making-sense-of-change-management

The underpinning theoryEIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OFPRINCIPLE-CENTERED LEADERS• They are continually learning.• They are service oriented.• They radiate positive energy.• They believe in other people.• They lead balanced lives.• They see life as an adventure.• They are synergistic.• They exercise for renewal on all four dimensions of human personality– physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.Source: Covey (1992)Covey’s organization runs workshops and programmes underpinned bya humanistic self-development approach. Unlike Bennis, he does notadvocate revisiting your childhood to overcome difficulties, but encouragesus to focus on visualizing a positive outcome and working withenergy and enthusiasm towards it.Covey’s seven habits (Covey, 1989) connect the leader’s outer habitswith the inner capability, which he labels endowments:• Habit 1: Be proactive. Know what needs to be done, and decide todo it. Do not be driven by circumstances. (Needs self-awareness andself-knowledge.)• Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind. Have a clear sense of what youare trying to achieve in each year, month, day, moment. (Needs imaginationand conscience.)• Habit 3: Put first things first. This is about organizing how you spendyour time in line with Habit 2. He talks about looking at level ofurgency and level of importance of activities, and comments that wespend too much time responding to urgent issues. (Needs willpower.)176