tanzania a nation of effective people?

Habit 1 - Be Proactive

We are told, in business/organisations, that we should be proactive; and broadly what is meant by that is to focus our efforts and attention on the long-term and to think in terms of the long-term consequences of our actions.

This is a customary behaviour in Tanzania. We have seen many people working in our government ministries, public institutions, government agencies, and other government organs behave contrary to this number one principle.

Of recently we have seen incidents whereby the president of United Republic of Tanzania demanded Port Authority to curb congestion at the Dar Port, City Council to allow Public to access Coco Beach and further to put up other facilities such as (packing, toilets, leisure seats, play areas....), and similarly Prime Minister Bwana Mizengo Pinda ordered police force and municipal officials to deal with crime and sanitary issues in their respective areas under their jurisdiction. Goosh!!! Why small things like these need attention from higher authorities? Where are ministers, directors, and respective officials who are paid to do these jobs!!?? Are we the Nation of Ineffective people? Yes!!

Since proactive people simply will not accept that there is nothing that can be done about the unreasonable boss or the events of daily life - they will point out that there are always choices. It is by the decisions we make, our responses to people, events and circumstances that proactive people can and do affect the future.

Habit 2 - Begin with the End in Mind

Many people in Africa and particularly in Tanzania identify with the frustration of success. Being successful at their chosen career and committed to its progress they come to realise that it does not, in the final analysis, bring any sense of real satisfaction.

The reason for this ultimate dissatisfaction is that they did not begin with the end in mind. For many people, it is not just that they did not begin with the end in mind; it goes a bit deeper - they did not ever get around to defining the end itself and so they simply could not begin with the end in mind.

Again, I don’t want to distress the reader by citing more recently cases rather I will just use examples in Habit No. 1 in order to explain the habit no 2. Do people (Management) work for Port Authority have end in mind, or they are just working? To whom they are competing? Where do they want to take the port revenue, handling capacity, profitability in the next 5 years, 10 years, and 20 years? How and by how much? Do these people have big pictures? Or just do perform mediocre pieces of works? I think they do........ just mediocre pieces of works!!

Since the end represents the purpose of your life. Then there are no short-cuts in life. To engage in this habit, you need to have a dream, define your own vision and get into the practice of setting goals which will allow you to make measurable progress toward the dream.

Habit 3 - First Things First

Do this Nation have priorities? To really understand and apply this habit, you need to have first done habit 2 - that is, you should already have defined what is important to you. Without first doing this, habit 3 has no power because you simply cannot separate what is important from what is not important.

What is important/priorities to us/our economy!! Is it Railway networks or road networks? Is it Sea Ports or Air Ports or none of them? Or do we have to Sale Governments owned houses/buildings or to construct more? Do we have to start use expensive government vehicles now when our economy is small and use low cost Government vehicles later when the economy is bigger? Do we invest in more profitable industries and sales less profitable industries or do we sale first and find elsewhere to invest?

Habit 4 - Think Win Win

This habit is again an attitude of mind. It concerns fostering an attitude that is committed to always finding solutions that will truly benefit both sides of a dispute. Solutions do not, of course, exist in themselves; they must be created. And, even if we cannot see the solution to a particular problem, it does not mean that no such solution exists.

Again in the same incidents/situation in Habit no 1,2 and 3 I would like go back to the Closure of the Coco Beach 15 years ago!! Duuh Haya Mambo jamani unaweza ukashika panga ukaende Halmashauri ya jiji ukimpiga  mkurugenzi husika!! Since the the scape goats for the closure were environmental destruction and government lack of fund to develop the area.!!  Jamani for 15 years hata packing za magari wameshindwa kujinga, wala kutafuta mwekezaji binafsi hili serikari ipate na mwekezaji apate!! Au ndio yale mambo mimi nitafaidika vipi tukishirikiana na watu binafsi? What do they do when they are in the fields or office? Are we the nation of effective people!!!??

The win-win idea is not based upon compromise - that is where most disputes naturally end. But compromise is the result of not properly perceiving the possible synergy of the situation.

This attitude works well because it liberates the individuals concerned from the effort of trying to persuade the opposite party to shift ground or compromise. The effort is instead spend on trying to understand, which is where habit 5 comes in - you see, they are also sequential.

Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand 

then be Understood

What most people do, naturally, when involved in some type of discussion, meeting or dialogue is exactly the reverse - they seek first to be understood. And, as Stephen Covey (The Author of 7 Habits of Highly effective People) says, when both parties are trying to be understood, neither party is really listening; he calls such an interaction, 'the dialogue of the deaf'. Ahaaaaa!!I like this................Yule mkubwa pale banadarini alipoulizwa  na JK (President) “ magari mangapi yamekaa hapa kwa muda zaidi ya miezi sita”” Jamaa alianza kuwa defensive na kudai kuwa wanakosa hiki na kile,...rais akawa mkali akataka ajibiwe specifically swali alilouliza na jamaa hakuwa na data zozote !! It is absurd and shame on him na mabosi wake kama bado wapo kazini!!?  

This habit is an important key to inter-personal relationships and it seems to be almost magical in its ability to transform the course of discussions. Why? Because by making the investment of time and effort required to understand the other party, the dynamics of the interchange are subtly affected.

This habit is not just about letting the other person speak first; it concerns actually making the effort to understand what is being said. It is about understanding that our natural habit of mind is to misunderstand. When we are engaged in conversation, error is always present. NLP tells us that we simply make our own meaning based on our own experiences and understanding of life; and frequently we make the wrong meaning. You might like to take a look at the answers given by school-children on history exams which illustrates this principle - we are no different!

If however, we are prepared to invest the time and effort to really understand the other person's position; and to get into the habit of spending the first part of the discussion doing so; then, when it is felt by the other person that you do indeed understand, the dynamic changes. People become more open, more teachable, more interested in what you may have to say and with the mutual understanding that flows from this habit, you are ready to practice habit 6; which concerns finding creative solutions.

Habit 6 - Synergize (Synergise)

This habit involves you putting your head together with the other party or parties in order to creatively brainstorm a synergistic solution to a problem i.e. Pazuri sana hapa...kwa sababu solutions za nchi hii ziko kwa viongozi wa vyama na serikari wadau wengine wote tulieni/nyamazeni hamjui kitu kama mnajua ingieni kwenye siasa!! It is extremely ridiculous !!! especially to find a solution which contains win-win benefits.  To be precise in this country if you are academician at the reputable University or College then Shut up your mouth, if you are one of Religious leaders then go to hell or heaven not here in TZ, If you are one of the successful businessmen/women don’t even look at us (Politicians or senior government officials) because we can make sure your wealth is declining by taxing you like Mr. Naniiii

Habit 7 - Sharpen the Saw

The last habit of the 7 Habits is - Sharpen the Saw. In this habit, you are the saw; and to Sharpen the Saw  is to become better, keener and more effective. Hapa naomba nisiseme hila nigune tuu!! Kwa sababu ikija pita sensa ya kusoma angalau kitabu kimoja kwa mwa mwaka...................wataadhirika watu!!! Labda watafauli kwenda kanisani na misikitini amabko huwa hawasikilizi mafundisho kwa hiyo ni sifuri tuu!! Mazoezi yanafanyika vizuri sio mbaya sana .Tatizo ni aina ya mazoezi yenyewe kwa sababu ni kunywa  bia na mambo yale mengine ambayo mzee Rukhsa alisema tuvae nananii halafu Yule kijana akampiga!! Contrary to what we are doing Highly Effective People always take time to Sharpen their Saws. What is meant by Sharpening the Saw is to regularly engage in the exercise of the three dimensions which make up the human condition: body, mind and spirit. Covey also adds a fourth dimension - the inter-personal. Which are spiritual exercises, mental exercise, physical exercise, (Interpersonal commitments).

Is Tanzania a nation of effective people?