Bill Gates is one of the co-founders of Microsoft Corporations and he is known to be a great leader. His greatest saying is “A leader only succeeds if the people he leads succeed,” and that’s how he led Microsoft. Many considered him rude, challenging and rigorous, but they understood and respected his leadership skills. Stephen R. Covey, author of a popular book called "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," explains the seven things people must do to be a great leader. Across the United States, Bill Gates is known for his success and great ethical leadership skills. According to Covey's 7 Habits Theory, does Bill Gates possess or practice the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? The first three habits are about moving from dependence to independence: Be proactive. Covey explains that you are the reason your life is the way it is. He goes on to explain that everything that happens in your life is because you made the choice for it to happen. Things don't happen by chance; they are given a decision that will happen. He tells his readers to take initiative in their lives and also take responsibility for them. Covey says for you to be proactive, you need to repair your circle of influence. In your entourage you should only have people who are proactive and not reactive. The difference between people will determine your decision regarding situations. Proactive people will speak proactive language and work on things they can change. Reactive people have a circle of concerns in which they tend to worry about things they can't change or don't control. Bill Gates believed that for someone to have good leadership skills, a person must take responsibility for their own actions and their influence on... middle of paper ...... social/emotional and spiritual. This will keep your mind refreshed so you can refine the other six habits. Gates believed that taking two "retreats" each year was necessary to recharge one's own batteries and to refresh one's orientation and perspective on things. These seven habits of highly effective people describe Bill Gates' leadership style and how he incorporates them into his leadership styles. . Although Gates left his position as CEO of Microsoft, the new CEO Satya Nedella was led by Bill Gates and understood that Gates' leadership skills made him what he is today. Bill Gates is an ethical leader because he expects the best from each of his employees and he challenges them to give their best. Because he believes that a leader is only as good as the people he leads, he has made the majority of Microsoft's senior executives into millionaires..