Stephen Covey once said, “in the last analysis, what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.” Well, the last analysis is here – Stephen Covey passed away at the age of 70 on July 16th due to complications of a biking accident in April. Covey, best known for his mega-best selling book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People made an impact on a wide range of entities, from individuals to Fortune 100 corporations to schools. Countless success stories have been inspired by his books or the sight of the proud man with the bald head, speaking clearly and concisely at one of his many seminars.

His book, first published in 1989, stayed on the New York Times best-seller list for over five years and catapulted Covey into the national spotlight while spawning a consulting and publishing empire. Covey’s 7 Habits, though not highly sophisticated or complex, provides positive steps for people to move from dependence to independence and then to interdependence. For the coaching profession, his work has been utilized by all types of coaches, from life to personal to executive to athletic. Many Fortune 100 companies used him as a consultant and many still teach and subscribe to his seven habits. Even schools are feeling his loss. Covey’s The Leader in Me program has been adopted by many schools across the nation, and is designed to help young children begin learning the value of good work ethics, effective personal habits, and leadership.

Stephen Covey and His 7 Habits

In Stephen Covey‘s memory, it is worth noting the seven habits he felt would turn anyone into a highly effective person.

• Be proactive
• Begin with the end in mind
• Put first things first
• Think win-win
• Seek first to understand, then to be understood
• Synergize
• Sharpen the saw

The first three habits move people from dependence to independence, the next three are concerned with interdependence, and the last habit relates to self-rejuvenation. Covey penned a sequel of sorts to 7 Habits; in The 8th Habit, Covey urges people to adopt another habit – “find your voice and inspire others to find theirs…” Covey also wrote several other books, including People-Centered Leadership, First Things First, and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families. Covey became a professor at Utah State University in 2010 and taught classes, performed research, and helped establish the Stephen R. Covey Center for Leadership.

Those in the coaching profession would also serve their clients well by teaching values based on the following two quotes from Covey.

• “I am not a product of my circumstance. I am a product of my decision.”
• “The key is to not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

Though Stephen Covey has passed away, everyone, including those in the coaching profession, would be wise to learn about, understand, and implement the habits he endorsed. He clearly saw success as a product of how effectively you worked and how you conducted yourself. 7 Habits, at first perceived as a management tome and directive, also held the keys for individuals to find professional achievement and personal success. Bold in his determination to instill ethics and inspire greatness, the great bald man leaves a legacy that should inspire and motivate individuals and companies to reach for the stars through achievement, alliance, and character.

Hope you took some great value out of this post today! I’d love to hear your feedback, so make sure you leave a comment with your thoughts or questions. And also, you can click on the Twitter button below to retweet this article…Thank you!

Fred Philips
Business Coach
Writing Team, Coaches Training Blog Community