The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness (original 2004; edition 2005)

by Stephen R. Covey

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ldmarquet's review

Stephen had a tremendous impact not only on my life, but through me, on the lives of those I had the privilege to lead. It started indirectly, when, after a period of reflection and tough going I discovered the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The overall approach of private victory then public victory, describing our growth as proceeding from dependence through independence to interdependence struck me as incredibly simple yet powerful. I applied what I learned to my life immediately.

Later, when assigned to command the USS Santa Fe, I applied his 7 Habits approach at the organizational level. I gave every officer and chief who reported a copy of his book. We would have seminars discussing the various habits and the application of those habits made Santa Fe a more effective submarine.

It turned out that Stephen was doing some work for the navy and learned about what we were doing on Santa Fe. He expressed an interest in riding the ship and the navy set it up. We were scheduled to conduct a one-day transit from the port of Lahaina on the neighboring island of Maui back to Pearl Harbor. This would be a perfect time for him to ride. It was also when we had set up a family member cruise and were expecting about 80 family members to ride as well.

I was apprehensive about having both events at the same time. I thought the presence of the family members would present a distorted picture of how Santa Fe operated. Further, I wasn’t sure how I’d appropriately apportion my time between running Santa Fe, Stephen, and the family members.

It worked out perfectly! Stephen was working on a book for families and held a special talk just for the family members. His message was that they played a critically important role in the success of the ship and placed high value on family. It was a win-win.

Stephen spent the entire day onboard, talking with crew members, looking through the periscope and driving the ship. He was tremendously interested in the people, and how they worked together. Everyone he talked to felt better about themselves afterward, especially me.

He remained interested in how Santa Fe did and was happy to hear of the subsequent successes the ship had, including the selection of 9 of the officers for submarine command. I was honored that he included USS Santa Fe in his book, The Eight Habit, and agreed to write the foreword to Turn the Ship Around! (

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ldmarquet | Aug 14, 2012 |

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I did not finish this entire book. But I do really like his emphasis on compassion, empathy, and win win. In particular he makes coins from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which where were you earlier, and also lots of quotes from other writers and figures. I will admit that when he reminds us again and again to avoid to lose- win as a martyrizing proposition that I feel a twinge of guilt.

FourFreedoms | May 17, 2019 |

ShiraDest | Mar 6, 2019 |

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ldmarquet | Aug 14, 2012 |

In this book Covey explains that each human has the choice to walk down either the road to Greatness or to Mediocrity. Born with the three birth-gifts: Freedom of Choice, Principles, and the Four Intelligences a man can take the way to Greatness using his Whole Person paradigm (integrating body, mind, heart, and spirit), or he can take the way to mediocrity through his fragmented, victimized person paradigm.

Unleashing human potential (reaching Greatness) is a two-step journey which Covey represents it as the 8th Habit: finding one's voice, and inspiring others to find theirs. Finding one's voice is accomplished by developing the four human intelligences (physical (PQ), mental (IQ), emotional (EQ), and spiritual (SQ)) that are manifested by discipline, vision, passion, and conscious. Once a person finds his own voice s/he inspires others to find theirs by developing the four roles of leadership; Modeling, Pathfinding, Aligning, and Empowering.

The theme of the book is about utilizing the power of individuals to unleash people's potential. It stresses the need to inspire people and move from the Industrial Age era to the Knowledge Worker Age era that respects people and leads them as humans rather than managing them as 'things'. At the end, it provides a roadmap towards community greatness starting with the individual greatness, then moving to team and organizational greatness.

Although expressed in abstract wording and thoughts in most parts of it, the book is full of inspiring and motivating experiences and examples. To make the author's point clearer, a set of good films are placed on www.the8thHabit.com/offers

I recommend reading Covey's best seller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People ahead of reading this book as it is the foundation on which the 8th Habit is built. The book is not easy to read or to digest, yet it is worth going the extra mile and re-reading when necessary to get the fully integrated picture that Covey tries to project in our minds. (

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Mohammedkb | Jul 16, 2012 |

Daug žmonių jaučiasi nusivylę, sužlugdyti ir neįvertinti, mažai arba visai nesupranta savo pašaukimo ar išskirtinio naudingumo. 8-asis įprotis yra atsakymas į žmonijos pašaukimo paieškas, į sielos troškimą būti didinga, organizacijos imperatyvui būti prasminga ir siekti geresnių rezultatų. Gili, dėmesį prikaustanti ir stulbinančiai laiku parašyta knyga apie naująjį mąstymo lygį praskina kelią ir leidžia prisibelsti iki neriboto Žinių amžiaus vertės kūrimo pažado.

Amston | Apr 10, 2012 |

This book is all about taking the success principles to one level higher from managing yourself to managing others.

Avinash_maarga | Dec 14, 2010 |

really make your mind grow! (

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antoxnioskooB | May 1, 2010 |

Never managed to finish this, I think it might be self published, no publisher could ever get through it to decide it was worth publishing. A typical management speak book, some gems and insights but filled with so much other unneccesary gumpf. Give it a miss and read Dickens instead! (

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booksbooks11 | Sep 25, 2009 |

-Between stimulus and response there is a space. Our power resides in that space. The greater the space, the greater our power and choice.
-Moral authority makes formal authority works. Formal authority without moral authority cannot last.
-All things are created twice: mentally and physically. (

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amadouwane | Feb 7, 2009 |

Good book but not great, repetitive and much larger than needed. Not as important as the 7 habits although it works to take those lessons to others. (

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mantooth | Sep 20, 2008 |

I like everything in this book and always find Covey inspiring, genuine, and profound. Still, the 8th habit doesn't work for me quite like the original 7. I think it's because there is so much more behind it. Covey builds a lot of context around the habit: Find your voice, then inspire others to find their voice." He reveals a whole methodology for doing this, based on a quartet of concepts: Body, Mind, Heart, and Spirit. These areas have analogous ideas in the area of leadership, namely, Modeling, Pathfinding, Aligning, and Empowering. (

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jpsnow | Aug 22, 2008 |

This audiobook seemed like it wasn't really meant for the audiobook format.

Too much of it involved lists and logical sequences that don't translate (for me at least) into the spoken word.

Too borrow a term I learned from "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", it was very Aristotlean. (

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dvf1976 | Apr 24, 2008 |

From publisher's blurb: "The 8th Habit inspires us to thrive, innovate, and lead in order to move beyond effectiveness and into greatness."

fredheid | Jul 8, 2007 |

The world has changed dramatically since the classic, internationally bestselling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was published, influencing tens of millions. The challenges and complexity we all face in our relationships, families, professional lives and communities are of an entirely new order of magnitude. In order to thrive, innovate, excel and lead in what Covey calls the new Knowledge Worker Age, we must build on and move beyond effectiveness...to greatness.

scheringlibrary | Dec 16, 2005 |

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11382096

JosieRivers | Dec 28, 2014 |

Audio book (only) available through Christchurch City Libraries
https://goo.gl/u10YwM
If you don't have membership of Christchurch City Libraries use the CORE Library card H228848301 PIN 1234

In the more than fifteen years since its publication, the classic The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has become an international phenomenon with over fifteen million copies sold. Tens of millions of people in business, government, schools, and families, and, most important, as individuals have dramatically improved their lives and organizations by applying the principles of Stephen R. Covey's classic book. The world, though, is a vastly changed place. The challenges and complexity we all face in our relationships, families, professional lives, and communities are of an entirely new order of magnitude. Being effective as individuals and organizations is no longer merely an option -- survival in today's world requires it. But in order to thrive, innovate, excel, and lead in what Covey calls the new Knowledge Worker Age, we must build on and move beyond effectiveness. The call of this new era in human history is for greatness; it's for fulfillment, passionate execution, and significant contribution. Accessing the higher levels of human genius and motivation in today's new reality requires a sea change in thinking: a new mind-set, a new skill-set, a new tool-set -- in short, a whole new habit. The crucial challenge of our world today is this: to find our voice and inspire others to find theirs. It is what Covey calls the 8th Habit. So many people feel frustrated, discouraged, unappreciated, and undervalued -- with little or no sense of voice or unique contribution. The 8th Habit is the answer to the soul's yearning for greatness, the organization's imperative for significance and superior results, and humanity's search for its "voice." Profound, compelling, and stunningly timely, this groundbreaking new book of next-level thinking gives a clear way to finally tap the limitless value-creation promise of the Knowledge Worker Age.