A Covey Appendix: Developing the 4 Human Intelligences

In Chapter 4 of The 8th Habit, Dr. Covey provides a very simple prescription for taking care of the whole self:

1. For the body - assume you've had a heart attack; now live accordingly.
2. For the mind - assume the half-life of your profession is two years; now prepare accordingly.
3. For the heart - assume everything you say about another, they can overhear; now speak accordingly.
4. For the spirit - assume you have a one-on-one visit with your Creator every quarter; now live accordingly.

Well, that about covers it. For those who want a little more guidance, however, he provides a 20 page appendix called "Developing the 4 Intelligences/Capacities - A Practical Guide to Action" containing information and strategies for developing our full human abilities in all four areas.  

Physical (PQ)
There is nothing unique or surprising about the suggestions on the physical side. Eat right, exercise, get plenty of rest, drink water. Covey's special contribution here is the concept of mastery: "When you subordinate your body to your mind and your spirit, the peace and confidence that flow from that kind of discipline and self-mastery is enormous." It's the beginning of the private victory before public victory process he described in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. If you can't keep a promise to yourself to reduce calories or walk every day or whatever, what is the value of your promises to others? Strengthening PQ is the first step.

Mental (IQ)
Mental Intelligence is about systematic study and continuous education. Contrary to what was once believed, the amount of smarts we have when we are born can be grown throughout our entire lifetime. Self-awareness, having clarity around the assumptions we bring to problems, is a component of IQ. Covey recommends journaling and other forms of writing to strengthening mental intelligence, along with teaching others what we've learned. (Blogging accomplishes both, hopefully.)

Emotional (EQ)
Much has been written in the last 20 years about emotional intelligence, all very enlightening and transformative. Covey rightly points out, however, that little has been provided in the way of how to strengthen EQ. Until now. My biggest aha! so far in my study of The 8th Habit has been the link Covey draws in this appendix between the elements of EQ and the 7 Habits. Here's what it looks like in a chart:

Developing the Five Main Components of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) through the 7 Habits
Self-Awareness	1. Be Proactive
Personal Motivation	2. Begin with the End in Mind
Self-Regulation	3. Put First Things First 7. Sharpen the Saw
Empathy	5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Social Skills	4. Think Win/Win 5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood 6. Synergize

That's it - the whole ball game. Life in a nutshell. Make a practice of adopting the 7 Habits (and the 8th) and grow your EQ and therefore your personal and interpersonal effectiveness. Whoot.

Spiritual (SQ)
Spiritual intelligence pretty much comes down to 1) integrity, 2) meaning, and 3) voice (our unique gifts.) I love the Robert Frost poem Covey reprints here:

My object in living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
Only where love and need are one
And the work is play for mortal stakes,
Is the deed ever really done
For Heaven and the future's sakes.

In other words - assume you have a quarterly visit with your Creator. Now act accordingly.