The 8th Habit: The pain

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The first chapter* talks about the struggle people have to succeed and stay engaged, energized, and able to make contributions in their work and many organizations' inability to focus on and execute their highest priorities. The original 7 habits are still extremely relevant as people use these timeless principles to become highly effective people:

1. Be proactive
2. Begin with the end in mind
3. Put first things first
4. Think win/win
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the saw

But Covey claims being effective is no longer optional, it is simply surviving. To truly excell and lead today requires greatness, and greatness/fulfillment/significance comes from finding your voice and inspiring others to find theirs (the 8th habit).

Voice (or unique, personal significance) is the congruance of:

• talent - natural gifts & strengths
• need - what the world will pay you for
• conscience - voice of assurance & prompt for what's right
• and passion - things that energize, motivate, & inspire you

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After reflecting on this, I agree with the need for finding you voice and inspiring others, because this seems to make the original 7 habits more personally fulfiling for yourself and your community. Habits 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are mostly other-focused, being an effective person/worker for the benefit of the organizaion (family or workplace); while habits 3, 7, and now 8, speak to me more about self-improvement and making a lasting contribution to family, friends, and society. I see others in my personal and professional life who struggle too much working towards being more effective without the bigger picture of putting first things first, sharpening their saws, and truly finding their voices (or asking why they want to become more effective).

Covey illustrates (p. 4, figure 1.1) the 8th habit as the support to the other habits through dependence, independence, and interdependence. Similar to the 7th habit, I think the 8th habit is necessary and a driving force for the others (and thus, being effective).

After reading this chapter I am curious about my voice (I want to find it now!), and reflecting about what talents and passions are. I have also worked more at putting first things first (roles & goals) and sharpening my saw.

*from Stephen Covey's The 8th Habit: From effectiveness to greatness as part of the 8th Habit Challenge