On June 8-10, 2016, PS-PhilGEPS officers making up the Execom and the Mancom attended the “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” conducted by the Center for Leadership and Change, Inc. (CLCI) which is the international partner of FranklinCovey in the Philippines.
The Officials of the PS-PhilGEPS
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a book written by Stephen Covey, an American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker, while doing his doctorate in the 1970's. Covey reviewed 200 years of literature on success and in 1989 he published what is now considered as a mega-hit self-help book that has been the guide and inspiration for millions of people all over the world. It has, to date, sold over 25 million copies, translated into 52 languages, and has been the foundation of thousands of training seminars on effective management and leadership principles globally.
The book lays out seven core principles for achieving success in leadership and likewise in life—including often-quoted principles such as “Begin with the end in mind,” “First things first,” and “Think win-win.”. In all, the Seven Habits are as follows:
1. Be Proactive
2. Start with the End in Mind
3. Put First Things First
4. Think Win-Win
5. Seek First to Understand Then To be Understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the Saw
Habits 1, 2 and 3 are focused on self-mastery and moving from dependence to independence. Habits 4, 5 and 6, on the other hand, are focused on developing teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills, and moving from independence to interdependence. Habit 7 is focused on continuous growth and improvement, and embodies all the other habits.
Prior to the three-day seminar, all participants were made to do a 7 Habits Assessment where superiors, peers and other people get the chance to rate on how the 7 Habits is reflected in one’s work, decision making and interaction. It helped an attendee identify his strengths and weakness or where he is effective and where improvements are needed. The seminar held for the PS-PhilGEPS officers made use of a very well-organized learning packet and involved showing of videos upon which the participants reflected on. It also employed real-life sharing of experiences and situations and group dynamics. The seminar was expertly facilitated by Ms. Consolacion G. Montemayor of CLC and was assisted by PS-PhilGEPS Rafael Magno of the Training Division.
The seven key principles or “7 Habits” are so enduring, as claimed by many people, because they are timeless and universal. They point to real-life experiences—interactions between people—that anyone can relate with. It should be a helpful thing for the PS-PhilGEPS as an organization as it buckles up to facing greater challenges brought about by a new incoming national leadership, the organization’s goals to launch new businesses and streamline operations and the objective of setting an even bigger sales target for 2017.