Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 1: Be Proactive®. Quadrant II has to be acted upon proactively, as opposed to Quadrants I and III, which are reacted to. In Quadrant II, individuals realize, “I am not a product of limited time; rather I am a product of my chosen responses to circumstances.”
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind®. Another Quadrant II activity is to take the time and initiative to develop a mission statement based on principles. A good mission statement is a key that effective people use to discern which things are important—which things are really worth acting upon. People who spend most of their time in Quadrants I and III begin with no particular objective in mind, sailing through life with no map, no compass, and limited vision.
Habit 3: Put First Things First®. Habit 3 is the essence of Quadrant II—putting first those things that are important and in line with one’s mission statement. This habit represents the process of completing tasks according to one’s highest priorities. People who spend their time in Quadrants I and III put second things first, reacting to pressing, popular, pleasant, and proximate things.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win®. Forming Win-Win agreements is also a Quadrant II activity. Not only does it take real effort, but it also requires good communication skills and a high trust level. Quadrants III and IV may lead to just the opposite: Win-Lose or Lose-Win.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood®. People with a Quadrant I mindset want to do only the expedient thing—to be understood. This mindset inevitably leads to conflict and a breakdown of communication. On the other hand, those with a Quadrant II mindset subordinate their desire to be heard in order to first understand. Understanding requires perceptive observation and empathic listening and is the essence of effective communication—a Quadrant II activity.
Habit 6: Synergize®. In Quadrant I, people function independently of others. They resist input from others, and their focus is on efficiency—getting the job done while minimizing conflict. The result is usually an inferior product or a mediocre service. Conversely, a person with a Quadrant II mindset actively seeks feedback from people who see things differently from how he or she does, resulting in a better solution or a higher-quality product or service.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Since the habit of self-renewal is not urgent and takes time, most people neglect it. Taking time to Sharpen the Saw is a fundamental Quadrant II activity that affects all the other habits. Spending time on personal development, prevention, relationship building, and planning are examples of Quadrant II activities, and require action.
MY PRIORITIES AND HOW I SPEND MY TIME
Review your mission statement, roles and goals, and current weekly plan. What are your top three priorities for this week? These are your Quadrant II activities.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind®. Another Quadrant II activity is to take the time and initiative to develop a mission statement based on principles. A good mission statement is a key that effective people use to discern which things are important—which things are really worth acting upon. People who spend most of their time in Quadrants I and III begin with no particular objective in mind, sailing through life with no map, no compass, and limited vision.
Habit 3: Put First Things First®. Habit 3 is the essence of Quadrant II—putting first those things that are important and in line with one’s mission statement. This habit represents the process of completing tasks according to one’s highest priorities. People who spend their time in Quadrants I and III put second things first, reacting to pressing, popular, pleasant, and proximate things.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win®. Forming Win-Win agreements is also a Quadrant II activity. Not only does it take real effort, but it also requires good communication skills and a high trust level. Quadrants III and IV may lead to just the opposite: Win-Lose or Lose-Win.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood®. People with a Quadrant I mindset want to do only the expedient thing—to be understood. This mindset inevitably leads to conflict and a breakdown of communication. On the other hand, those with a Quadrant II mindset subordinate their desire to be heard in order to first understand. Understanding requires perceptive observation and empathic listening and is the essence of effective communication—a Quadrant II activity.
Habit 6: Synergize®. In Quadrant I, people function independently of others. They resist input from others, and their focus is on efficiency—getting the job done while minimizing conflict. The result is usually an inferior product or a mediocre service. Conversely, a person with a Quadrant II mindset actively seeks feedback from people who see things differently from how he or she does, resulting in a better solution or a higher-quality product or service.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Since the habit of self-renewal is not urgent and takes time, most people neglect it. Taking time to Sharpen the Saw is a fundamental Quadrant II activity that affects all the other habits. Spending time on personal development, prevention, relationship building, and planning are examples of Quadrant II activities, and require action.
MY PRIORITIES AND HOW I SPEND MY TIME
Review your mission statement, roles and goals, and current weekly plan. What are your top three priorities for this week? These are your Quadrant II activities.