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Remembering Steven Covey

Posted: July 23, 2012 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement

Remembering Steven Covey…

Last week brought the sad news of the passing of Steven R. Covey, world-renowned leadership and management expert.  In hearing of Covey’s death, thoughts of all his contributions came to mind.  His work was transformational for those companies and individuals who took the time to understand and apply his timeless, common-sense principles for joyous and abundant living.  I want to share a three of his principles that were especially important to me.  Here they are:

Begin with the end in mind.  This sounds so simple, doesn’t it?  Why wouldn’t we begin with the end in mind?  According to the late billionaire, Bunker Hunt, “Most people don’t take the time in life to determine exactly what they want.  Success comes in two steps:  Knowing exactly what you want, and being willing to pay the price to achieve it.”  To illustrate, just imagine trying to put together a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle without a picture on the box!

Balance your Q2 and Q1 ratio.  In his classic book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Covey had a quadrant that included these four categories:

  1. Important and urgent
  2. Important, but not urgent
  3. Urgent, but not important
  4. Not urgent or important.

It is easy to get caught in the world of “tantalizing trivialities”.  There is such a temptation to spend time in the 3rd and 4th categories.  We allow ourselves to be distracted by low priority interruptions.  We spend too long on our lunch hour and spend production time talking about sports.  When I coach teams, many of them are constantly in the “important and urgent” category”.  Covey taught us to put a sense of urgency on the important by planning and delegating well, and using and respecting deadlines.  If we don’t put a sense of urgency on what is “important but not urgent”, it will eventually become urgent.  Example:  Having a conversation with your teenager today.  It is important, but not urgent.  If you keep putting it off, the conversation may become urgent!

 Synergistic Communication

Covey says  there are three levels of communication.

  1. Win-lose:  No trust is needed in this mode.  It is a zero sum game.  As a result of our conversation, I win, and you lose.
  2.  Compromise:  Some trust is involved here.  Each side must be willing to give and take.  The result is coming up with a plan that everyone can “live with”
  3.  Synergistic communication:  This was Covey’s favorite.  At this level the sum is greater than the total of its parts.  We have a problem.  I have an idea.  Instead of disagreeing with me, you look for common ground and say, “I like what you are saying about_______.  How about if we added_______”   The other person responds, “OK.  If we add that, how about if we included this also?”  The conversation goes back and forth, and in each exchange, your thinking is at a higher level.  When you finally come up with your action plan, it is better than either of the original individual ideas. When we can reach this state of communication and problem solving, great things can happen.  I have personally witnessed this.

Thank you, Mr. Covey for these nuggets of wisdom that have helped form my career today.  You have left a legacy, and we will miss you.