Leadership assingmnet 7

Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Restoring the character. "An emerging paradigm for health; BF637.S8C68 1990 .... E5 1989 a p.1-172.
Introduction
It is enthusiastic to have read Covey’s book, the seven principles of highly effective people. He seems to be enlightened on how people should interact with their immediate environment in order to lead an effective lifestyle. His is an overview on the rampant challenges that earthly people face, why they face them, their pronounced effects to them and most important, he addresses appropriate remedies that can counteract the poor interactions. He has clearly outlined the virtues that highly effective individuals should have; how to attain them and the repercussions of such principles to the individuals. I boldly identify with coveys assumptions that human beings are everyday facing similar challenges, thus leading ineffective lives in the contemplary world that demands effectiveness. Nevertheless, the arguments he poses seem to favor a perfect kind of life which seems hard to adopt and at the same time, his recommendations are kind of too hard to be applicable in a real life situation. Excellent principles are fundamental tools to an effective and quality living (Covey, 1989).
Overview
As I read through the book, it offered me a great opportunity to think once and again, with a critical evaluation of my life. I as well tried to apply the insights to my persona with no definite conclusion made. He gives an insight on the conditions of human life in all aspects, i.e., spiritual, social, political, economical, emotional as well as occupational. His book is helpful to anyone regardless of their status, addressing the appropriate paradigms and dimensions that a society should apply. His inspiration touches various issues of concern to the life of a human being. First, he gives an outline of the seven key principles to an effective life which he considers as drivers to personal change. Additionally, he addresses on seven habits that do lead to either appositive paradigm shift or a negative one, which enlightens me that it is possible for a change to be positive or negative, depending on the prevailing circumstances in a persons life. More over, the insight on the deposits as fundamental instruments to emotional success moves me since they create awareness that whatever kind of deposits made in everyone’s life determine the kind of it. It is also very important to realize that a person’s life is controlled by certain centers that may cause either a negative or a positive influence in life. I have learnt from this book the kind of thoughts that a person has majorly determined the kind of life that he/she leads. This is presented in the quote “It all begins in the mind”. He gives me a new understanding that life can be meaningful and effective through proper planning, excellent attitudes, quality habits, excellent control centers and more important, appropriate principles (Covey, 1989).
Personality and ethics
I am impressed by the way he explains personality and ethics in human’s life. I concur with him that different people have diverse personalities, attitudes and virtues. He puts it clearly that in an environment; one is liable to interact with distinct characters, some encouraging and others discouraging. He explains a phenomenon where he interacts with his wife, children, employees, and this touches my heart when I know that this is rather kind of interaction that I also find myself in. It is quite a good teaching that one should learn to widen his heart, in order to make it accommodate every kind of person in life. The quote “your attitude determines your attitude” is very powerful in this context for is an inspiration that success is usually realizes whenever a positive attitude is embraced. He adds that the difference that exists between our characters are crucial elements for success, hence everybody’s success lies in the uniqueness of his personality. This is very true and I embrace it, however, to some extent I am left to wonder what outcomes can be suspected in a situation where on adopts a negative uniqueness that of destruction to his life rather than of success. More so, what treatment is advocated for those people who have inherited certain characters from their forefathers? Is it possible to readopt good character and ethics? I don’t think that much can be done to change ones character, though in the spiritual realms, they can be prayed for to change. Thus, good personality and ethics play a key role in the maintenance of a person’s paradigm (Covey, 1989).
Paradigm shift
I found it very interesting reading through his material on paradigm shift. He enlightens me on how life can change from one dimension to another. There is always an initial kind of life in every stage of human development, but there are times that become so overwhelming and cause a shift to the course of life, either negatively or positively. Leadership in states is also an area that faces these shifts, especially when constitutional changes occur. Paradigm shift brings about a different world around persons regardless of whether it happened positively or negatively. He concludes that our paradigms, either wrong or correct act as origins of our attitudes and behaviors, hence affecting our relationships with our friends and all those around us, i.e., our immediate environment. I am delighted to learn this from him, bearing in mind that I and other people as well tend to behave differently in different environments. I a gree to this since, when I apply it to my life, there are countless instances when I even have wondered why I should be living. Various circumstances in life of an individual lead to extremes in paradigm shifts until some people have considered themselves useless, a reason for many committing suicide and other deadly actions. Thus, it is very crucial for one to have realization when the shifts do happen, which direction they take and take appropriate actions to counteract the prevailing changes to better and not to the worst (Covey, 1989).
Growth and change
Another insightful issue he brings about is on the necessity of principles of growth and change. He demonstrates optimism in that though a paradigm shift is a possible experience in life, there is always an easy and a quick way in which a change can be administered. He illustrates that a better quality of life, personal effectiveness, riches ad immense relationships with other people can be effected or facilitated using easy and quick ways not necessarily going through the natural procedures of work, growth and development, normally considered to be the keys to cause pronounced revolutions in one’s life. The quote, “the way we see the problem is the problem” is very important in the context. He says that people often base their lives on what they see occurring in their families, organizations, their states or even around them. Additionally, he implies that a problem or a success begins in the mind and every outcome of an issue reflects the inputs that had been put in place to bring it about. This is very true and I concur with him since this has reminded me of the many times I fail because of developing a negative perception of something. Many people in life do not face the outcomes of challenges and problems for not having a remedy, rather because of the in built perceptions. Thus, whenever challenges are encountered, it is always very crucial that appropriate habits are found that can address it as a basis to an effective life (Covey, 1989).
Habits
Additionally, his overview on the habits is well presented, clearly defined and elaborated. It is evident from this overview that our character and personality, actions that we take to facilitate change and our general interaction with the immediate environment are powerful factors that influence our way of life. He explains a habit as an acquired factor through repeated actions over time. He adds that our character and personality are determined by our habits, which he considers to be consistent patterns that are followed; whose consequences produce either effectiveness or ineffectiveness. The quote he poses, “sow a thought, reap an action; sow a action, reap a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny,” demonstrates how sequentially a habit is gained. To a certain extent, I agree with him in the explanation based on the maturity continuum. His interpretation of the acquirement of a habit is related to the stages of human development. Partially, I don’t give a supporting hand in this, though it is true. It is not true that the two developments are interrelated since the development of a human being is automatic and natural as ordained by God while the habit is acquired through the various interactions. But I agree with him that a person’s habit determine his/ her attitude, personality, and most important, success and effectiveness in life (Covey, 1989).
Being proactive
I am enticed on reading through his overview on the habit of being proactive in application of the principle of having a vision. Having a vision in...