The 7 Habits and Societal Shift

Dr. Covey states that our character is basically a composite of our habits. The activity and attitude that we entertain every day define who we are. He defines them as the intersection of knowledge, skill, and desire. What to do and why + how to do it + wanting to do it = a habit.

Bad habits are caused usually because we want something now and desire leads our behavior and character. But if we knowsomething better will come along, and we know how to make it so, we can use good habits to achieve happiness, or as Dr. Covey describes it, “The fruit of the desire and ability to sacrifice what we want now for what we want eventually.”

What does this mean for us as a society? Especially considering the state of flux that our current economic condition has us in, we need to start looking at the changes we must make if America as we hope for it is going to survive.

The 7 habits are designed to take an individual from the state of Dependence, where he/she is reliant on another, to Independence, where he is reliant on him/herself, to Interdependence, where he/she combines their own strength with others’ so that all may prosper. Since we signed the Declaration, most of America’s thinking, which has largely extolled the tenets of Capitalism, has been based on Independence. But as Dr. Covey argues, Interdependence is a much higher social paradigm. Those who are habitually devoted to Capitalism and the status quo will shun this evolution by fearfully proclaiming warnings of Socialism and Communism, but those who understand human social activity know that much more can be done by the many than by the individual. This is not to say that I am condoning either of them. I think that the paradigm we are looking for has yet to be created. As we strive toward it, I do not wish to diminish American progress in any way nor do I wish to completely impugn Capitalism, but we, as a people, need to start writing the Declaration of Interdependence.

The problem with independent, status quo Capitalism is that it is largely about what I (the person of the corporation) want now (higher quarterly profits). In developing whatever system we are replacing it with, we must also develop new habits that combine the knowledge of a connected community, the skills of people who are passionate about their purpose, and the desire for peace, prosperity, and environmental sustainability. As we create this Interdependent system, if we can sacrifice some of what we want now for what we want eventually, we can achieve happiness.

I think that shift is taking place, but it’s taking some time to get there. Until the last few decades, the American work force has largely been a Dependent paradigm. Most Americans punched a clock and depended upon someone else to give them a purpose and pay them to do it. A person who is Dependent cannot just move into the Interdependent paradigm. They don’t have enough sense of “I” to become part of the “We.” However, over the last few decades, entrepreneurism has grown very rapidly as more and more people have found their own way and their own Independence. The recent economic crisis has forced more people to do the same, like a momma bird pushing the baby bird out of the nest and forcing him to learn to fly. What has been seen largely as economic devastation could turn out, for many, to be a blessing in disguise.

As people gain their Independence by stepping boldly into entrepreneurism, we are simultaneously seeing the arrival of technology that is connecting us in ways we never imagined. The surge in social media is allowing people to connect first on a friendly level. And while some have already realized how to use this media to improve their business, its use in connecting to others and establishing interdependence is a natural next step in our societal evolution.

Do you think the 7 habits can be used on a societal level or are they just for individual use?

Tags: capitalism, stephen covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, united states