Now Covey moves from the personal realm to the interpersonal.

Habit 4: Think Win/Win

This is about seeking a mutually beneficial outcome in all kinds of negotiating and interpersonal situations. The most obvious alternatives are to take advantage of the other side, or to give up too much and let the other side take advantage of you. Win/win says “If we are going to do a deal, I want a deal that’s good for both of us.”

It requires believing that the world is a place of abundance where there is plenty to go around. I don’t need to get a bigger piece of the pie than you get, or to give up my piece to you. It’s a big-pie world.

You can’t reach your goals if you give up too much, and you can’t maintain relationships if you take too much. This is about a mature balance and a creative persistence about searching for a win/win if one can possibly be found.