7 Habits for Faithful Living: A Christian's Guide to Covey's Principles_5

Discover a unique blend of timeless wisdom and spiritual insight with our '7 Habits for Faithful Living' slide deck series. This innovative collection reimagines Stephen Covey's bestselling '7 Habits of Highly Effective People' through a Christian lens, offering a fresh perspective on personal growth and effectiveness.

Each beautifully designed, infographic-rich deck unpacks one of Covey's renowned habits, complementing his principles with relevant Biblical teachings and verses. This series is perfect for:

Book club discussions
Personal growth and self-reflection
Youth discipleship programs
Bible study groups
Friendship evangelism

Our decks cover:

Introduction to the 7 Habits
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Each slide deck offers:

Clear, concise summaries of Covey's concepts
Modern, engaging infographics
Relevant Bible verses that reinforce each principle
Christian perspectives on applying the habits
Practical tips for implementing these ideas in daily life

Whether you're familiar with Covey's work or new to the 7 Habits, this series provides a unique opportunity to explore these powerful concepts through a faith-based lens. It's an ideal resource for individuals seeking to align their personal development with their spiritual journey.

Elevate your understanding of effective living while deepening your faith. '7 Habits for Faithful Living' bridges the gap between secular success principles and Christian values, offering a holistic approach to personal growth that nurtures both practical skills and spiritual wellbeing.

Perfect for pastors, youth leaders, small group facilitators, or anyone interested in personal development from a Christian perspective. Download these slide decks today and embark on a transformative journey towards a more effective, purposeful, and faith-filled life.

1. #5: Seek First to
Understand, then
to be Understood
“The heart has its reasons which reason
knows not of.”
~ Blaise Pascal
Graphics and Artwork from various sources, including:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: The Infographics Edition.
Slides by EY

2. 7 Habits and 7 Principles
PRIVATE VICTORY
1. Be Proactive - Principle of Personal Vision
2. Begin with the End in Mind -Principle of Personal Leadership
3. Put First Things First -Principle of Personal Management
PUBLIC VICTORY
4. Think Win/Win - Principle of Interpersonal leadership
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood -Principle of Empathic Communication
6. Synergize -Principle of Creative Cooperation
RENEWAL
7. Sharpen the Saw - Principle of Balanced Self Renewal

3. Habit #5: Seek First to Understand, then to
be Understood
1.Empathic Listening: The Key to Effective Communication
2.Diagnose Before You Prescribe: Understanding Before Judging
3.Four Autobiographical Responses: Barriers to Understanding
4.Four Stages of Empathic Listening: Moving From Mimicking to
Reflecting Feeling
5.Psychological Air: The Need to Be Understood
6.Then Seek to Be Understood: Communicating with Clarity and
Respect

4. 1. Empathic Listening: The Key to Effective
Communication
•“If I were to summarize in one sentence the single most
important principle I have learned in the field of
interpersonal relations, it would be this: Seek First to
Understand, Then to Be Understood.”
•Most people listen with the intent to reply, filtering
everything through their own paradigms. Empathic
listening means listening with the intent to understand, to
see the world from the other person’s perspective.
•This reflects the example of Jesus, who listened
compassionately to the needs and concerns of others.
We are called to show empathy and understanding, just
as Christ loves and understands us.
•“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone
should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to
become angry.” (James 1:19)
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: The Infographics Edition.

5. 2. Diagnose Before You
Prescribe: Understanding
Before Judging
•“If you don't have confidence in the diagnosis, you won't have
confidence in the prescription.”
•Before offering solutions or advice, take the time to deeply
understand the problem, the person’s perspective, and their
underlying needs and concerns..
•We should be slow to judge and quick to show mercy, seeking
to understand others’ motivations and struggles with
compassion and grace.
•“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way
you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you
use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2).

6. 3. Four Autobiographical Responses:
Barriers to Understanding
•“Because we listen autobiographically, we tend to respond in one of
four ways. We evaluate—we either agree or disagree; we probe—
we ask questions from our own frame of reference; we advise—we
give counsel based on our own experience; or we interpret—we try
to figure people out, to explain their motives, their behavior, based
on our own motives and behavior.”
•We often respond to others by evaluating, probing, advising, or
interpreting based on our own experiences and biases. These
responses can create barriers to genuine understanding.
•We should be mindful of our tendency to project our own
experiences and judgments onto others, seeking instead to listen
with humility and a desire to learn from their perspectives.
•“Who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12)

7. 4. Four Stages of
Empathic Listening:
Moving From Mimicking
to Reflecting Feeling
•“When I say empathic listening, I mean listening with intent to
understand. I mean seeking first to understand, to really understand.
It’s an entirely different paradigm.”
•Empathic listening progresses through four stages: mimicking
content, rephrasing content, reflecting feeling, and rephrasing
content and reflecting feeling.
•We can strive to listen with our hearts, seeking to understand the
emotions and experiences behind the words.
•“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
(Romans 12:15)

8. 5.
Psychological
Air: The Need to
Be Understood
•“Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a
human being is psychological survival—to be
understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be
appreciated.”
•When we listen empathically, we give the other
person “psychological air” – the feeling of being
understood and valued. This creates a safe space
for open and authentic communication.
•We can show others the love and acceptance of
Christ by truly listening to them, validating their
feelings, and affirming their worth as God’s
creation.
•“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to
what is good. Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans
12:9-10)

9. 6. Then Seek to Be Understood:
Communicating with Clarity and Respect
•“Knowing how to be understood is the other half of Habit
5, and is equally critical in reaching win-win solutions.”
•Once you have sought to understand, you can then seek
to be understood. Communicate your own perspective
clearly and respectfully, taking into account the other
person’s frame of reference.
•We can speak the truth in love, seeking to share our
perspective with gentleness and respect, recognizing that
God can use our words to build bridges of understanding.
•“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned
with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
(Colossians 4:6)

10. Habit #5: Seek First to Understand, then to
be Understood
1.Empathic Listening: The Key to Effective Communication
2.Diagnose Before You Prescribe: Understanding Before Judging
3.Four Autobiographical Responses: Barriers to Understanding
4.Four Stages of Empathic Listening: Moving From Mimicking to Reflecting Feeling
5.Psychological Air: The Need to Be Understood
6.Then Seek to Be Understood: Communicating with Clarity and Respect
Habit 5 encourages us to follow Christ's example of love and empathy, seeking to understand others deeply and creating a foundation for genuine and transformative communication.

11. Applications &
Final Thoughts
Next Session
Habit #6: Synergise