The 7 Habits of History's Most Influential Leader

Habit 1: Be Proactive

There are two types of people, reactive and proactive. Both individuals face similar issues, but the difference comes in how they combat their situations. In his book, Stephen R.Covey, clearly highlights the difference in the language and behaviour of reactive and proactive people.

Reactive people usually make statements such as, “If my boss wasn’t such an idiot, things wouldn’t have been like this.” What they actually mean is, “My boss is the cause of all the problems, not me”

“Thanks a lot. You ruined my day.” What they are actually saying is, “I’m not in control of my own moods. You are.”

Notice how in the reactive language and behaviour, power and control is being taken away from one and handed to someone or something else. It’s like giving someone the remote control of your life with a freehand to do what they please. In contrast, proactiveness keeps the remote firmly in one’s possession and they are able to channelize their emotions in a productive manner.

How This Habit Is Manifested By The Prophet (PBUH)

During the Battle of Uhud, the Muslims had acquired the upper hand and once again the Quraish were fleeing. However, many of the archers which the Prophet (PBUH) had stationed under Abdullah ibn Jubayr (RA) left their positions to collect the spoils of war, assuming the Muslims had been victorious, but Khalid ibn Walid who wasn’t a Muslim yet, noticed this and used his military strategy to take advantage of the situation.

The Muslims ended up losing with 70 Muslims being martyred. The Prophet’s (PBUH) teeth had broken and he had suffered severe blows to his face, so much so severely that he could barely speak due to his jaw injury.

Despite this, the Prophet (PBUH) didn’t lose focus and upon reaching Madina, to everyone’s surprise, announced that the Muslims would march again the next morning. He declared that only those individuals who had participated in Uhud. This was significant as it manifested courage and foresight and due to this proactive strategy, Abu Sufyan who had intended to attack Madina, turned back.

The Prophet (PBUH) didn’t waste time blaming the archers and instead acted decisively to prevent an even major loss. Therefore, this shows that proactive people work towards solutions and aren’t distracted by the obstacles that they face. Taking the initiative at the right moment could very well change the course of history and had the Prophet (PBUH) not portrayed proactiveness, Madina may have undoubtedly been raised to the ground.

Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind

This habit means developing a clear image of where one wishes to go with their life. As Habit 1 affirms, one is in control of oneself, Habit 2 ensures that one decides where they want to go. Everyone has a goal in mind before starting a task. Before constructing a structure, a blueprint is drawn, before cooking, the recipe is read and so on. Having an end in mind is crucial as one is always at a critical crossroad in their life and their decisions will affect them in the long-run. Also, if one doesn’t have an end in mind, someone else may set the end goal, which one would then have to follow.

Without an end in mind of our own, we are often quick to follow anyone who’s willing to lead, making us manifest a sort of desperation as we aren’t confident in our own goals. This is a prime example of as they say, “To go with the flow”

How This Habit Is Manifested By The Prophet (PBUH)

The Prophet (PBUH) taught to begin every action with a higher purpose which was to attain the pleasure of God and success in the hereafter. He didn’t focus on short-term or materialistic goals solely. Instead, he’d put the Hereafter as his primary objective and through this framework, worldly goals became much easier and meaningful.

As the Prophet (PBUH) portrayed outstanding leadership skills, he shaped individuals who always kept the Hereafter first and had pure intentions which allowed them to carry out their actions with sincerity. This is highlighted in a Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) where he says, “Actions are judged by intentions, and everyone will get what they intended.” Sahih al-Bukhari

Through this mindset, individuals who were seen as barbaric, backward and unethical, led others by example and brought the mightiest empires who had ruled for centuries to their knees within a decade and became the superpower of the world at the time.

A famous historian of early Islam, Fred McGraw Donner, highlighted the following,

“Many historians, struck by the conquests’ swift progress and vast scope, were puzzled by the fact that the conquests radiated from a place that lacked the elements usually considered essential to sustaining a rapid military expansion.”

He mentions how surprising were the Muslim conquests as previously Arabia wasn’t a unified region nor a major superpower. His points align with the habit of keeping the end in mind as it later framed further victories of one of history’s largest empires as something unexpected and historically significant.

Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) trained these individuals who left a lasting legacy in this world and are remembered for pleasing God and when the goal at the end is noble, the journey automatically becomes much more focused.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Everyone has a list of things they have to get done. One comes home exhausted from work or school but has to prepare for the test in a couple days or design the presentation which they are to present in the meeting. After that, one has to burn some calories and hit the gym. Moreover, the month’s groceries still need to be bought and then there’s the punctured tyre of the car which has to be fixed. This does cause frustration but one has to master the art of sorting their tasks and prioritizing which need to get done first. There will be some tasks that can be postponed while others have to be completed at all costs with no excuses being tolerated. This habit teaches us time management so the first things truly come first, not last. Furthermore, time management isn’t the main component here, rather one has to overcome certain fears and manifest resilience amidst adversaries.

The Yes-Man has a hard time refusing anything or anyone. They act like a door mat, trying to please everyone, but ultimately pleasing no one. They easily succumb to peer pressure. For instance, if their friends invited them for a game of padel at 11 p.m., they might lack the resilience to decline, even if they had to prepare an intricate presentation. because doing so would upset their friends. If one constantly acts this way, nothing would be achieved and one wouldn’t learn to focus on what actually matters and the result of this is that one turns out to be a people-pleaser, a doormat whom others wipe their feet on and an individual with poor decision-making.

Lastly, the Slacker is the most laid back. They have bizarre sleeping routines and prefer binge-watching shows. They never really focus on skill development or studies and may usually be unemployed as their primary goal is to hang out and enjoy life. If these things are done in excess, then they become a waste of time. This individual portrays a lack of responsibility and discipline.

How This Habit Is Manifested By The Prophet (PBUH)

As time management is a key component here, setting up priorities is essential. Therefore, prayer is the best daily example of it. It teaches one to organize their schedule around God’s remembrance and worship and as prayer occurs five times a day, one can divide their day into five sections and go about their life accordingly, bringing about more clarity.

There’s the incident of Masjid Al-Dirar which was built by the hypocrites in Madina to conspire against the Prophet (PBUH) and Islam. They requested the Prophet (PBUH) to pray there, but as he (PBUH) was preparing for the massive Tabuk expedition against the Romans, he prioritized the preparation and decided to visit the mosque on the way back. The priority at that time was to defend Islam and on the way back, the Prophet (PBUH) had been informed about the truth of Masjid Al Dirar in the ninth Surah of the Quran, Surah Tawbah.

Hence, the mosque was demolished and this incident shows that not everything is urgent and wise leaders deal with matters at their set time. This habit incorporates better decision-making and planning, time management and protection from manipulation in one and the incident highlights how Islam teaches to set priorities according to purpose and value.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Win-Win is a belief that everyone can win. It’s both nice and tough all at once. It’s the belief that there’s plenty of success to go around and it doesn’t matter who gets the largest share. This mindset always creates more and it fills one with good feelings, leaving them content from within. It rids one of selfishness and to master it, one must win their private victories first. One will feel threatened by others and would find it hard to be happy for their success. Comparing and competing are two diseases which make it impossible to live with a Win-Win mindset.

Firstly, competition can be healthy as it drives us to improve ourselves and challenges one to stretch and become their best. But it turns dark when one ties their self-worth with always winning or when competition is used as a method to place oneself over others. A sense of arrogance creeps in and one never feels content from within, breeding jealousy as well.

In regards to comparisons, when done against others is anything but good. Everyone’s created differently socially, mentally, psychologically, and physically. Everyone has their own set of obstacles and trials, hence comparing one another is utterly pointless. This mindset leads to one losing friends and can take a toll on one’s mental health as they are never satisfied.

Therefore, keeping the Win-Win spirit makes one a magnet for friends and can be applied to any situation. It fills one’s heart with serene thoughts and leaves one confident as ever.

How This Habit Is Manifested By The Prophet (PBUH)

The Prophet (PBUH) portrayed the perfect example of a Win-Win mindset. He desired success for not only his Companions, but humanity as a whole and when the pagans refused to believe in the message of Islam, he (PBUH) felt extremely depressed as he desperately yearned for their guidance. He wanted people to succeed both in this life and the next.

In Ta’if when he (PBUH) went to preach with only one other Companion, he wasn’t given a good reception and was instead, insulted, mocked and tortured. He (PBUH) was spit on, cursed at and even pelted with stones so much so that his sandals were soaked in blood. He felt utterly humiliated yet he didn’t desire revenge and when he was given the option to crush the people by God, due to their evil conduct, the Prophet (PBUH), chose to spare them, hoping they’d repent and accept guidance.

Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) taught that real success is achieved by elevating hearts, building trust and creating opportunities for others to also win. This mindset results in a stronger sense of unity and peace and hence, that’s why the Prophet (PBUH) is a role model for all leaders, showing that a true leader seeks good for the masses and that a Win-Win mentality builds people, not foes.

 Ralph Nichols, a pioneer in communication studies said,

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood.”

Here he argues that effective listening and understanding are pivotal for relationships and enable people to feel valued, strengthening connections and the notion of being understood. Many individuals start giving advice or lectures on why one mustn’t feel that way and they usually do it with good intentions, to solve the issue. However, most of the time, individuals share such things just to be heard and seek nothing more than a listening ear.

There are five poor listening styles that must be avoided if one wishes to incorporate this habit. They are, Spacing out, Pretend listening, Selective listening, Word listening and Self-centered listening.

Spacing out is when someone is talking to one, but they ignore them as their mind is wandering elsewhere and they are distracted. The other person may have something crucial to say, but one is just caught up in their own thoughts, resulting in a reputation of being a self-absorbed individual.

Pretend listening is when one isn’t paying attention to the other person and pretend to hear them by making observant comments such as “yeah,” “uh-huh,” “cool.”. The speaker usually gets the hint that they are being ignored and aren’t important enough to be heard.

Selective listening is when one pays attention to the part of the conversation that triggers one’s interest. Since one will always talk about what they wish to talk about, instead of what the other person desires to discuss, chances of lasting friendships developing may be very low.

Word listening is when one actually does pay attention, but not to the body language or the feelings of the speaker, rather to their exact words. If one focuses on words solely, they’ll occasionally be in touch with the deeper emotions of people’s hearts.

Self-centered listening is when one notices things from their own point of view. One believes they know how the speaker may feel, when actually they don’t have a clue as each human being is programmed in a different and unique way. When one carries out this sort of behaviour, they respond in three ways.

Firstly, they judge individuals which isn’t helpful as that’s the last thing people want. Moreover, they are quick to advise from one’s personal experiences, which is oftentimes unwise as initially people need to feel understood before they are ready to accept any sort of advice. Also, one probes the speaker as they dig up emotions before they are ready to share them. This feels intrusive for the speaker and often people aren’t open to being interrogated in this manner.

Instead, one must incorporate genuine listening as through this one pauses to understand the root cause of the problem and reduces defensive reactions or judgements.

The humanist psychologist, Carl Rogers highlighted,

“When someone really hears you without passing judgment, it feels very good.”

This shows that being understood and listened to is deeply rewarding and healing, which is essential for behavioral change.

How This Habit Is Manifested By The Prophet (PBUH)

As discussed earlier, this habit means giving maximum attention to the speaker and showing them respect even if one disagrees with their opinion as it allows them to express themselves. The Prophet (PBUH) was the perfect role model of this principle as he never interrupted people while they were speaking. He listened to them calmly, patiently and with dignity.

Once one of the chiefs of Makkah, Utbah ibn Rabi’ah came to the Prophet (PBUH) with proposals of wealth, fame, luxury and so on, just to ensure that the Prophet (PBUH) would halt the spreading of Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) heard his arguments patiently and when he finished, he asked him gently,

“Have you finished speaking?”

Utbah replied in the affirmative and then the Prophet (PBUH) recited verses from Surah Fussilat, leaving Utbah stunned. His facial expressions changed as the power of the Quran had penetrated into his heart.

This shows that the Prophet (PBUH) sought to understand first, meaning listen then communicate the truth with wisdom, showcasing that true communication isn’t about speaking loudly, but about listening better and respecting the views of others.

Many plants and animals live together in a symbiotic relationship. Birds feeding off the back of an elephant is synergy. The key to synergy is celebrating differences, as mentioned above, but we only appreciate them when we realize that in one way or another, we are all a minority of one.

Firstly, we learn differently. It’s evident that even siblings who share the same blood learn things at a different pace. There are various types of learning that Dr Thomas Armstrong identified such as, linguistic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, logical-mathematical and so on. If one’s friend is interpersonal, you may think they are weird as they talk too much but that’s how they are programmed to learn.

Then we see differently. Everyone has a different paradigm about themselves, others and life as a whole. This shows that all events one has experienced in the past, shaped a paradigm through which one sees the world. As everyone’s past events aren’t identical, no two people see alike. Once one grasps the fact that everyone views the world from a separate lens, it will increase understanding and respect for differing viewpoints.

Now as one realises that differences are a strength and are committed to commemorating them, they are ready to discover the High Way.

In order to get to the High Way, defining the problem is key. This will allow all parties to understand the issue and enable them to analyse it and give their opinion regarding it, accordingly.

Next, Their Way. Use the listening skills developed in Habit 5 which will allow the speaker to open up and feel heard. This builds influence, as the speaker will trust you more when allowed to express themselves first.

Then there’s My Way. This is the courage to manifest one’s feelings and opinions. After listening to the speaker, they’ll be most likely to listen to one, so one must make the most of this opportunity. This will enable the speaker to comprehend one’s point of view and could result in a better understanding between one and the speaker.

Finally, Brainstorming. After both views have been exchanged, newer options start to formulate and as a level of understanding has developed between both parties, they are willing to compromise on some aspects of their idea in order to achieve the larger target. Brainstorming creates ideas that one may have never dreamt of alone and is only possible through synergy.

How This Habit Is Manifested By The Prophet (PBUH)

The Prophet (PBUH) constantly practiced consultation known as Shura. He would consult his Companions on pivotal matters such as prior to the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet (PBUH) preferred to stay within Madina and fight as he received the news that the Makkans were arriving with a large army. However, some younger Companions suggested that the Muslims fight outside to portray their zealous attitude. The Prophet (PBUH) respected their opinion and acted upon it, showing the importance of teamwork.

During the Battle of Trench, when a massive force of the Arab tribes, all united was approaching Madina with the intention of a complete genocide, a Persian Companion, Salman Al-Farsi suggested digging a trench around Madina to keep the enemy out. This was a tactic used by the Persians during their battles and was a strategy unknown to the Arabs. Hence, they were shellshocked when they saw the trench around the city as they had never imagined anything like this in their wildest dreams. This shows us how the Prophet (PBUH) was open to ideas and he himself dug the trench which was an arduous job, showing the role model of a true leader who leads by example instead of giving out orders only. Through this trust develops and people feel motivated and more united, leading to success.

Some people spend numerous hours at the gym, strengthening their body while their mind and soul is neglected. Others have minds so profound that even Einstein might have felt intellectually humbled in their presence but they don’t socialize at all. To be on top of one’s game, striking a balance is vital as these four are solid pillars and if even one is weak the foundation automatically becomes unstable. If one’s exhausted, meaning their body is tired, they are most likely to not be friendly, referring to the heart. If one’s body is exhausted, they may be irritable, affecting the heart. If one’s soul is at peace, they can focus better on mental tasks and maintain positive social interactions.

Now, below is how one can target each dimension while striking a balance to ensure they attain the maximum benefit when incorporating this habit.

Regarding the physical dimension, meaning the body, it’s vital to look after it in order to have sufficient energy and strength. This can be done by improving one’s eating habits. If one’s unable to follow a strict diet, then at least they must make the effort to consume meals with portions of all the main food groups such as vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates, dairy and meat. Too much of any one group could result in health problems, hence ensuring a balance here is pivotal as well. One must have a disciplined sleep routine where they don’t oversleep, nor stay awake all night. The night has been designed for humans to sleep as the melatonin gets released from the pineal gland once it gets dark at night. Exercising is key as it keeps the body moving instead of being a potato couch, slumped on the sofa or bed which is dangerous as the body needs to move every once in a while. Exercise strengthens the body and releases hormones that bring about a sense of contentment.

For the mental dimension, meaning the mind, it’s important that one reads books and articles of numerous genres so their vocabulary improves and they obtain useful knowledge which their brain can easily retain. Journaling or writing is something which also improves one’s mental health as one expresses their ideas, inner feelings and opinions freely without uttering a single word. This develops critical thinking which is a crucial tool in today’s day and age and can really help one develop and learn new skills that improve them and make them a proficient part of society.

Pertaining to the heart, one must learn to portray empathy and kindness to others. They must listen to their problems and if they aren’t capable of solving it, they should make an effort of at least consoling the other person and providing emotional assistance, similar to what was in Habit 5. Spending quality time with friends and family, off the screens, is also a vital part of this dimension and can really help improve one’s social dimension.

Lastly, the spiritual dimension or the soul. Everyone has a soul that has cravings similar to the body. Just as one strengthens the body through eating healthy, working out and so on, the soul also has a right upon one. In order to strengthen it, spending time in prayer and reflecting upon one’s life is fundamental. One attains a clarity of mind and it brings about a sense of purpose and meaning to life, helping one stay grounded and guided by principles.

How This Habit Is Manifested By The Prophet (PBUH)

The Prophet (PBUH) stayed committed to the mission of spreading Islam until his last breath. He had a lifelong self-renewal consisting of growing physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. He would constantly encourage the people to learn, improve and remain steadfast in their faith. The Prophet (PBUH) would walk a lot, travelling long distances by foot. He would eat in moderation and said,

“The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat a few mouthfuls to keep his back straight. If he must, then one-third for food, one-third for drink, and one-third for breathing.” Sunan Ibn Majah

This showed how physical activity was a part of his daily life, keeping him healthy for leadership and worship.

He would seek knowledge and spread it, portraying a sense of mental sharpening. He once said, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” Sunan Ibn Majah

He nurtured empathy and kindness as he spent time with his Companions and family, listening to them and giving them all his attention. He forgave the masses, even the most brutal of his foes who caused him and his family great harm, manifesting emotional intelligence and this emotional care strengthened his leadership and softened the hearts of people to Islam.

When it came to spirituality, he would pray long prayers at night until his feet would get numb, maintaining a strong connection with God. He would regularly engage in acts of worship and beg God for forgiveness so often. He (PBUH) was once asked why he’d do this despite and he replied, “Should I not be a grateful servant?”

To sum it up, The Prophet (PBUH) portrayed these habits in the best way possible and nurtured a generation of companions that were the reason for one of the most fundamental revolutions in human history, where Arab bedouins whom the world were heedless about, dominated the lands that were once ruled by the Persians and Romans within a short time span.

These seven habits must be incorporated into everyone’s daily lives, and one must make a sincere effort to do so as they completely transform one into a different individual. If these habits get adopted by people on a large scale, it can truly change societies and nations, but all change starts from individuals taking small, consistent steps. Therefore, it’s key to start taking small steps, with the sincere intention to change for the better and sooner but later, one will have these habits incorporated in their daily lives.