Honoring the sustained legacy of the late Stephen Covey
For decades, reading Stephen Covey was a habit that effective people cultivated. Best known for The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey was among the foremost leadership experts in the business world. While he went on to write many best-selling books, The 7 Habits remains his keystone, selling more than 12 million copies around the globe.
“Dr. Covey,” as he was called by nearly everyone, even his close personal assistants, died last week at age 79.
Stephen Covey had strong ties to the Bluegrass. When an entrepreneurial Lexington couple, Bunny and Larry Holman, launched a leadership training company, WYNCOM, they fearlessly approached Covey to be a speaker for their events. Covey, already an international success, was impressed. He continued to be — so much so that he eventually turned over all his public-speaking events in the United States to be managed by the Kentucky-based company.
As part of the WYNCOM workplace family, I had the rare privilege of getting to know Dr. Covey. Always questioning, he often asked what new business authors I was reading or what trends I found developing. Dr. Covey was an avid reader himself and always asked for recommendations. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the final habit includes a discussion on the importance of reading.
Perhaps The 7 Habits was so brilliant because its author was profoundly grounded in his practice of them. While other speakers were less approachable, Dr. Covey wanted to learn from those around him and to do so, he was always questioning and always listening.
In many of his presentations, Dr. Covey talked about the importance “to leave a legacy.” Certainly, for his many, many readers and admirers, he was exemplary in doing so. For those of us in Lexington who had the opportunity to experience that firsthand, it is a legacy and an honor.
In tribute to Dr. Covey, here is a brief review of The 7 Habits:
Habit 1: Be proactive. Each of us is responsible for the choices we make and the consequences. Taking initiative in life means realizing that your decisions are the primary determining factor for effectiveness. Being proactive is the foundation for all the other habits.
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind. What are the most important character values for you? By beginning with the end in mind, clarifying goals and values and creating a mission statement, a life of meaning can be visualized.
Habit 3: Put first things first. With visualization as a primary step, next comes action. This includes the ability to prioritize, plan and execute, based on “importance rather than urgency.” Efforts should be evaluated as to whether they exemplify character values, assist toward goals and further the ideas developed in Habit 2.
Habit 4: Think win-win. In business and personal relationships, strive for a mutually beneficial solution or agreement. Look for a “win-win” as the better solution long-term than a “win-lose.” Covey details six possible scenarios, determining that “win-win” is the best possible agreement.
Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Empathetic listening creates an atmosphere of respect and problem solving. This is the most immediately applicable habit, according to Covey. It can also be the most difficult, necessitating a paradigm shift in the ways many of us communicate.
Habit 6: Synergize. “Synergy” became a workplace buzzword after appearing in The 7 Habits. Simply defined, it is a process of combining the strengths of people through teamwork, achieving together what one person could not do alone. Synergy can be a type of compromise that leads to a win-win for everyone.
Habit 7: Sharpen the saw. The final habit relates to self-renewal and the art of balance. It emphasizes health and energy as well as resources. There are four dynamics of the saw: physical, mental, social and spiritual. Continual planning, practicing and renewal keep the saw sharp.
Stephen Covey’s work influenced millions of people worldwide. Countless individuals and companies have used The 7 Habits as guiding principles in business. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People remains a marvelous, meaningful read, a true masterpiece. Stephen Covey introduced ideas, habits and practices that will continue to have a profound impact on future generations and for those of us who had the good fortune to know him, doubly so. His was a rare skill and gift to create such work and a triumph of the spirit in sharing it.