The 8th Habit Book Review

The 8th Habit...is about seeing and harnessing the power of a third dimension to the 7 Habits that meets the central challenge of the new Knowledge Worker Age. This 8th Habit is to find your voice and help others find theirs."

Modern Bloodletting

Under the old approach, employees experience a great deal of pain and frustration at every company, no matter how successful. Fortunately, today the workplace paradigm is shifting, as expressed by the 8th Habit.

The 8th Habit is not just 7 Habits plus one that got left behind. Instead, it calls for using a "third dimension" of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The 8th Habit means "finding your voice and helping others find theirs." And, in this context, "voice" is the unique personal significance each human offers, and can bring to bear at work.

Making a Difference

Everyone has the choice: live with mediocrity or strive for greatness. The good news is that if you have chosen mediocrity, it's never too late to turn back. You can choose greatness instead.

Discovering Your Voice

Finding your unique voice means fulfilling your innate potential. You have a choice in the space or time between every action and every reaction. During that moment, reflect on what has happened and determine your response. The ability to understand your free power of choice opens the door to four vital intelligences or capabilities:

1. Mind: IQ is mental intelligence.

2. Body: PQ is physical intelligence.

3. Heart: EQ is emotional intelligence.

4. Spirit or soul: SQ is spiritual intelligence

Highest Expressions

To find your voice, you must be in touch with the four elements of a whole person: mind, body, heart and spirit. The consistent pattern in the lives of great achievers is that, through struggle and effort, they elevated the four intelligences to their highest manifestations: "vision, discipline, passion and conscience." They used four powerful combinations:

1. Mind = Vision 2. Body = Discipline 3. Heart = Passion 4. Spirit = Conscience

Leadership Defined

Ultimately, leadership is the ability to help people understand their own true worth and potential, so they see it in themselves and live accordingly. The Industrial Age view of work failed to nurture trust, placed the boss at the center of all activity, took power away from people and misaligned the interests of the individual and the organization. The alternative path is practicing the 8th Habit, and the 7 Habits that preceded it. Begin with developing the four intelligences, finding your voice and expressing