The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1989

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Chapters 7-8

Chapters 9-11

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Themes

Real Change Comes from Within

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People attempts to distinguish itself from other self-help books by taking an inside-out approach to problem solving. Covey argues that both personal and business growth are frequently defined as behavior modification. He believes this to be a false premise and sees the recommendations of its proponents to be superficial, temporary solutions. He calls this ineffectual approach the Personality Ethic and contrasts it with his preferred method—the Character Ethic.

Personality represents a projection of the traits we want the world to see. It is external. Character consists of the hidden qualities that define who we are. Covey believes that character holds the key to true and lasting change. He writes:

In the words of William George Jordan, ‘Into the hands of every individual is given a marvelous power for good or evil—the silent, unconscious, unseen influence of his life. This is simply the constant radiation of what man really is, not what he pretends to be’ (22).

The author has set himself the difficult task of modifying traits that are invisible. He is attempting to reach into the human psyche and alter it at some fundamental level. However, he is also convinced that no one can achieve a permanent solution without this inside-out approach. His first three habits focus on changing the inner landscape of the mind. These are the fundamental and preliminary steps before a person can attain “public victories” in the outer world. He says, “That’s why Habits 1, 2, and 3 are so foundational. They give you the changeless inner core, the principle center, from which you can handle the more outward vulnerability with peace and strength” (281).

The Importance of Paradigm Shifts

The second major theme of the book flows from the first. Covey sets himself the difficult task of reaching in and changing a person’s invisible character. How he goes about accomplishing this task is entirely dependent on paradigm shifts. A paradigm shift is simply an unfamiliar way of looking at a familiar problem. In the first part of the book, the author illustrates this principle by using two sketches to demonstrate how perspective shapes reality. In each sketch, the viewer might see either an attractive young woman or an elderly crone. Both images are present in the sketch. A viewer will automatically interpret the sketches in one of two ways, and it will take the effort of others to point out the hidden image beneath the dominant one. However, in all cases, viewers are able to see the opposite image once its outline has been shown to them. This shift in visual viewpoint is analogous to the shift in internal viewpoint that Covey is attempting to achieve. He says:

We interpret everything we experience through these mental maps. We seldom question their accuracy; we’re usually even unaware that we have them. We simply assume that the way we see things is the way they really are or the way they should be (24).

Ultimately, the goal of the entire book is to shift the reader’s perspective to see the world in a new way. It is only from that new vantage point that permanent change is possible. Using the analogy of hacking through jungle undergrowth, a paradigm shift allows a person to decide whether they’re even traveling through the right jungle at all; “The leader is the one who climbs the tallest tree, surveys the entire situation, and yells, ‘Wrong jungle!’” (115).

Growth Is a Process

Covey sets himself in opposition to other self-help gurus by stating that all meaningful change must come from within. He further distinguishes his approach from theirs by claiming that inner growth is an organic process. He calls change from without appealing because it seems quick and easy: “personal effectiveness and rich, deep relationships with other people—without going through the natural process of work and growth that makes it possible (35).

The author frequently uses the analogy of farming to illustrate this point. One can’t plant a seed and expect to harvest its fruit the following day. He recognizes the organic process of nature and applies a similar concept to character growth. Since Covey believes that natural law prevails in the development of the psyche, just as it does in the growth of a seed, he structures his book to encourage the reader to undertake character-building exercises at the end of each chapter.

He also applies the same natural growth principle to the way in which he has laid out the material of the book. The first three habits are meant to strengthen independence. These are called private victories. You can’t master habits four through six successfully without the foundation of the first three: “As we plant the seed and patiently weed and nourish it, we begin to feel the excitement of real growth and eventually taste the incomparably delicious fruits of a congruent, effective life” (376).