Stephen R. Covey, a former business professor at Brigham Young University, who has mixed personal self-help and management theory in a big bestseller, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," died Monday in a hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was 79 years.
The cause was complications of injuries sustained in a bicycle accident, said Debra Lund, a spokesman for the training of leaders and FranklinCovey Utah-based consulting firm he cofounded.
In April, Covey has lost control of his motorcycle while riding a hill in Provo, Utah. It was hospitalized for two months with a concussion, fractured ribs and a partially collapsed lung, but "never fully recovered," Lund said Monday.
Covey has become a household name when "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" was published in 1989.
The bestseller for four years, has sold over 20 million copies in 40 languages ??and has created a multimillion dollar business empire that markets audio tapes, seminars, training and organizing support to improve personal productivity and professional success.
"The weather was perfect. He really caught the wave that people were becoming increasingly fascinated with leadership. It led to the desire of ordinary people to succeed through leadership and management "said Barbara Kellerman, a management professor at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Covey clients include three-quarters of the Fortune 500 and dozens of schools and government agencies. He also coached three dozen heads of state including the presidents of Colombia and South Korea and their wardrobes. Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich were among his fans.
Part of Peter Norman Vincent Peale and Drucker, Covey sums up his philosophy into seven "immutable principles" or habits that highlight features such as personal responsibility ("Be Proactive"), have a roadmap or mission ("Begin with the end in mind") and define its priorities ("Put first things first").
His classes were full of words like "synergy" and "paradigm shift", but also urged companies to consider how employees feel.
"Coveyism is total quality management for the character of reengineering the soul of an attractive product at a time versions of the organization of these disciplines have often encouraged the morale hit bottom" , The Economist wrote in 1996.
"We believe that organizational behavior is a collectivize individual behavior," said Covey Fortune magazine in 1994.
Covey says that the idea of ??"7 Habits" came in part from Drucker, the management guru who claimed that "the effect is a habit." Agreed with his critics that his principles were gathered from various sources, including all the major world religions and psychology and classical philosophy. Some critics have said that Covey mormonas beliefs were particularly influential.
Born in Salt Lake City October 24, 1932, was raised on a farm outside the city. During his teens he developed a bone disorder that forced him to give up sports and focus on the academic.
Often credited with his parents instilled in him a positive attitude, especially his mother, who was standing over your bed and you say. "You can do whatever you want"
At age 16 he entered the University of Utah, a Masters in Business Administration in 1952. Five years later he received an MBA from Harvard.
Covey continued Mormon missions in England and Ireland. Part of their heads of provincial education work of the church throughout the UK, an experience that changed his plans because of the parents take the reins of the family business. "I was so excited by the idea of ??a band that has become the mission of my life," he told the Ottawa Citizen in 2004.
After returning to Salt Lake City, he worked as assistant to the president of Brigham Young University.
In 1969 he began studying for a doctorate in business and education, writing his thesis on the success of American literature since 1776. He received his doctorate in 1976.
00:50 | 0
comments
