![stephen covey first thing first stephen covey first thing first](https://www.relicsworld.com/images/quotes/putting-first-things-first-means-organizing-and-executing-ar-author-stephen-r-covey.jpg)
Ideally, we want to be focusing mainly on activities that fall within Quadrant II. Quadrant IV – activities that are not urgent and not important Quadrant III – activities that are urgent but not important Quadrant II – activities that are not urgent but important.
![stephen covey first thing first stephen covey first thing first](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41OzngIml-L.jpg)
Quadrant I – activities that are urgent and important So how do we move to the fourth generation of self-management that combines enhanced human relationships with the accomplishment of results?Ĭovey suggests a time management matrix that captures how this might be achieved.The matrix consists of four quadrants: Whilst this third generation has great worth, it has a tendency to take out the human/relational element of our daily interactions, making the scheduling and control of time counterproductive. The third generation seems to be a complex combination of the first two – combining the important ideas related to prioritisation and the “relative worth of activities based on their relationship to values.” It also includes daily and long-term planning to accomplish the goals and activities of greatest worth. The first generation involves notes and checklists, followed by the second generation characterised by calendars, diaries and appointment books. There are a number of “generations” of time management that Covey discusses, each with their own limitations. So when we are approaching a project or problem our ability to self-manage, or prioritise, in accordance with our goals and values, has an enormous impact on the outcome, or second creation of the vision. It is the left-brain aspect of self-management how we break down, analyse, sequence, and apply projects, problems and challenges.Ĭovey explains that is the human quality of independent will “that really makes effective self-management possible.” He argues that it is our capacity to “make decisions and choices and act in accordance with them,” as well as “the ability to act rather than be acted upon.” The third habit is that of “putting first things first,” or practising effective personal management in order to achieve our goals. The second creation is the physical creation of that idea, which forms Covey’s Third Habit. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I discussed his concept of things being created twice – once as an idea, the mental creation.