PARADIGMS AND PRINCIPLES

If you are interested in personal development I highly recommend you purchase Steven Covey's book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I read it for the first time in early 90s and I find myself going back to it as I learn more about myself and the others I interact with.

Here is a condensed summary of a chapter from the book:

Inside-Out

A paradigm is a model, theory or explanation of something else. It is the "lens" of our preconceived notions through which we view the world. If our paradigm is incomplete, our attitudes, behaviors and responses will not be as effective or appropriate. We will be as lost as a person trying to function in New York state with a map of New York city. Our lives become effective as our paradigm evolve resulting in a more encompassing view of the world. Some paradigm shifts may be fast (a blinding flash of the obvious), some are more slow (a change in character).

The Seven Habits is a principle-centered paradigm. Principles are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value -- they are fundamental.

Our character is a composite of our habits. Changing habits is hard, but can be done by tremendous commitment.

A (good) habit can be defined as the intersection of knowledge, skill and desire. Change is a cycle of being and seeing (visualization).

Our objective is to move progressively on a maturity continuum from dependence to independence to interdependence. We must achieve independence before we can choose interdependence.

Habits 1, 2 and 3 (Be Proactive, Begin With The End In Mind, Put First Things First) deal with self mastery. They are the "private victories" required for character growth. Private victories precede public victories.

Habits 4, 5 and 6 are the "public victories" of Teamwork, Cooperation and Communication.

Habit 7 is the habit of Renewal, creating an upward spiral of growth.

This process of growth will be evolutionary, but the net effect will be revolutionary.

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Last modified: March 9, 2004

Disclaimer: This website is the sole responsibility of Mike McMahon. It does not represent any official opinions, statement of facts or positions of the Alameda Unified School District. Its sole purpose is to disseminate information to interested individuals in the Alameda community.