If there was one thing you could change about your life what would it be? Dr Stephen Covey is giving a rare and exclusive talk, hosted by Great Expectations at Westminster Hall, London, on 14 October. It is the first time in over five years that Dr. Covey has spoken in the UK, to find out more about this one-off event click here.
Perhaps it would be work-related, your business, your team – efficiency or productivity. Maybe it would something in your social or personal life. Whatever it may be, there are always those things we really, really must get around to but never seem to have the time. We spend an average of 13 hours and 38 minutes of our day sleeping, working and watching TV. We also live in a culture that seems to be getting faster day by day and time appears to be more precious than ever. Yet we have the same number of hours in the day we have always had. So what has changed?
Culture has changed, and with it, our behaviour. People often refer to changing times. The current recession has brought about radical changes for businesses and individuals alike. Time brings with it change, but the change itself is our culture and our behaviour within it. Human beings are creatures of habit. So perhaps the question we should ask is: If there was one habit you could change – what would it be?
Author of the 20 million best-seller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr Stephen Covey knows that habits rule our behaviour. Named the most influential business book of the 20th century, it has changed millions of lives and organisations through Dr Covey’s profound yet easy to apply philosophies. A hugely influential management guru, Dr Covey has worked his magic for companies such as Microsoft and is said to be one of the most powerful and inspiring public speakers of all time. Time magazine lists him as one of 25 most influential Americans; he has dedicated his life to demonstrating how every person can truly control their destiny with profound, yet straightforward guidance. Highlights of Dr Covey’s impressive career include over 20 million books sold (in 38 languages), International Man of Peace Award, International Entrepreneur of the Year Award and eight honorary doctorate degrees awarded.
When we think of habits, we tend to think of things that hold us back, or perhaps are not really that good for us. Dr Covey, however, recognised that habits can be a powerful tool for improvement, efficiency and productivity. We can cultivate good habits, and these habits can change our lives and businesses for the better.
The principles within the 7 Habits, and now the 8th, highlight the benefits to any organisation of empowering the individual. Leadership is something that can be achieved at any level. Dr. Covey sees the potential that any organisation has to control and change its own culture from “The industrial age model,” which he describes as a, “kind of a top-down hierarchal command and control model which doesn’t develop widespread competency throughout the organisation.”
It is about recognising how a change in working culture can empower an individual and strengthen the organisation as a result. Dr Covey continues; “The knowledge worker age, which we’re in now, means that you create a culture where competency is spread everywhere, and where the people, even at the bottom, are involved significantly in discussing key business decisions. That takes a little more time and patience, but gradually once you get this kind of a culture, they produce alternative solutions to problems, which means it is not just ‘your way’ or ‘my way’, it is ‘our way’. And that is very bonding to people when they experience that.”
The benefits of change in working culture are not confined to the employees. “It starts to affect customers and also business partners, including suppliers,” continues Covey. “If employees are dealing with a supplier or a customer while using the industrial age model, they are not normally able to make decisions. Compare that to someone at the same level who can make decisions and carry the responsibility of that kind of leadership.”
It is a radical change and like any major shift in behaviour, it takes time. Managers will also begin to see the benefits of this change in culture, argues Covey: “You become a source of help. You set up a performance agreement so they understand what’s expected. You overlap their needs with the needs of the organisation.”
So as times change, we must too. As our culture changes we can adapt our behaviours at an individual and organizational level to benefit from change. ‘An Evening with Dr Stephen Covey’ this October 14 is a rare chance to see this inspirational and hugely influential speaker discussing all the above including his books The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness and his latest Predictable Results in Unpredictable Times (co-authored by Bob Whitman) as well as some of his most recent ideas. A special drinks reception for VIP ticket holders also offer the chance to meet and speak with Dr Covey himself.
We are living in changing times. Has there ever been a better time to make a change?
