8th Habit – From Effectiveness to Greatness – Covey

Posted under Uncategorized on November 19th, 2009 by with 2 responses 

The 8th Habit
From Effectiveness to Greatness
by Stephen R. Covey

The 8th Habit
Publisher: Copyright © 2004 by Stephen R. Covey
Published by the Free Press / Simon & Schuster, Inc., N.Y.

Category: Leadership & Management

In this summary you will learn

* How to transform your life and your company by using the 8th Habit
* How it incorporates and expands upon the 7 Habits
* How the Knowledge Worker Era is replacing the Industrial Age
* How to develop your unique human voice and help others find theirs
* How to make empowerment work

Why you should read The 8th Habit
A cynic toward sequels would note that Steven Covey took only a little more than 300 pages to explain his first seven habits, but 409 pages and an accompanying CD to expound on the eighth. Cynicism aside, however, this book – this 8th Habit – is worth every page. Give Covey credit. He could rest on his laurels and just write bland, non-threatening “how to lead” books and they would all be bestsellers. Covey eschews mediocrity, however, and tells it straight. Most employees experience considerable emotional pain working in their organizations, he says, because they are treated as objects, not full human beings. Covey adds his prestige to the notion that the knowledge worker is a new model for change in the unspoken, unwritten contract between employer and worker. He bases this fresh paradigm on respect for the complete person – mind, body, heart and soul – not just the part that works from nine to five. Covey’s voice is powerful and unique. He is committed to helping others find their unique voices as well. We recommend this highly for anyone in the workplace.

Table of Contents
1    The Pain    1
2    The Problem    12
3    The Solution    25
PART 1    FIND YOUR VOICE    37
4    Discover Your Voice- Unopened Birth-Gifts    39
5    Express Your Voice- Vision, Discipline, Passion and Conscience    64
PART 2    INSPIRE OTHERS TO FIND THEIR VOICE    95
6    Inspiring Others to Find Their Voice- The Leadership Challenge    97
FOCUS- MODELING AND PATHFINDING    125
7    The Voice of Influence- Be a Trim-Tab    126
8    The Voice of Trustworthiness- Modeling Character and Competence    146
9    The Voice of Speed and Trust    161
10    Blending Voices- Searching for the Third Alternative    186
11    One Voice- Pathfinding Shared Vision, Values and Strategy    215
EXECUTION- ALIGNING AND EMPOWERING    231
12    The Voice and Discipline of Execution- Aligning Goals and Systems for Results
13    The Empowering Voice- Releasing Passion and Talent
THE AGE OF WISDOM    269
14    The 8th Habit and the Sweet Spot    270
15    Using Our Voices Wisely to Serve Others    292
20 Most Commonly Asked Questions    318
APPENDICES    329
A 1    Developing the 4 Intelligences/Capacities: A Practical Guide to Action    331
A 2    Literature Review of Leadership Theories    352
A 3    Representative Statements on Leadership and Management    360
A 4    The High Cost of Low Trust    365
A 5    Implementing the 4 Disciplines of Execution    369
A 6    xQ Results    370
A 7    Max & Max Revisited    374
A 8    The FranklinCovey Approach    379
Notes    383
Index    389
About FranklinCovey    407
About the Author    409

Description and Reviews
From The Publisher:

In the more than fifteen years since its publication, the classic The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has become an international phenomenon with over fifteen million copies sold. Tens of millions of people in business, government, schools, and families, and, most important, as individuals have dramatically improved their lives and organizations by applying the principles of Stephen R. Covey’s classic book.

The world, though, is a vastly changed place. The challenges and complexity we all face in our relationships, families, professional lives, and communities are of an entirely new order of magnitude.

Being effective as individuals and organizations is no longer merely an option — survival in today’s world requires it. But in order to thrive, innovate, excel, and lead in what Covey calls the new Knowledge Worker Age, we must build on and move beyond effectiveness. The call of this new era in human history is for greatness; it’s for fulfillment, passionate execution, and significant contribution.

Accessing the higher levels of human genius and motivation in today’s new reality requires a sea change in thinking: a new mind-set, a new skill-set, a new tool-set — in short, a whole new habit. The crucial challenge of our world today is this: to find our voice and inspire others to find theirs. It is what Covey calls the 8th Habit.

So many people feel frustrated, discouraged, unappreciated, and undervalued — with little or no sense of voice or unique contribution. The 8th Habit is the answer to the soul’s yearning for greatness, the organization’s imperative for significance and superior results, and humanity’s search for its “voice.” Profound, compelling, and stunningly timely, this groundbreaking new book of next-level thinking gives a clear way to finally tap the limitless value-creation promise of the Knowledge Worker Age. The 8th Habit shows how to solve such common dilemmas as:

* People want peace of mind and good relationships, but also want to keep their lifestyle and habits.
* Relationships are built on trust, but most people think more in terms of “me” — my wants, my needs, my rights.
* Management wants more for less; employees want more of “what’s in it for me” for less time and effort.
* Businesses are run by the economic rules of the marketplace; organizations are run by the cultural rules of the workplace.
* Society operates by its dominant social values, but must live with the consequences of the inviolable operation of natural laws and principles.

Covey’s new book will transform the way we think about ourselves and our purpose in life, about our organizations, and about humankind. Just as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People helped us focus on effectiveness, The 8th Habit shows us the way to greatness.

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Reviews

The original seven habits of highly successful people are still relevant, but Covey, author of the mega-bestseller of that title, says that the new Information/Knowledge Worker Age, exemplified by the Internet, calls for an eighth habit to achieve personal and organizational excellence: “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.” Covey sees leadership “as a choice to deal with people in a way that will communicate to them their worth and potential so clearly they will come to see it in themselves.” His holistic approach starts with developing one’s own voice, one’s “unique personal significance.” The bulk of the book details how, after finding your own voice, you can inspire others and create a workplace where people feel engaged. This includes establishing trust, searching for third alternatives (not a compromise between your way and my way, but a third, better way) and developing a shared vision. This book isn’t easy going; less business jargon and more practical examples would have made this livelier and more helpful. But if organizations operated with Covey’s ideas- and ideals- most people would undoubtedly find work much more satisfying. DVD not seen by PW.
– Publisher’s Weekly Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Steve Covey does it again with cutting-edge thinking. The 8th Habit is about finding out why you’re here and helping others to do the same. Is there a nobler cause? Don’t miss this book!”
– Ken Blanchard coauthor of The One Minute Manager and Customer Mania!

Covey’s work has influenced millions upon millions of people worldwide. In this book, he takes a huge conceptual leap and introduces us to ideas and practices that will have a profound impact on all our lives. The 8th Habit is a marvelous read, a triumph of the spirit, and, in my view, Covey’s most important work.
– Warren Bennis Distinguished Professor of Management, USC; author of On Becoming a Leader and coauthor of Geeks and Geezers: How Era, Values, and Defining Moments Shape Leaders

Getting results in large companies is a very rare skill and this book captures how to do it. The guidance provided here will prove invaluable for leaders who are trying to drive tighter execution in their organizations.
– Kevin Rollins President and CEO, Dell, Inc.

For years I have been using the 7 Habits as guiding principles in leading my business. I had to read The 8th Habit. Having done so, I am completely wowed, captured, and empowered. The 8th Habit is a true masterpiece, a must-read. These principles of personal and organizational leadership, when lived, unleash human genius and inspire deep commitment and magnificent levels of service and satisfaction. This book will be my gift to all my associates as required reading for all of my future endeavors.
– Horst Schulze Former President and COO of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company

Stephen Covey has long been a sure-footed guide to those desiring to better themselves. The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness shows how to climb to the summit of fulfillment and achievement.
– Steve Forbes President and CEO of Forbes and Editor In Chief of Forbes Magazine

I hope Stephen writes a dozen more books. But should he not do so, The 8th Habit will clearly stand as the crowning achievement of a lifetime of service. May millions upon millions the world over read, share, and be moved to firmly grasp the reins of their lives as a result!
– Tom Peters author of Re-Imagine!: Business Excellence in a Disruptive Age

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About the Author

Stephen R. Covey is a renowned authority on leadership, a family expert, teacher, organizational consultant, and vice chairman of FranklinCovey Co. The author of several acclaimed books, he has also received numerous honors and awards, including being named one of Time magazine’s twenty-five most influential Americans. Covey lives with his wife, Sandra, and their family in the Rocky Mountains of Utah.

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