7 Habits for Trade and Construction Business Success: Applying Steven Covey’s Blueprint for Personal and Professional Growth
If you haven’t read Steven Covey’s book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, add it to your list. Over the years it has become somewhat of a blueprint for personal development and business success. So let’s put down the physical tools and dig into how implementing these 7 mindset tools into your life will help you identify what’s truly important to you, improve your leadership skills, and enhance your personal growth and overall business performance.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
This first habit reminds us to take control of our actions and reactions, identifying what is in our direct control and focusing our energy there.
Be proactive, not reactive.
As a business owner, unexpected challenges are the norm and external factors often seem uncontrollable and cause unwanted stress. The way that you handle these challenges is more detrimental to the success of your business and your personal performance than the actual challenge itself. Be proactive, not reactive. Anticipate issues, take control of your decisions, and act before problems escalate. By taking initiative and anticipating potential challenges, you can shape your outcomes rather than being shaped by circumstances. Proactivity leads to better decision-making and a more resilient business.
- Begin with the End in Mind
What are your long term goals? Define them!
Success in any business starts with a clear vision. Why did you start your business? What do you want to achieve? What does the end goal look like?
This habit emphasises the importance of setting long-term goals and envisioning the outcomes you want to achieve. Whether you want to grow your business so you can get off the tools, to have more work-life balance or to grow your business to the point of selling, having a clear purpose will guide your actions and decisions, ensuring that every step you take aligns with your desired outcomes.
- Put First Things First
Prioritise Based on Importance rather than urgency.
As a business owner, especially in the trade and construction industry, it’s easy to get caught up in urgent tasks that demand immediate attention. However, this habit encourages you to take a step back and prioritise tasks based on their importance, not just their urgency.
By focusing on activities that align with your goals and values—such as strategic planning, training your team, and maintaining quality standards—you can increase your productivity and effectiveness.
- Think Win-Win
Others do not have to fail for you to succeed.
Competition is a part of every business owner’s journey, but remind yourself that the success of your business doesn’t have to mean the failure of your competitor. Networking, collaborating, and interacting with other business owners is a crucial part of growing your network. Keep this at the forefront of your mind when interacting with clients, subcontractors, employees and other business owners, doing so will lead to stronger relationships, improve your networking skills and overall have a positive impact on your business reputation.
- Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Diagnose before you Prescribe’
Communication is crucial for the success of any business, particularly when you start to grow a team. This habit encourages you to practise empathy. Communicating with the initial purpose to truly understand others before expressing your own thoughts. Whether you’re dealing with clients, employees, or suppliers, this approach helps build trust, resolve conflicts, and create stronger, more cooperative relationships.
- Synergise
The power of Teamwork!
Teamwork truly makes the dream work. This habit is about embracing collaboration to achieve greater results than you could individually. Leverage the strengths of your team, listen to their ideas, and provide them with opportunities to take initiative and be a leader. You will be surprised how much your efficiency, culture and performance will increase by creating Synergy.
- Sharpen the Saw
Invest in Continuous Improvement and Self-Care
Habit number 7 highlights the importance of self-care and continuous improvement. Regularly renewing your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being ensures you maintain peak performance and overall wellness. Investing in yourself and your team’s development not only improves productivity but also fosters a positive and sustainable work culture.
By embracing these 7 habits, trade and construction business owners can build a solid foundation for success. These principles encourage proactive leadership, clear goal-setting, effective communication, and continuous improvement. Start applying these habits today to take your business to new heights.