getting more aware of your propensities is going to guide you toward making more conscious decisions that are in alignment with your values and goals. Another thing, actually significant as a result, is the notion of focusing on what lies in your capability to control. Covey labels it his 'Circle of Influence'. These can be noted as areas where you can...
Read more

Proactive Living from 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People'

Image
  Blog 3: Proactive Living from 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' The book by Stephen Covey, 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,' reveals how living proactively may bring a person many pluses. Probably, the greatest of them is personal effectiveness. In any case, when you take responsibility of whatever you do or the decisions taken, probably you will realize your goals and potentials. Proactive living also magnifies your problem-solving capability. Instead of being immobilized by the problem, proactive people meet problems with a solution-oriented approach. They focus on what can be done to address the problem not on what is wrong. As a result, this proactive approach leads to more creative and effective solutions. Proactive living can also be related to relationships. It makes other people more trusting and respectful toward you, since you own your actions and reactions. In essence, proactive people are good communicators and managers of conflict—key ing...
Read more