7 Habits to Better Leadership in Under 300 Words

We have been reviewing “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. Yesterday’s post on Sharpen the Saw or investing in yourself was the most popular post of the week so I wanted to add a few more ideas on balanced renewal. First, let’s quickly review the 7 Habits that will make you a better leader:

Private Victory

Habit 1: Be Proactive – Principles of Personal Vision
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind – Principles of Personal Leadership
Habit 3: Put First Things First – Principles of Personal Management

Public Victory

Habit 4: Seek Win / Win Solutions – Principles of Interpersonal Leadership
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood – Principles of Empathic Communication
Habit 6: Synergize – Principles of Creative Cooperation

Renewal

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw – Principles of Balanced Renewal

As stated yesterday, renewal is the most important habit for your long term success. Dan Rockwell – LeadershipFreak provided a great quote of Abraham Lincoln: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

What will you do today to sharpen your saw? I have provided a few ideas below and in yesterday’s post. Now it’s up to you.

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A few more blogs and developmental ideas that I find helpful:

-Take the Dale Carnegie Training Class. It would be a very significant annual renewal.
-If you are a Carnegie graduate, go back as a Graduate Coach. I’ve done it twice and it’s a great experience.
-Sign up for weekly Dale Carnegie tips via e-mail. It’s free!
-John Maxwell on Leadership.
-Gemba Tales for Lean Manufacturing