{"id":83,"date":"2020-10-30T11:12:01","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T11:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/34.125.46.169\/?page_id=83"},"modified":"2026-07-08T14:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T21:00:06","slug":"habit-5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/courses\/the-7-habits\/habit-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood\u00ae"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"block block-cta-hero \">\n\t<div class=\"uk-flex uk-justify-sb\">\n\t\t<div class=\"hero-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/courses\/\" alt=\"Courses\">Courses<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"separator\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/courses\/the-7-habits\/\" alt=\"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People\u00ae\">The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People<sup>&reg;<\/sup><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood<span>&reg;<\/span><\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cta-courses\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uk-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/courses\/the-7-habits\/habit-4\/\"><span class=\"cta-arrow reverse\"><\/span> Habit 4<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/courses\/the-7-habits\/habit-6\/\">Habit 6 <span class=\"cta-arrow\"><\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"hero-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/themes\/franklincovey\/img\/blank.gif\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/habit5-610x480-1.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"\"\n\t\t\t\twidth=\"610\" height=\"480\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"image-main lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<span class=\"animated-line\"><\/span>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block block-lead-gen format-large\">\n        <div class=\"uk-child-width-1-4@m uk-child-width-1-2@s uk-grid-match\" data-uk-grid data-uk-height-match=\"target : .title\">\n                    \n            <div>\n                <div class=\"inner-container\">\n                                            <div class=\"gen-inner bg-color-black \">\n                                            <p class=\"gen-category\">Free Guide<\/p>\n                        <div class=\"title\">The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People <div class=\"carret\"><\/div><\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"gen-text\">\n                            <p>A Brief Guide to Principles From the Bestselling Book<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                            <div class=\"gen-buttons\">\n                                                                    <a href=\"\" download class=\"btn btn-primary btn-download\"  target=\"_blank\" alt=\"Download Now\">Download Now <span><\/span><\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div>\n                <div class=\"inner-container\">\n                                            <div class=\"gen-inner bg-color-gray \">\n                                            <p class=\"gen-category\">Free Guide<\/p>\n                        <div class=\"title\">Private Victories: Inside Out Professional Growth  <div class=\"carret\"><\/div><\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"gen-text\">\n                            <p>Unlock Potential, Unleash Performance<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                            <div class=\"gen-buttons\">\n                                                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/resources.franklincovey.com\/c\/tlg-private-victories?x=j4G37p&#038;lb-mode=overlay\" download class=\"btn btn-primary btn-download\"  target=\"_blank\" alt=\"Download Now\">Download Now <span><\/span><\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div>\n                <div class=\"inner-container\">\n                                            <div class=\"gen-inner bg-color-black \">\n                                            <p class=\"gen-category\">Insight Report<\/p>\n                        <div class=\"title\">The Leadership Imperative <div class=\"carret\"><\/div><\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"gen-text\">\n                            <p>A Guidebook for Creating Leadership Capability<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                            <div class=\"gen-buttons\">\n                                                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/resources.franklincovey.com\/c\/tlg-the-leadership-imperative?x=j4G37p&#038;lb-mode=overlay\" download class=\"btn btn-primary btn-download\"  target=\"_blank\" alt=\"Download Now\">Download Now <span><\/span><\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div>\n                <div class=\"inner-container\">\n                                            <div class=\"gen-inner bg-color-gray \">\n                                            <p class=\"gen-category\">Webcast<\/p>\n                        <div class=\"title\">Close the Leadership Capability Gap <div class=\"carret\"><\/div><\/div>\n                                                <div class=\"gen-text\">\n                            <p>Featuring Liz Wiseman and Jennifer Colosimo<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                            <div class=\"gen-buttons\">\n                                                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franklincovey.com\/events\/webcast-series\/close-the-leadership-capability-gap\/\" class=\"btn btn-primary\" target=\"_self\" alt=\"Learn More\">Learn More<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                                    <\/div>\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    <span class=\"animated-line\"><\/span>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block block-intro-text headings-left\" data-id=\"block_aafe301081a54700a3f6dd998f5bb1d8\">\n        <div class=\"uk-flex uk-justify-sb\">\n        <div class=\"intro-headings\">\n            <h2>The Principle of Respect\n<\/h2>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"intro-text\">\n                            <p>We spend years learning how to read, write, and speak. But what about listening? What training do we get that enables us to listen so we really, deeply understand others? Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then To Be Understood is about listening before we speak.<\/p>\n<p>Our default tendency is to try to get our point across. In doing so, we may ignore the other person completely, pretend that we\u2019re listening, or focus on the words and miss the meaning. At work, that means we might not fully understand a problem before we go to solve it. At home, it might mean we miss out on a chance at deeper connection with the people who matter most.<\/p>\n<p>Habit 5 is about learning to suspend our desire to respond automatically. It\u2019s about practicing a deeper and more intentional kind of listening. And then, when it is our time to be understood, it\u2019s about expressing our point of view in a clear and articulate way that keeps our audience\u2019s needs in mind.<\/p>\n            \n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"animated-line\"><\/span>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block block-image-with-text \">\n    <div class=\"uk-flex uk-justify-sb has-background bg-color-gray\">\n                    <div class=\"it-text\">\n                <h2 class=\"heading\">Autobiographical vs. Empathic Listening<\/h2>                <p>When we listen autobiographically, we turn the other person\u2019s story into our story. We filter everything they say through our own experiences, values, and perspective.<\/p>\n<p>When we listen empathically, we create space for others to share their perspective and emotions. And in the process we build a deeper sense of connection and understanding.<\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"it-image\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" \n                        src=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/themes\/franklincovey\/img\/blank.gif\"\n                        data-src=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/autobiographical-listening_785x450.webp\"\n                        alt=\"\"\n                        class=\"bw-to-color lazy\">\n                            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    <span class=\"animated-line\"><\/span>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block block-pull-quote\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"quote\" src=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/themes\/franklincovey\/img\/quote.png\" alt=\"Quote PNG\">\n    <div class=\"quote-inner\">\n        <h2>\u201cIf I were to summarize in one sentence the single most important principle I have learned in the field of interpersonal relations, it would be this: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.\u201d<\/h2>\n        <p class=\"quote-author\">&mdash; Stephen R. Covey<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"animated-line\"><\/span>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block block-circumstances\">\n\t\t<div class=\"uk-grid-medium uk-child-width-1-2@l uk-child-width-1-2@m circumstance-list\" data-uk-grid data-uk-height-match=\"target: .circumstance\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"circumstance bg-color-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eyebrow\">Habit 1<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"title\">Be Proactive\u00ae<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"video-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/habit1-785x450-1-1.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Assume responsibility and focus on the things that can be influenced rather than what can\u2019t.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cta\">\n                            <a href=\"\/courses\/the-7-habits\/habit-1\/\"\n                            \talt=\"Learn More\"\n                            \tclass=\"btn btn-primary\"\n                            \ttarget=\"\">Learn More<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"circumstance bg-color-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eyebrow\">Habit 2<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"title\">Begin With the End in Mind\u00ae<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"video-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/habit2-785x450-1-1.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Define clear measures for success and create a plan to achieve them\u2014in the next few hours, over the next few months, or across a lifetime.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cta\">\n                            <a href=\"\/courses\/the-7-habits\/habit-2\/\"\n                            \talt=\"Learn More\"\n                            \tclass=\"btn btn-primary\"\n                            \ttarget=\"\">Learn More<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"circumstance bg-color-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eyebrow\">Habit 3<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"title\">Put First Things First\u00ae<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"video-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/habit3-785x450-2-1.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Prioritize and spend time on achieving the most important goals.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cta\">\n                            <a href=\"\/courses\/the-7-habits\/habit-3\/\"\n                            \talt=\"Learn More\"\n                            \tclass=\"btn btn-primary\"\n                            \ttarget=\"\">Learn More<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"circumstance bg-color-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eyebrow\">Habit 4<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"title\">Think Win-Win\u00ae<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"video-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/habit4-785x450-2-1.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Approach each situation looking for ways everyone can win.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cta\">\n                            <a href=\"\/courses\/the-7-habits\/habit-4\/\"\n                            \talt=\"Learn More\"\n                            \tclass=\"btn btn-primary\"\n                            \ttarget=\"\">Learn More<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"circumstance bg-color-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eyebrow\">Habit 5<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"title\">Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood\u00ae<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"video-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/habit5-785x450-1-1.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Listen, understand, and honor others\u2019 perspectives, and have the courage to express thoughts and feelings respectfully.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"circumstance bg-color-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eyebrow\">Habit 6<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"title\">Synergize\u00ae<br>&nbsp;<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"video-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/habit6-785x450-1-1.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Leverage different perspectives to solve problems, innovate, and achieve more than any one individual alone.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cta\">\n                            <a href=\"\/courses\/the-7-habits\/habit-6\/\"\n                            \talt=\"Learn More\"\n                            \tclass=\"btn btn-primary\"\n                            \ttarget=\"\">Learn More<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"circumstance bg-color-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"details\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eyebrow\">Habit 7<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"title\">Sharpen the Saw\u00ae<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"video-preview\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/habit7v2-785x450-1.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Increase motivation, energy, and vitality by making time for renewal activities.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cta\">\n                            <a href=\"\/courses\/the-7-habits\/habit-7\/\"\n                            \talt=\"Learn More\"\n                            \tclass=\"btn btn-primary\"\n                            \ttarget=\"\">Learn More<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<span class=\"animated-line\"><\/span>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block block-colorful-link-farm format-large\">\n    <div class=\"link-farm-inner\">\n        <h2>Resources<\/h2>\n                        <div class=\"farm-links\">\n            <div class=\"farm-grid\" style=\"grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);\">\n                            <div>\n                    <div class=\"farm-link  color-blue\">\n                                                    <a href=\"http:\/\/127.0.0.1:8081\/the-7-habits-effect\/\" target=\"_self\">The 7 Habits Effect<\/a>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div>\n                    <div class=\"farm-link  color-blue\">\n                                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/msb.franklincovey.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mission Statement Builder<\/a>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div>\n                    <div class=\"farm-link  color-blue\">\n                                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/7habits.franklincovey.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Your 7 Habits Strengths<\/a>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div>\n                    <div class=\"farm-link  color-blue\">\n                                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/resources.franklincovey.com\/the-7-habits-of-highly-effective-people\" target=\"_self\">Resource Center<\/a>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    <span class=\"animated-line\"><\/span>\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"block block-full-width-form \">\n    <div class=\"uk-flex uk-justify-sb\">\n        <div class=\"fw-intro\">\n                                        <div class=\"title\">Build essential human skills. Drive growth at every level. <\/div>\n                                        <p>Connect with a FranklinCovey expert today to empower your leaders and teams to unlock potential and unleash performance for your organization.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n        <div class=\"fw-text\">\n                                            <div class=\"hs-form-html\" data-region=\"\" data-form-id=\"8ea3b607-8d8f-4105-802e-b8806e050db7\" data-portal-id=\"\"><\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"animated-line\"><\/span>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":0,"parent":9215,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-83","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/83","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/83\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55091,"href":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/83\/revisions\/55091"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/franklincovey.kz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}