“The heart has its reasons that reason does not understand.”

[Dimaeiya333]

Habit 5: Seek to understand, then to be understood
Habit 5 is about assertive and empathetic communication. Most people make the huge mistake of jumping to conclusions without really figuring out what's going on.

Two examples are used to explain this habit. The first is that of a hasty ophthalmologist who has not acted in a professional manner. He has prescribed glasses without even diagnosing his patient. I think that this is where we begin to understand the point better.

7 habits of highly effective people

The second example, which is much more direct, focuses on a conversation between a mother and her son. Her son, who has been feeling down, has expressed a dislike for school. What does the mother do? Does she decide coo email address lists to be empathetic or at least assertive?

The author proposes two possible answers. The first answer is the one we could determine as the most common, unfortunately. The mother does not stop to try to understand and then be understood.

She rushes into making judgments about her son, even starting to make comparisons with his older sister. She makes demands on him and, as if that weren't enough, she forces him to adopt a positive attitude.

The second response option that the mother could give is based on a simple sentence. She says: Go on. Tell me why you feel that way.

What do you think would be the best response to better understand the situation?
Obviously, we think that the second response could lead to empathetic communication that would lead to understanding the possible reasons the child may have.

To be effective, you need to listen in order to understand and be understood. Many listen simply to rush into a response, which is not at all effective.

Because of this, Stephen opens the explanation of this habit with Pascal's beautiful phrase:



Feelings, circumstances or certain situations can be reasons for people to act in a certain way. It may seem incoherent to us or we may not find a reasonable reason for that action. However, let us remember that the important thing is to try to understand others and then be understood.

Habit 6: Synergy
Taking into account the principles of creative cooperation, the author reveals that synergy is one of the seven habits of highly effective people.

7 habits of highly effective people

Synergy can be understood as cooperation, since its Greek origin, “synergía”, means “ working together ”. It also implies the interdependence and effort made by a group of individuals to carry out a task considered complex. In addition, it is understood as the desired product and the achievement of success.

This can be achieved through the quality of external or internal relationships . It can be defined as the ability of certain parties to achieve a much greater result when they come together.

The author gives the example of two pieces of wood that, when taken separately, are capable of supporting a specific weight. However, when they are put together, they are capable of supporting much more weight than they could resist separately.

This habit is accompanied by an inaugural message made by President George Bush.

“I take as my guide what a saint expected: in essential things, unity; in important things, diversity; in all things, generosity.”

A message that encourages us to apply cooperation, unity, diversity and generosity in all things that make up our lives.

Being synergistic will allow us to obtain much more advantageous results and obtain a whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts.

Part IV: Renewal
The fourth part of this incredible book seeks to enable the reader to pay attention to the continuous improvements that will be needed for personal growth. It provides four dimensions of renewal and the balance that must be achieved in order to apply it in the most appropriate way.

It allows the reader to go through a transition process and review the six previous habits in order to lead their life in the best possible way. From the personal to the professional sphere. All with the aim of being able to apply the final habit: Sharpen our saw.

Habit 7: Sharpen the saw
This habit will give whoever puts it into practice a great capacity for effective interdependence. Stephen assures us that we are not our habits, that our habits can be changed. And that replacing old patterns will allow us to end that losing behavior that does not allow us to be highly effective people.

This habit invites us to open the door to change and the continuous improvement of our being. Based on the principles of balanced self-renewal, it motivates us to stop for a moment and “sharpen our saw.”

This is because the author gives us a fairly simple example that has to do with a lumberjack. He is in the forest trying to cut down a tree and has been there for about 5 hours without resting. His effort has been wasted because he has achieved almost nothing.

So he is advised to take a break and sharpen his saw, to which he replies no because he simply doesn't have the time. Does this sound like the actions of a highly effective person? The answer is a resounding no.

Working hard to cut down a tree does not guarantee that it can be cut down. If the saw or axe is not in good condition, we will have only wasted our valuable energy.

So, the seventh habit is about taking the time to properly prepare what we need to be effective people. This encompasses all the habits we already mentioned because it is a stage of renewal.