Habit 1: Be Proactive

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Proactively Defined PROACTIVITY = Human beings are responsible

for our own behavior! Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not

our conditions. We have the initiative and responsibility to

make things happen. RESPONSIBILITY: “Response – ability” Ability

to choose your response.

Proactive Vs. Reactive Proactive People Do not Blame anyone or

anything. Behavior is a product of

their conscious choice, based on values.

They carry their weather with them.

They are still influenced by external stimulus – but their response is value based choice or response.

Reactive People Blame circumstances,

conditions & conditioning.

Behavior is a product of their conditions, based on feelings.

If weather is good, they feel good, if it is bad, they feel bad.

Reactive people build their lives around others emotions.

No One Can Hurt You Without Your Consent

Stimulus

Response

Freedom to Choose

Self Awarene

ss

ImaginationConscien

ceIndependent Will

It is not what happens to us, but our responses to what happens to us that hurts us.

3 Central Values – Victor Frankl The Experiential: that which happens to us The Creative: that which we bring into

existence The Attitudinal: Our response in difficult

situations

What matters most is how we respond to what we experience in life!

Taking the Initiative: Act or Be Acted Upon Our basic nature is to act, and not be acted

upon Use your R and I – Resourcefulness and

Initiative Proactivity: 5000+ % difference in

effectiveness Listening to Our Language

Reactive Language Proactive Language

There is nothing I can do Let’s look at our alternatives

That’s just the way I am I can choose a different approach

He makes me so mad I control my own feelings

They won’t allow that I can create an effective presentation

I have to do that I will chose an effective response

I can’t I choose

I must I prefer

If only I will

Circle of Concern / Circle of Influence Excellent way to become more self-aware

regarding our own degree of proactivity is to look at where we focus our time and energy.

Our Health Our Family Our Work Our Spirituality Our Emotions

Circle of InfluenceCircle of Concern

Circle of Concern / Circle of Influence

Direct / Indirect / No Control Direct Control problems can be solved by working on our

habits- Habits 1 to 3 (Private Victory) Indirect Control problems can be solved by changing our

methods of influence – Habits 4 – 6 (Public Victory) No Control problems can be solved by changing the line

on the bottom on our face – to smile , to genuinely & peacefully accept and learn to live with them.

Proactive People Reactive People

Focus their effort on circle of influence

Focus their effort on circle of concern

Nature of their energy is positive Nature of their energy is negative

Causes circle of influence to increase

Causes circle of influence to shrink

Serenity Prayer

Lord, give me the courage to change the

things which can and ought to be changed,

the serenity to accept the things which

cannot be changed, and the wisdom to

know the difference.

Expanding the Circle of Influence Be a better listener Be more loving Be a better learner Be a dedicated worker Be Happy - genuinely Smile

Making and Keeping Commitments At the very heart of our Circle of Influence is the

ability to make and keep commitments and promises.

The commitments we make to ourselves and others, and our integrity to those commitments is the clear manifestation of our Proactivity.

It is essence of our growth Self awareness & Conscience – We become conscience

of our areas of improvements, areas of talent that can be developed, areas that need to be changed or eliminated

Recognize and use our imagination and independent free will to act on that awareness – making promises, setting goals

Proactivity – 30 Day Test Try to see… How we Make and Keep Commitments? How do we handle traffic jam? How do we react to irate customer? How do you react to upset relative? How we view our problems? Where we focus our energies?

Proactivity – 30 Day Test Work Only on Your Circle of Influence Make small promises and keep them Be a light, not a judge Be a model, not a critic Be part of the solution, not part of the

problem When you make a mistake, acknowledge it

instantly, correct and learn from it. Don’t get into blaming and accusing mode. Work on things you have control over.

Work on You!