The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key ideas and details are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-2

Reading Check

1. What term describes trying to solve a problem by modifying external behavior?

2. What term describes trying to solve a problem using internal virtues?

3. What does Covey call a change of perspective?

4. The author says that habit is the intersection of three qualities. What are they?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does the author define effectiveness?

2. The author divides the 7 habits into two groups. What does the second group represent?

Paired Resource

“Moral Character”

• The introduction to this encyclopedia entry provides a short explanation of the meaning of moral character.
• Connects to the theme of Growth Is a Process
• After reviewing the definition of moral character, can you make any parallels to Covey’s insistence on the Character Ethic and its transformative potential?

Chapters 3-4

Reading Check

1. What is the first habit of highly effective people?

2. What group of people does the author contrast with proactive people?

3. What is the opposite of a Circle of Concern?

4. What is the second habit of highly effective people?

5. What document should a person create to stay on track?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How can a person become more proactive?

2. Most people create by default. What is the alternative?

Paired Resource

“The Importance of Having a Mission-Driven Company”

• This article explains the benefits to a company of having a mission statement (may require subscription for viewing).
• How vital might it be to create a mission statement for your personal life? Would the same rules apply? Why or why not?

Chapters 5-6

Reading Check

1. What is the third habit of highly effective people?

2. What approach does the author recommend for time management?

3. What stage comes after Private Victory?

4. What stage comes after independence?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the best way to offload less important goals?

2. What is an Emotional Bank Account?

Paired Resource

“Spotlight: Plan, Organize, and Prioritize Your Work for Success”

• Guidance on how to prioritize goals
• Connects to the theme of Real Change Comes From Within
• How does the advice in this article compare and contrast with Covey’s quadrant approach to time management?

Chapters 7-8

Reading Check

1. What is the fourth habit of highly effective people?

2. What is a Win/Win?

3. What is the fifth habit of highly effective people?

4. What sort of listening does the author recommend?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How is No Deal defined?

2. What is the best way to make yourself understood by an audience?

Paired Resource

“Happiness with Others: Practice Win-Win”

• This Psychology Today article describes how to apply Covey’s fourth habit to personal relationships and achieve a mutually positive outcome.
• How do the negotiation skills described in this article relate to Covey’s principle of empathic listening?

Chapters 9-11

Reading Check

1. What is the sixth habit of highly effective people?

2. What is the seventh habit of highly effective people?

3. What is the one word that best describes the purpose of Habit 7?

4. What does the author claim is the ultimate purpose of his life and his book?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is a key element of synergistic communication?

2. Where does all meaningful change originate?

Recommended Next Reads

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

• A widely read title about how the brain creates habits and how people can overcome negative ones
• Shared topics include similar conclusions about entrenched behavior and the need to change it.
• Shared themes include the conclusion that Real Change Comes From Within.
• The Power of Habit on SuperSummary

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

• An examination of the qualities possessed by successful leaders
• Shared topics include the internal qualities that separate leaders from followers.
• Shared themes include the Importance of Paradigm Shifts.
• Start With Why on SuperSummary