Book Club: Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

This little book club is almost coming to an end! I’m very glad that I’m revisiting this book at this point in my life. The three habits of interdependence will come in very handy as I work to build a school and community.

The sixth habit–Synergize–will be invaluable as I try to bring people together to participate in the creation of those aforementioned goals. I love the idea that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” I have to work on incorporating that belief into the very core of my being. I tend to be a very independent person. I have to remember that collaborating with others will produce something greater than I could produce alone.

I should say it again: I have to remember that collaborating with others will produce something greater than I could produce alone.

Oh, how I hope I can truly internalize that concept!

When Covey says that embracing synergy “requires enormous personal security and openness and a spirit of adventure,” I realize that working on the first three habits for the past six or seven years has really helped me in those areas (although I definitely still have a long way to go, especially in the area of personal security).

Plus, I still need to move away from dichotomous thinking. My default reaction is usually to see two options, black or white. I’m not particularly creative when it comes to seeing/generating the third option. I’ve been working on it, though. The last time Matt and I got in a fight, I kept saying, “Let’s work toward a Win/Win solution.”

These last few habits–the habits of interdependence–really need to sink in. I need to keep them at the forefront of my mind. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Think Win/Win. And synergize.