Stephen Covey Speaks at Microsoft

Jack Canfield Speaks at Microsoft

J.D. Meier's Blog — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:26:42 GMT

I posed my Lessons Learned from Jack Canfield on Sources of Insight .  Jack presented to Microsoft

Effectiveness Post Roundup

Justin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:37:11 GMT

导读今天发现了这篇非常精彩的，内容超级丰富的文章，实在忍不住，转载于此。

原文地址：http://blogs.msdn.com/jmeier/archive/2008/10/13/effective...

10 Success Patterns for PMs

J.D. Meier's Blog — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:59:30 GMT

Here's a brief set of success patterns I've shared with a few colleagues. These are the patterns I see

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Developers

John W Powell — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:25:42 GMT

If you want to achieve your highest aspirations and overcome your greatest challenges, identify and apply

re: Stephen Covey Speaks at Microsoft

JD Meier — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:21:59 GMT

Thanks Shilpan -- yes, he is the best at what he does and his presence is amazing.

re: Stephen Covey Speaks at Microsoft

Shilpan@successsoul.com/blog/ — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:38:54 GMT

JD.

This was very informative. Thanks for sharing this with is. Stephen Covey is my idol. He is best at what he does.

Thanks

Shilpan

JD Meier shares "Cliff Notes" from Stephen Covey's presentation to Microsoft

Blaine Wastell - patterns & practices client architecture guidance — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:07:57 GMT

JD Meier recently posted a blog on Stephen Covey's presentation to Microsoft. The blog post includes:

re: Stephen Covey Speaks at Microsoft

Tom — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 06:22:16 GMT

@vcohen: I think you missed the fact that in order to be effective in movitating others to be their best, he has to be both informational and inspirational. Obviously the latter is what you are reacting to. Maybe you don't feel the need to be inspired - perhaps you have a strong internal drive - but not everyone is like that.

re: Stephen Covey Speaks at Microsoft

JD Meier — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:32:22 GMT

@vcohen -- It sounds like we had the same Dad ;)

I think having difficulty choosing among multiple points of view is a good problem to have. (Gary Klien writes about pattern-matching, perspectives, and decision making in Sources of Power)

My approach is basically Bruce Lee style -- draw from the best of the best and "Absorb what is useful" (throw the rest away) The seminar was an opportunity. At Microsoft, there's no one way -- each person has to figure out what works for themsef, but we're given a large buffet of opportunities and learning to choose from. It's Darwin by design, and ultimately the measure is what works. I'm evaluated on my results and impact, whether I draw from Covey, Wooden, or Popeye (who taught me I am what I am.)

re: Stephen Covey Speaks at Microsoft

vcohen@irvinecompany.com — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:40:19 GMT

@JD -- nice -- this is you doing Empathic Listening(TM)!

My dad. He taught me to be rational and skeptical, and especially to question authority, and as a result I question everything all the time. So when people make assertions, especially of the One True Way(TM) variety, I immediately search for counter-examples.

He also taught me to be curious about how things work, and to observe things from different points of view. So a lot of what Covey emphasizes comes seemingly naturally to me; if anything, my problem is that I'm overly empathic -- it's very easy for me to see various peoples' points of view, sometimes to the point of making it difficult to select among them.

The contrarian attitude and endless curiosity are not always appreciated, but they makes me an effective analyst and designer.

Home life is going pretty well without a Personal Mission Statement(R).

All this to say that I guess I don't really have a big problem with Covey's message, but the form really repulses me; it's like eating a huge basket of sickly-sweet cheap candies. I guess this reinforces his point that cynicism is corrosive, but he brings out my inner cynic (never far beneath the surface) in record time.

Just as with religion, I'm glad it works for you, but I don't want any part of it myself. And that's fine as long as you keep it to yourself -- when it's adopted by the Authority (employer, in this case) it becomes a big problem. Do you measure your people by how well they follow the Seven Habits? Does it have any impact on their performance reviews? Is seminar attendance voluntary or mandatory?