The Eighth Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

Introduction

• Author: Dr. Stephen R. Covey
• Focus: Moving from effectiveness to greatness, unlocking human potential
• Concept: Effectiveness is the baseline, but greatness is the goal in the new knowledge worker age

The Eighth Habit: Find Your Voice

• Purpose: To access higher levels of human genius and motivation
• Importance: It's about engaging a new mindset, skill set, and tool set

Contextual Changes Since 1989

• 1989 marked the beginning of the information age
• The rise of the knowledge worker age requires building on effectiveness
• Voice: Unique personal significance, aligns talent, passion, conscience, and need

The Four Overlapping Circles

• Talent: What you are good at
• Passion: What you love doing
• Conscience: What you feel is right
• Need: What the world needs enough to pay for

Finding Your Voice

• Impact: Engaging in work that taps into your talents and fuels your passion
• Illustration: Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank
  • Started by addressing small financial needs in Bangladesh
  • Led to a worldwide microcredit movement

Human History Context

• Five Ages:
  • Hunter and Gatherer
  • Agricultural
  • Industrial
  • Information/Knowledge Worker
  • Emerging Age of Wisdom
• Each age requires a new mindset, skill set, and tool set

The Knowledge Worker Age

• Characteristics: High productivity, leveraging knowledge work
• Organizations: Must transform to harness human potential

Developing Moral Authority

• Principles: Self-evident truths govern behavior and its consequences
• Moral compass: Align values with universal principles
• Historical Examples: Washington, Gandhi, Mother Teresa

Leadership Attributes

• Vision: Seeing the possibilities
• Discipline: Ability to follow through
• Passion: Emotional drive
• Conscience: Governs the other three for enduring change

Conscience as the Guiding Force

• Universal moral law: Present in all cultures
• Guidance: Helps align behavior with principles

Leadership as a Choice

• Empowerment: Taking initiative at various levels
• Example: Story of Ben and university leadership

Conclusion

• Find and use your voice: Inspire others to find theirs
• Service above self: True DNA of success
• Final Thoughts: Regardless of circumstances, you can choose your response and serve others