Using JAKAPA to Reinforce the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens!

Reinforcing teen habit development is crucial.

JAKAPA and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Steven Covey is an AMAZING book highlighting the power of executive function, soft skills, and having a growth mindset!

JAKAPA aligns very well with the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. There is a lot of value in using JAKAPA to practice the book’s content to build executive function, soft skills, and a growth mindset.

BUT FIRST,

Let’s quickly dive into the book– Here Are the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens!

What are the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens?

  • 1. Be Proactive
  • 2. Begin with the End in mind
  • 3. Put first things first
  • 4. Think win-win
  • 5. Seek first to understand; then to be understood
  • 6. Synergize
  • 7. Sharpen the saw

Alright, so let’s get started!

First up…

Habit: Be Proactive

Developing a habit of proactivity helps with all the other habits!
Developing a habit of proactivity helps with all the other habits!

Why this is important: this is the BIG one, and it unlocks all the other habits! Proactive people take control and responsibility for their lives and control their happiness.

Foundational Skill Areas Found in Proactivity: Self-Management, Emotional Resilience

How to Use JAKAPA to Build Proactivity: 

Create goals in the “Achieve a Goal” skill builder and identify the daily actions needed to get you there. Track those goals and build a habit of working on and accomplishing smaller tasks.

Use the “Build a Positive Brain” skill builder to recognize and celebrate your daily activity. Taking the time to reward yourself for being proactive makes the habit stick.

Tie the JAKAPA Weekly Challenge into your habit of being proactive. Reflect on your decision-making and stress during the “Practice Decision Making” and “Make a Stress Plan” Skill Builders.

Use the self and peer assessments to encourage reflection on your skills and develop goals around developing them.

Habit: Begin with the End in Mind

Why this is Important: Things are much easier to build once you have a clear vision of what you are making.

Foundational Skill Areas found in Begin with the End in Mind: Self-Management, Social Engagement, Innovation, Emotional Resilience

The clearer your end goal and dreams the more likely you are to achieve them!
The clearer your end goal and dreams the more likely you are to achieve them!
How to Use JAKAPA in Begin with the End in Mind: Use the self and peer assessments to better understand your strengths, weaknesses, and how you depict them to others.

Use the “Did, Felt, Tell Journal” Skill Builder and the Reflections and Inventories to better understand your interests and future goals.

Use the data dashboards and badges to help you build your personal brand and narrative.

Use the Weekly Challenges to guide you. You can choose what areas to focus on when doing the skill builders and challenges. 

Track your goals and progress using the “Achieve a Goal” skill builder, the Weekly Challenge, and the Dashboards.

Use the “Abstract Thinking” and “Would You Rather” Skill Builders to explore your interests and prompt you into gaining new experiences.

Use the “Build a Positive Brain” and “Make a Stress Plan” Skill Builders to work through the inevitable bumps you will face. Grit and Resilience matter a lot more than talent.

Habit: Put First Things First

Stop wasting your energy and focus on the unimportant tasks. Your time has value, focus on your highest priority.
Stop wasting your energy and focus on the unimportant tasks. Your time has value, focus on your highest priority.

Why this is Important: People spend too much time sweating the small stuff and not working on the things that matter.

Foundational Skill Areas found in Put First Things First: Self-Management, Innovation, Emotional Resilience

How to Use JAKAPA in Put First Things First: Use the “Practice Decision-Making” Skill Builder to think through what is the highest priority.

Use the “Make a Stress Plan” Skill-Builder to understand what stress feels like and what stress tactics work.

Habit: Think Win-Win

Why this is Important: Creating mutually beneficial solutions and giving value will make others want to help you more in the future.

Foundational Skill Areas found in Think Win-Win: Emotional Resilience, Social Engagement, Collaboration

Creating a win-win solution increases the value for everyone.
Creating a win-win solution increases the value for everyone.
How to Use JAKAPA in Think Win-Win: Use the “Manage your Message” Skill Builder to practice targeted communication.

Use the “Practicing Decision-Making” Skill Builder to learn how to evaluate your options and create more win-win scenarios.

Practice “Build a Positive Brain” Skill Builder to recognize the good that came of the win-win scenario.

Complete external assessments and peer assessments to get feedback and lift people up. Honest feedback will help others succeed in the future!

Habit: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Listening intently is the greatest compliment.
Listening intently is the greatest compliment.

Why this is Important: Paying close attention when others speak and actively trying to understand someone is the greatest compliment.

Foundational Skill Areas found in Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood: Emotional Resilience, Social Engagement, Collaboration

How to Use JAKAPA in Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood: Use the “Manage your Message” Skill Builder to practice targeted communication. Show the other person that you have been paying attention and are trying to understand.

Practice “Build a Positive Brain” Skill Builder to recognize the value you received from listening and learning from someone.

Use the “Did, Felt, Tell Journal” Skill Builder to reflect on the experience. Notice how it makes you feel when you are understood or speak to someone that listens.

Habit: Synergize

Why this is Important: Valuing and using others’ perspectives and skills creates better solutions.

Foundational Skill Areas found in Synergize: Innovation, Emotional Resilience, Social Engagement, Collaboration

Different perspectives help make your ideas better!
Different perspectives help make your ideas better!

How to Use JAKAPA in Synergize: Use the “Manage your Message” Skill Builder to prompt others to open up.

Use the “Make a Stress Plan” Skill Builder to manage your stress and emotions when letting go of control.

The “Go On Adventure” Skill Builder can prompt new ideas and experiences.

Use the “Did, Felt, Tell Journal” Skill Builder to reflect on how synergizing makes you feel.

Use your skill dashboards to discuss your strengths and think about being a more productive team.

Habit: Sharpen the Saw

Don't forget to focus on yourself. Self-care is critical.
Don't forget to focus on yourself. Self-care is critical.

Why this is Important: Your physical, mental, and emotional health is your #1 priority. Taking care of those first will renew and recharge you for your other tasks.

Foundational Skill Areas found in Sharpen the Saw: Self-Management, Emotional Resilience

How to Use JAKAPA in Sharpen the Saw: Use “Achieve a Goal” Skill Builder to create reminders and tasks around self-care.

Use “Build a Positive Brain” to create a habit of self-love and develop a growth mindset.

Use the “Make a Stress Plan” Skill Builder to manage stress and emotions.

Use the “Did, Felt, Tell Journal” Skill Builder to reflect on your experiences. Use the insights from your journal to think about what should be in your self-care routine.

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