Stephen Covey- the 8th Habit

Stephen Covey's  The 8th Habit is his newest book on effective leadership.He  underlines the need for a voice on the part of the leader and the willingnes to share his voice with others by empowering their qualities.
We live in a culture of blame where we blame others for the lack of development in our insitution or venture. We never take the initiative to become catalysts of change. We have to move away from such a mindset.Whatever may be  the little contribution  that we can make, we have to make it.We should have a voice and we should let the voice be heard instead of blaming the sytem.Covey gives the life and example of the nobel laureate,Mohamed Younus, the  founder of the Grameen Bank ,to make his point that one man's voice can change the lives of many.
Some of the important points that he makes in the book are the following:
"For big changes, work on the paradigms--mind-sets and perceptons--the lens through which one views the universe."
"Leaders are those who use their gifts to develop a vision of great things they want to accomplish.They find and use their voice.They serve and inspire others.
The two elemetns of a leader---Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.
"You can be a transition person in the organization you work for.Remember, any time your emotional life is a function of someone  else's weakness, you disempower yourself." According to Covey,
vision,discipline, passion and conscience are required for a good leader.Vision consists  in seeing a  future state with the mind's eyes.
"The  most important vision is to develop a sense of self, a sense of your  unique mission and role in life...Vision is about more than just getting things done; it is about discovering and expanding our view of others...helping them to find their own voice."
 "Seeing people through the lens of their potential and their best actions, rather than through the lens of  their current behavior or  weaknesses, generates positive energy.
There is great power  in viewing people separately from their behavior, for as we do, we affirm their fundamental, unconditional worth.
Cultivating the habit  of affirming people is very important.
With regard to family life, he has the following observations to make:
I believe that  the most important work  you do in the world  will be within the walls of your own home. He quotes David O.Mckay to underline the point that our role in guiding an leading the family is the important one in life:" No other success can cmpensate for failure in the home."
"Parentood is the most important leadership responsibility in life and will provide the greatest levels of happiness and joy."
 Leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they come to see it in themselves."
"Keep investing in your prsonal and professioanl development and in your power to roduce solutions to problems.Your security does ot come f rom your job or form the patronage of other people; it comes from your ability to meet needs and solve prblems.Keep investing in thsoe abilities, and you will have nedless opportunities."