Leadership Biography: Stephen R. Covey
In order to better synthesize and integrate the concepts I have learned in my Principles of Leadership class, I have chosen to read three biographies about Stephen R. Covey and his most popular book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I would like to share what I have learned about Stephen R. Covey’s (a) life, (b) accomplishments, (c) most popular book, and (d) effect on me personally.
LIFE
Stephen Covey has always exhibited leadership qualities throughout his life. From decisions he made as a teenager to lifelong hobbies, Covey was always setting a great example.
Stephen Covey loved to play sports while he was growing up. In junior high he had to stop playing sports, because the upper …show more content…
It was published in 1989 and over 25 million copies have been sold all over the world. The audio version of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is “the first non-fiction audio in history to sell over one million copies” (“Stephen R.”). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is about being an effective person by following true principles. These seven habits are split into three categories: Independence, Interdependence, and Continuous Improvements. Independence has three habits: Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, and Put First Things First. Interdependence has three more habits: Think Win/Win; Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood; and Synergize. Continuous Improvements is about the seventh habit, Sharpen the Saw (Covey).
Be Proactive. This is the first habit, and it is about self awareness. Covey says it is important for each person to know what their individual strengths and weaknesses. He also recommends that people listen to what they actually say and make sure they are saying things that are positive about …show more content…
Covey’s life that he lived life to the fullest and cared about other people. This shows me that I can be really happy and have an inspiring life if I learn from Covey and try to follow his example. Because of Covey’s example, I would like to be as devoted to my schooling as he was. Covey was able to do so much with his job while still taking care of his personal life. He became a great leader by reaching out to a lot of people. This teaches me that it is important for me to be as positive and as kind as I can to everyone I meet. I especially enjoyed reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People because it helped me understand how important it is to know what I really want. I plan to work on being more self aware and to really try to understand other people. I liked learning about how I need to better myself before I can really know how to help other people.
WORKS CITED
"About Stephen R. Covey." Stephen R Covey. 10 Dec. 2015. .
Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Simon, 1989.
"Stephen Covey." Wikipedia. 10 Nov. 2015. 10 Dec. 2015. .
"Stephen R. Covey Biography." MindPerk. 2015. 10 Dec. 2015.