Student Work::  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens    by Sal

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teen

By  Sean Convey

 This could be just one of the hundreds of self-improvement books out on the bookstore shelves but it is not.  This book addressed many of the answers to life’s lessons that a teenager will question.  It can be considered an owners guide on growing up and becoming a grounded, well adjusted adult.  It is written by the son of Steve Covey, who wrote, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. 

The book begins by having the reader really start looking at themselves as a person, the type of person they are and the type of person the would want to be.  He gives definitions of many words, feeling, and problems in a humorous way.  Through that humor he deals with many issues that teenagers find themselves in every day.  He makes it very clear that you are not the only one going through this period of time or that you are the only one having the thoughts you have.  Sean writes about how you can take a look at yourself and change, add to, or take away things about yourself you need to work on.  It is almost a step-by-step program to make you ready to take on the 7 Habits you need to be effective.

The first of the seven habits is to be proactive.  He discusses how you can be proactive or reactive.  He describes what both are.  You can see how your language and the words you use tell whether you are a proactive or reactive person.  We do have a choice.  The benefits of being proactive are discussed. 

The second habit is to begin with the end in mind.  You have to know where you are going.  Not just what you want to be as an adult but in different areas of you life.  What do you want from school?  What do you want from friends?  What are the questions I should be asking myself to get to the end I want?  There is a great exercise in this chapter that makes you really think about many different areas of your life and what you really want. 

The third habit is putting first things first.  In this chapter Sean discusses how to do the JUST DO IT, attitude of Nike.  You have again to look at yourself and see who you really are and change what needs to be changed.  Sean writes ways in which you can do this. A great many ideas of how to organize yourself and get things done. 

The fourth habit is the win-win.  He writes in this chapter, “Believe me, this Win-Win stuff is contagious.  If you’re big-hearted, committed to helping others succeed, and willing to share recognition, you’ll be a magnet to friends.”  Sometimes you won’t be able to find a win-win situation but the habit you are trying to achieve is worth trying.

The fifth habit is to seek first to understand then to be understood.  This chapter is devoted on how to listen to people.  You don’t really know what people are thinking until you listen to where they are coming from.  Everyone has their own baggage, so you don’t know what they are thinking until you LISTEN to what they are saying.

The sixth habit is to synergism.  This is an excellent way to deal with problems you may encounter along the way.  The problems can be with parents, siblings, friends or co-workers.  He gives a great action plan outline to use in situations to help come to synergy.  He gives the definition of synergy as, “when two or more people work together to create a better solution than either could alone.”  Working together, now there is a novel thought.

The seventh and last habit is sharpen the saw.  This is the care that one has to take of themselves, in body, mind, heart and soul.

Throughout the book the author has wonderful examples of real life stories and situations that make the reader really understand what he is trying to say.  He also has many cartoons that go along with the points he is trying to make.  Quotes from many types of people are included in every chapter. 

My favorite part of the book was the Baby Steps sections at the end of each of the seven habit sections.  It was like a jumping board to get started.  These were little things to get you to start heading in the right direction to accomplish making something a habit.  

The book was also filled with great exercises that made you think about how you react to people, or how people might see you.  It was very motivational.

 April 9,2003