Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People explores a series of principles that will help readers effectively reach their goals, presenting them as a list of habits that will guide people on their journey from dependence to independence and interdependence. But how exactly can these habits help you become a better blogger? Read on below and find out!
Being Proactive Makes You a Leader
The first three habits intend to help you achieve independence, and topmost of this trio is being proactive. Taking control of your life is the first step you need to consider if you want to realize your dreams, and it can certainly help you make it big in the blogging world. It can help you become a better webmaster, it can help you solve problems more efficiently, and it enables you to organize your circle of influence.
Beginning With the End in Mind Gives Your Site a Mission
If the first habit suggests you get your act together, Habit 2 advises you to become your life’s author and leader. Having a plan and end goal in mind when starting a blog can take it a long way. It helps assess your site’s current state as well as makes you persevere when the going gets tough.
Everything we create, we create twice. First, our minds formulate an idea; then, we attempt to transform that idea into something real and tangible.
Putting First Things First Sets Your Priorities Straight
To have an excellent blog, you not only need to become a good leader, but also an effective manager. That means knowing how to set your priorities right and focusing just on things that matter most. Imagine having a big jar, a set of differently-sized rocks, and a bowl of sand. To put all the rocks and sand in the jar, you need to place the larger stones first, the smaller stones next, and the sand last. Otherwise, you won’t be able to fit them all in the container. Similarly, you need to focus on your most important and urgent tasks before anything else.
Thinking Win-Win Satisfies Everyone
While the first three habits help you become a competent, independent person, Habits 4 to 6 will help you interact with other people, cultivate relationships with them, and ultimately rely on them to achieve your goals.
For you to become a more active blogger, you need to create deals with fellow bloggers that would benefit both parties. A situation where everyone comes out victorious is undoubtedly better in the long run than if only one side gets their way. Plus, life is an all-you-can-eat buffet; there’s plenty enough for everyone to share! However, there are situations where the other party doesn’t want to be seen giving in; better learn how to sense these moments and walk away.
Listening Before Being Understood Builds Rapport
Listening to fellow bloggers and your target audience with empathy allows you to understand them correctly, compels them to reciprocate your gesture more openly, and creates a caring and positive atmosphere. According to Covey, doing this requires three things: ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos focuses on your personal credibility, pathos highlights your empathetic side, and logos points out your reasoning. You must have all three for you to become a proper listener.
Synergizing Helps You Achieve More
While a draft horse can pull a load of around 8,000 pounds on its own, a pair can pull up to 24,000 pounds. That shows how more can be achieved by working together than by riding solo. Thus, if you want to become a better blogger, you need to learn how to create a team where each member’s strengths are combined to meet your site’s goals. Take Carl Ocab’s web design page for instance. Creating such a dynamic, interactive page requires synergy from a group of developers, writers, and designers.
Sharpening the Saw Maintains Your Edge
Lastly, you need to keep your blogging skills honed, balancing and replenishing your energy, health, and resources every once in a while. While Habits 1 to 6 focus on your independence and interdependence, Habit 7 highlights your need to renew yourself, as you won’t be able to maintain what you’ve achieved if you don’t. Get some exercise or eat a nice healthy meal on your day-offs, or take a much-needed vacation out of the country if you can.
Build the Right Habits
Creating new habits can either make or break your blogging career. By making sure you form good ones, including those mentioned above, you’ll be able to become a sensational blogger.
Author’s Bio:
Edwin Deponte is a motivational writer who is also passionate about Social Marketing. He believes in others’ abilities and tends to bring out people’s hidden potentials through his words of inspirations and motivational articles