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| Sunday, 22 August 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Your compact survival kit for lean times by Wendell W. Solomons Stephen R. Covey won plaudits for his work, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Reaching best seller status, his book provides a framework for personal effectiveness. In researching the work of several authors such as Dale Carnegie, Stephen R. Covey found a feature. He discovered that the success literature of the last half of the 20th century tended to focus on developing an individual mastery of skills and techniques, say, for persuading a client ("How to Win Friends and Influence People.") Where Covey becomes distinctive is that he helps transport us out of the solitariness of Robinson Crusoe on an island.To make for a strong foundation, Covey builds in community and social relationships. * "Mark this well, you proud men of action! You are, after all, nothing but unconscious instruments of the men of thought." (Heinrich Heine.) Stephen R. Covey becomes useful because the 1970's yuppie opportunist has been behaviourally transformed into the corporate nihilist. In this behaviour position in the corporation, anyone else's life becomes 'nihil' (the Latin word for 'nothing') if it does not seem to contribute directly to his or her executive climb. Famed financier George Soros calls the predicament 'self-defeating' and like Covey, he speaks directly from what he observes in the USA. The predicament is more acutely felt in non-affluent country situations such as that of Sri Lanka, where price hikes are seriously denting consumer budgets. For difficult and lean situations, can we put together a survival kit? I. Building Your Fortress Step away from getting caught alone at the brink of a precipice. Facilitate a network of friends with whom you can discuss and solve a problem. This becomes a network that fortifies group energy to move forward dynamically. In recent years the word 'synergy' has received parlance for expressing the same idea of group energy. I know a woman executive who meets up with a group of women friends once a week. I have mused at the dynamic outreach of this group in the world of business when the women discuss moves and share contacts. * "Four hands raise the cupboard" (Russian saying.) II. Manage Your Time Reduce the time you might have spent alone viewing TV and thus build your self-help fortress. The several points of view of a group can add more to your picture of valid current-awareness news. Perhaps someone in the group has daily access to the Internet and can add still more background. Several Net groups provide free news by email. In your time management, set aside a little time regularly, for instance, late evening, to focus on your essential tasks for the next day. The focus for the next day should stem from your point of focus for your present stage of career and life (without that any person gets lost in side issues.) For the next day make a list of to-do items using a small notebook or diary, which you can carry with you. In this list, mark the most important tasks 'A'. With your high points thus plotted, you can work out an efficient path of action for the day. * "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." (Sherlock Holmes to Dr. Watson) III. Understand and Close the Gap Don't get caught off balance. Seek to close the gap by better comprehending the other person's need. Meaningless contention is common for today's behaviour, where self-centredness is accentuated. If you chance not to have time, put off your attempt to close the gap for later thereby resisting bickering. * "Whenever I climb I am followed by a dog called 'Ego'." (Friedrich Nietzsche) However, if time is on your side, start by re-expressing the other side's understanding of the issue after which you can finish by developing a correct picture on a strong foundation. Modesty, patience and a positive mental attitude will help you do this. FINALLY, in closing this brief discussion, I suggest you practice by testing the three techniques for one week. * "The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators." (Edward Gibbon) Author invites response at: [email protected] |
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