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Introduction: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change,Buy on Amazon, (1989)revolutionized the field of professional growth. Thirty-six years and five major revisions later, this book remains a valuable resource for helping people improve. Sounds interesting? Then read our summary below.
The Good and the Bad of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
In 2011, The 7 Habits landed on Time Magazine’s The 25 Most Influential Business Management Books [1]. Anyone interested in business and self-improvement must read this book.
On the negative side, Covey was a career academic and consultant, and writes like it. Too often, he explains his concepts through anecdotes set up in an ideal scenario
The Good of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
What I love about Covey is how he attacks the most important and complicated aspects of performance. Rather than selling some quick fixes, he works to help people develop character, build lasting habits, and improve their ability to communicate. Nail these areas, and it’s hard to imagine someone being unsuccessful.
Encourages Personal Development
Unlike most self-help books, Covey encourages you to put in the hard work required to make lasting changes. According to the author, life is more than a list of achievements. It requires integrity and purpose.
7 Habits forgoes quick fixes and encourages improvement through personal reflection. It emphasizes long-term growth and character development. It’s a refreshing counter to those who peddle productivity hacks.
Helps You Build Better Habits
Covey provides a framework for building character and integrity. The 7 Habits uses examples and scenarios to illustrate its concepts.
The author presents a clear framework for identifying and prioritizing your values. Then, he demonstrates how to use small daily actions to achieve life-changing goals—trust, integrity, and character.
Interdependence
Unlike the recent productivity book trend of promoting isolation and mindfulness, Covey’s idea of high-level work involves working with other people using a concept he calls interdependence — the ability to work effectively with others. In other words, leadership
Three of his seven habits: “Think Win-Win,” “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood,” and “Synergize,” demonstrated how to foster stronger relationships.
He addresses another aspect of interconnectedness: work and life are the same. Rather than addressing them individually, he designs a framework that covers both areas.
Improve Communication Skills
Another refreshing aspect of this book is how it calls out “active listening” as a manipulative tactic. Instead, he offers what he calls empathetic listening.
In active listening, people plot what to say to the other side while pretending to listen. Conversely, empathetic listening strives to understand others before pushing your agenda.
Further, this approach contrasts with the “bro” culture of many productivity books in which people are inputs and outputs of your task list to be efficiently manipulated.
The Bad of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Most of his work’s criticisms extend from his having the majority of his experience in academia and consulting. These areas are known for being a bit naïve, wordy, and filled with jargon.
Unnecessary Repackaging of Old Concepts
Perhaps what I find most annoying about the book is that it borrows old concepts and repackages them as new ideas. For example, instead of goal-setting we hear “beginning with the end in mind” and “Put First Things First” versus just saying prioritize.
Renaming common concepts makes the book more confusing than it needs to be and a bit pretentious. It reads as if Covey invented goal setting and task prioritization.
Expects You to Act Like a Buddhist Monk
While I appreciate championing a calm demeanor, he takes it too far, suggesting we become monks. He acts like confrontation or frustration is immoral.
While not something that should be done often, strong emotions and setting rigid boundaries are part of life. Sometimes, it’s best to be direct or unapologetic.
Naive
There are instances in the book that are naïve. Covey lives in a world where you should always try to find “win-win” solutions in any negotiation. I reject that mutual gains are achievable or desirable in every situation. More importantly, I don’t find it unethical to win a negotiation.
Win-win is excellent for long-term relationships. Yet, if I’m buying a car, I will push for the best deal possible, whether it’s beneficial to the dealership or not. Simply put. You don’t have to be nice to everyone to be a good person.
The other way the book is naïve is that many examples are unrealistic. In each one, the author has firm control over time, resources, or environment. What do you do when you have little or no control?
Writing Style is Wanting
The author does a good job of conveying the content and message. However, his writing style has room for improvement.
First, he is repetitive, repeating concepts multiple times. Second, the style is too academic (he was a professor). Finally, I love anecdotes, but I needed an umbrella to shield me from the constant rain of personal stories.
The Verdict: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Who Should Read It?
Any entrepreneur or business professional should read this book. It will get you to think about more than just your business, but also how to be a better person.
Who Should Skip It?
You may not find much value here if you’re a line worker in service or blue-collar jobs. It’s a business book, so if you don’t relate to business, move on.
Wrap Up
7 Habits is much more than just time management and productivity tips. It’s a leadership manual and a classic in the self-help genre.
Covey was a person of great compassion and integrity. He committed his life to helping others improve. If you read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I expect you will find value.
Conclusion
There’s always more to read on this topic. Explore our full guide on personal productivity. Or you can view more productivity book reviews.
I thrive on recommendations and feedback. Hit me up in the comments section or join me on Reddit at (opens new tab) r/Remove_Work_Advice. I would love to hear from you if you have read The 7 Habits or if you have any thoughts to share.
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Additional Information
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About Stephen Covey
Stephen Covey (1932–2012) was an influential author and educator. Covey was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He earned an MBA and doctorate from BYU and worked there as a professor.
His work focused on bringing integrity and character to work and life. Covey was also a co-founder of FranklinCovey, a global consulting organization.
Stephen Covey passed away on July 16, 2012, leaving behind a legacy that inspires and influences millions.
Books by Stephen Covey
Heads up. If you click on “Buy on Amazon” next to any book title, it will open a new page for that book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—think of it as a productivity tip jar. Your support is highly optional but always appreciated.
- Covey, S. R. (2020). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. United States: Simon & Schuster. (30th Anniversary Addition) Buy on Amazon
- Covey, S. R., Covey Haller, C. (2022). Live Life in Crescendo: Your Most Important Work Is Always Ahead of You. United States: Simon & Schuster. Buy on Amazon
- Covey, S. R. (2015). Primary Greatness: The 12 Levers of Success. United States: Simon & Schuster. Buy on Amazon
- Covey, S. R., Covey, S., Summers, M., Hatch, D. K. (2014). The Leader in Me: How Schools Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time. United States: Simon & Schuster. Buy on Amazon
- Covey, S. R. (2013). The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness. United Kingdom: Simon & Schuster UK. Buy on Amazon
- Covey, S. R., England, B. (2011). The 3rd Alternative: Solving Life’s Most Difficult Problems. United States: Free Press. Buy on Amazon
- Covey, S. R. (2009). Everyday Greatness: Inspiration for a Meaningful Life. United States: Thomas Nelson. Buy on Amazon
- Covey, S. R. (2003). Principle-centered leadership. United Kingdom: Free Press. Buy on Amazon
- Covey, S. R., Merrill, A. R., Merrill, R. R. (1996). First Things First. United Kingdom: Free Press. Buy on Amazon
- Covey, S. R. (1998). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families: Creating a Nurturing Family in a Turbulent World. United States: St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Buy on Amazon
Stephen Covey Online
Website: https://www.franklincovey.com/
LinkedIn: FranklinCovey LinkedIn
Twitter: @FranklinCovey
Wikipedia: The 7 Habits, Stephen Covey
Other The 7 Habits Reviews
- Cleverism. (2020). Book Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Retrieved from Cleverism
- Future Startup. (2024). Book Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Retrieved from Future Startup
- Reflectoring. (2019). Book Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Retrieved from Reflectoring
- Oberlo. (2024). A Quick Summary of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Retrieved from Oberlo.
- Readingraphics. (n.d.). Book Summary – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Retrieved from Readingraphics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The 7 Habits teach you to live your life following character-based habits. They draw on timeless principles, such as integrity, empathy, and proactivity. Covey recommends an “Inside-Out” approach, which has four levels of focus. First you improve your mindset. Next, you work on changing you behaviors to match your new mentality. Third, you focus on your own circumstances. Finally, you can assist others. The book’s focus on values and logical approach keeps it relevant for modern readers.
Being proactive means understanding you are responsible for your life. Covey encourages you to focus on what you can control, which he calls your “Circle of Influence.” He suggests reinforcing this behavior by using internal language, such as “I can,” “I will,” and “I choose.”
Covey’s Emotional Bank Account is a metaphor for the trust you build (or lose) in relationships. Positive actions, such as keeping promises and showing empathy, are “deposits.” Mistakes, such as breaking promises, are “withdrawals.” Healthy accounts foster strong relationships and teamwork.
References
- Gandel, Stephen (August 9, 2011). The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People (1989), by Stephen R. Covey. Time. Retrieved October 1, 2025.