One of my favorite books as a young adult was the seven habits of highly effective people. The book equipped me with the tools needed to succeed in any field of human endeavor. I am forever thankful to the author Stephen Covey (RIP). The principles in this book have helped me a ton in my career as a teacher, education administrator, and professor.

This morning I was in a minor rut since I was unsure of what to write for my next article. Walking by one of my bookshelves, I spied the book and couldn’t help but smile. This random encounter got me hyped to write an article entitled, the seven habits of highly effective educators, a tribute to one of my favorite books.

Sharpen the saw. Don’t work yourself to death

Teaching can be one of the most labor-intensive jobs if you let it. The trick is to find ways to work smarter. This means always being as efficient as you can. For instance, instead of writing all your lesson plans from scratch, find one online and revise it to meet the needs of your students. Embrace technology to help streamline those labor-intensive processes.

Seek first to understand then to be understood 

As humans, we have an innate need to be understood, and thus we approach communication from that perspective. Alternatively, try to understand others first, after which you can speak your mind. This approach helps you get other people’s perspectives, which can help diffuse volatile situations and give a more informed and calibrated response.

First things first

When attacking the day or approaching a task, we save the most challenging bit for last. However, this approach may have its pitfalls, as we ought to deal with the more challenging task first. With the most challenging task out of the way, we have a better chance of accomplishing our other goals.

Begin with an end in mind

Most people don’t plan on failing; they often fail to plan. Whatever your goals, plan out every step of the way to the very end. This form of long-term thinking will save you a lot of time and energy, plus it will increase the likelihood of your success.

Be proactive

Don’t just wait for something to go wrong before you act. Always look out for potential problems to solve before they materialize.

Synergize 

To realize your full potential in life, you need to relate well with others. This is especially important in the field of teaching. To become the best teacher you can be, you’ll need to collaborate with fellow educators and other professionals to provide your learners with the best possible experience.

Think win-win

Try to approach situations from a win-win angle instead of defaulting to a win-lose perspective. Strive to create scenarios where every party can get what they want and walk away from an interaction feeling satisfied.