The 7 Habits

For teens, life is not a playground, it’s more like a jungle. Likewise, being a parent of a teenager is no walk in the park, either. In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, author Sean Covey attempts to provide “a compass to help teens and their parents navigate the problems and challenges they encounter daily.” Here are his 7 Habits and a few ideas to help your teen understand and apply them.

Caldwell Y Leadership Teen Group

Be Proactive

Being proactive is the key to unlocking the other habits. Help your teen take control and responsibility for their young life. Proactive people understand that they are responsible for their own happiness or unhappiness. They don’t blame others for their own actions or feelings. It’s an inside job!

Begin With the End in Mind

If teens aren’t clear about where they want to end up in life, their values, goals, and what they stand for, they will wander, waste time and be tossed to and fro by the opinions of others. Help your teen create a personal mission statement which will act as a road map and help direct and guide their decision-making process.

Put First Things First

This habit helps teens prioritize and manage their time so that they focus on and complete the most important things in their still young lives. Putting first things first also means learning to overcome fears and being strong during difficult times.

Think Win –Win

Teens can learn to foster the belief that it is possible to create an atmosphere of win-win in every relationship. This habit encourages the idea that in any given discussion or situation both parties can arrive at mutually beneficial solutions. Your teen will learn to celebrate the accomplishments of others instead of being threatened by them.

Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Because most people don’t listen very well, one of the greatest frustrations in life is that many don’t feel understood. Since 92% of listening is “non-verbal”, mastering this habit will help ensure your teen learns the most important communication skill there is: active and effective listening.

Synergize

Synergy is achieved when two or more people work together to create something better that either could alone. Through this habit, teens learn it doesn’t have to be “your way” or “my way” but rather a better way, a higher way. Synergy allows teens to value differences and better appreciate others.

Sharpen the Saw

Teens should never get too busy living to take time to renew themselves. When a teen “sharpens the saw” they are keeping their personal self “sharp” so that they can better deal with life. It means regularly renewing and strengthening the four dimensions of life- body, brain, heart, and soul.