Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Proactive

Author Stephen Covey wrote a well-known book called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Believe it or not, I read the book when I was much younger. It was eye-opening for me at that time in my life. I felt like I was anything but highly effective. So, the book appealed to me from the beginning to the end.

 

That was years ago, and I have long since forgotten the seven habits. I forgot about it until I got an email from Moore Public Schools. They are conducting a program to teach staff and students these seven habits, as they have been found to be highly beneficial. As a congregation, we were asked to provide a meal for these training sessions, to teach our congregation the seven habits, and to pray for the schools during this initiative.

 

So, I am going to contribute by praying for them and sharing the habits with the church here at FCC Moore. I believe all these habits can contribute to our effectiveness as individuals and as a church.

 

This week, we’ll look at the first habit: being proactive.

I would not say I am terribly proactive. However, it has improved a lot over the years. Usually, I am the guy scrambling to come up with a plan after the crisis has started! One of the problems with being reactive rather than proactive is that we lose more control over the outcomes. Covey wrote, “If you wait to be acted upon, you will be acted upon.”

Being proactive involves looking ahead, anticipating events, and developing a game plan. Proactivity is an alternative to reactivity. Being proactive helps us avoid problems, live better lives, and keep organizations on track with their goals and mission.

 

Covey also makes these points about being proactive. 1. He makes the point that we often try to be proactive about and control things we have little control over. I can’t control if it’s going to rain. I can control whether I eat poorly and get diabetes, which I am currently on track for. 2. Focus your efforts where you can make a difference. I will not make a difference as an actor or singer. I am a pastor best suited for pastoral care. So, that’s what I do. Where more effective when we do what we do best, are gifted for, and have a passion. As a church, we’re excellent at outreach; we have a passion for it, and there is a need for it. Let’s focus on that because that’s how we’ll be highly effective. 3. Being proactive allows us to make a choice, whereas being reactive can limit our choices.

 

The author talks at great length about how to be proactive and the benefits of it. The takeaway for us is to do things such as having good church policies, saving money for emergencies, looking at how our ministry needs to evolve, and more. Doing these things will help us to be highly effective as well.