Effective Libertarian Activism Based on the Book The 7 habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey Principles govern human or organizational effectiveness. These principles are natural laws. We can not break the law. We can only break ourselves against the law. From the principle of fairness arise our concepts of equity and justice. Other principles include honesty, integrity, and human dignity. Principles are not values. A gang of thugs can share values that are not based upon principles. We all use paradigms or maps to make sense out of life and find our way. The more closely our paradigms are aligned with the basic principles of life, the more accurate and functional they will be. Effectiveness is not about efficiency. If one is trying to get through New York and using a map of Los Angeles, one might find the most efficient way to travel, but one will not be effective unless one is using the right map. Production (P) and production capability (PC) must always be kept in balance. If we produce at the cost of hurting or stopping PC, then ultimately we will hurt P. True effectiveness is a function of what is produced and the production capacity. To achieve production we use physical, finical, and human assets. Maintaining the P/PC balance is the essence of effectiveness. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Organizations ) are: 1. Be Proactive, 2. Begin with the End in Mind, 3. Put First Things First, 4. Think Win/Win 5. Seek First to Understand and Then to Be Understood, 6. Synergize, and 7. Sharpen the Saw. 1
Habit 1: Be Proactive Covey emphasizes that you can either be proactive or reactive when it comes to how you respond to certain things. When you are reactive, you blame other people and circumstances for obstacles or problems. Proactive individuals take responsibility for every aspect of their life. Between stimulus and response, we have the power of free will to choose our response. As a political party with a marginal amount of political power this is an important principle for Libertarians. Covey illustrates that each of us has a circle of concern centered around a smaller circle of influence. Proactive individuals and organizations focus energy on the things they can influence and try to increase their circle of influence. Proactive people and organizations anticipate needs and empathize. They do more than is expected. Proactive people and organizations use proactive language: Let s look at our alternative I can choose a different approach I choose prefer or will While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions. Behavior is governed by principles. Abiding by the principles brings positive consequences, violating principles brings negative consequences. All actions and activism of a Libertarian organization should be based on the principles of individual liberty. Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind We should begin all things with the end in mind. What is the ultimate end goal of Libertarian Activism? Leadership is doing the right things. Management is doing things right. Beginning with the end is mind is all about leadership, or doing the right things. The end that any organization must keep in mind is embodied in its mission statement. VISION: Defending everyone s rights all the time. MISION: LPMNDC Mission Statement Inform people about freedom and get them active in promoting freedom, through the political efforts of the Libertarian Party of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. 2
With a mission statement established, an organization can make choices based on the principles embodied in their mission statement. They can proactively choose the best alternative. They can know their decision is most effective because it is based on principles. The choice made will contribute to your ultimate values. Organizational mission statements become more effective if they are developed and supported by all members of an organization rather than just prescribed. Habit 3: Put First Things First What one thing could you do (you are not doing now) that if you did it on a regular basis, would make a tremendous impact on Libertarian activism in your local area? Effective management is putting first things first. Effective leadership decides what first things are. Management puts them first day by day and moment by moment. 3
We spend time in one of four ways. Two factors define an activity urgent and important. Urgent activities are usually visible and the press on us. We react to urgent matters. Importance has to do with results and contributes to accomplishing our mission. Quadrant I activities are both urgent and important. These are crises or problems. Focusing on Quadrant I will make it get larger. People or organizations that focus on Quadrant III or IV lead basically irresponsible lives. Urgent or not these activities are not important. They do not contribute to accomplishing the mission. Instead they prevent you from accomplishing the mission. Quadrant II is the heart of effective management. Effective people and organizations are not problem minded they are opportunity minded. It takes proactivity to work on Quadrant II. Quadrant I will shrink as more emphasis is placed on Quadrant II. To the left list some things that could be local Libertarian activism. Then place those activities in the matrix on the right. Libertarian Activities Quadrant II organizing involves: Identifying individual roles, selecting goals, and scheduling. We accomplish all that we do through delegation either of time or to other people, we think effectiveness. Delegation means growth. Stewardship delegation is focused on results rather than methods. The desired results are embodied in our mission statement. Those to whom a task was delegated are free to choose the method for achieving the task. Delegation should define: desired results (agreed to before hand), guidelines, resources, accountability, and consequences. According to Covey the first three habits achieve Independence. Libertarians by principle should be all for promoting Independence. 4
Habit 4: Think Win/Win With Habit 4 Covey begins the path to Interdependence. Covey argues that only Independent individuals can become Interdependent. Interdependence differs from Dependence. The amount of trust built up in a relationship is deposited in what Covey calls an emotional bank account. Negative activities will cause withdraws from the emotional bank account and may lead to it being overdrawn. Positive activities are deposits into the emotional bank account. Covey identifies six major deposits: Understanding the Individual Attending to the Little Things Keeping Commitments Clarifying Expectations Showing Personal Integrity Apologizing Sincerely When You Make a Mistake Every P problem is a PC opportunity a chance to build the emotional bank account. Win/Win means that the solution is mutually beneficial to all parties involved. Win/Win will also consider the option of Win/Win or no deal. If a solution that benefits all parties involved cannot be found then it is agreed to disagree agreeably. Win/ Win begins with character and moves toward relationships. Win/Win cannot be achieved with Win/Loose or Lose/Winn processes. The focus is on results, accomplishing the mission, not methods. Win/Win agreements specify consequences in financial, psychic, opportunity, and responsibility rewards known upfront. Consequences should be natural organizational results. Keys to Problem Solving 1. See the problem form the other person s point of view 2. Identify the key issues and concerns (not positions) involved. 3. Determine what results would constitute a fully acceptable result. 4. Identify possible new options to achieve those results. Covey states, You can only achieve Win/Win solutions with Win/Win processes the end and the means are the same. Liberty is a Win/Win solution. We can only achieve liberty and freedom by giving liberty and freedom. Habit 5: Seek First to Understand and Then to Be Understood Covey warns that giving out advice before having empathetically understood a person and their situation will likely result in rejection of that advice. Most people do not listen with the intent to understand they listen with the intent to reply. Get inside the other persons frame of reference. Understand their paradigm. Understand what really matters to them. Covey states, in order to have influence, you must be influenced. 5
Understand the needs, the concerns, and the situation of the customer. Armatures sell products professionals sell solutions to needs and problems. People will resent any attempt to manipulate them. We must have a sincere desire, based on core principles, to understand others. Once you understand, you can present your own ideas clearly, specifically, and most importantly in the context of understanding their paradigms and concerns. This adds credibility to your ideas. This is especially important in Libertarian Activism. The Libertarian paradigm differs significantly from the non-libertarian paradigm. It is important the Libertarians seek to understand their audience before they seek to be understood. Habit 6: Synergize The essence of synergy is to value differences to respect them, to build on strengths, to compliment weaknesses. Synergy is way of working in teams. Apply effective problem solving. Apply collaborative decision making. Value differences. Build on divergent strengths. Leverage creative collaboration. Embrace and leverage innovation. It is put forth that when synergy is pursued as a habit, the result of the teamwork will exceed the sum of what each of the members could have achieved on their own. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. With its emphasis on individualism the idea of Synergy may appear a bit at odds with the Libertarian principles. Synergy is the entire reason why Libertarian organizations, such as local, state, and national Libertarian Parties are formed. A mission statement or statement of purpose of a Libertarian organization will no doubt contain some notion of synergizing for the purpose of promoting liberty. Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw Focuses on balanced self-satisfaction: Regain what Covey calls "production capability" by engaging in carefully selected recreational activities. Covey also emphasizes sharpening the saw in the physical dimension, spiritual dimension, the mental dimension, and the social emotional dimension. For Libertarians they must become well versed in the Libertarian philosophy, and offering solutions to problems. Libertarians must also become effective communicators. Habit 8: Find Your Voice and Inspire Others to Find Theirs As a Libertarian activist find your most effective way of getting out the message of liberty and inspire others to find theirs. The best way to get more individuals active in spreading liberty is to become active in spreading liberty. Become active in local Libertarian activism. If you do not have a local Libertarian affiliate, start one. Support you local Libertarian affiliate with a donation of money or time. Consider serving as a leader with your local Libertarian affiliate or consider running for office as a Libertarian. 6