Ok, I am a little biased because for all my life I have enjoyed reading. Now I must admit as technology has advanced and life has gotten busier I struggle to sit and read. This may be my desire to always be productive or internet-influenced ADD.
I have seen it said that 33% of High School graduates never read another book and 42% of college graduates. I am not certain of the validity of this and quite frankly am not overly concerned. What I want to do is take a minute to suggest the value of continuing to read as leaders at work, home, and in our communities.
Improves Communication
Every day we communicate with others. Now more than ever this communication is in written form such as e-mails, text messages, or some other form of messaging. As we spend time reading books, professional documents to help us grow, and other sources of literature we expand our vocabulary.
When I was a strength and conditioning coach, I would read industry journals. I had no clue what a lot of the technical research meant at first, but over time I learned. Increasing my vocabulary helped me be able to communicate with others in the industry in a more educated manner. This same principle has held true in any area I don’t understand. I read, learn, and improve my ability to communicate effectively with others.
Expands Knowledge
This one does not need a lot of explanation. I heard leadership expert John Maxwell say he was told when he was younger if he spent an hour a day reading any single topic that in five years he would be an expert. This proved true ten-fold for John. He has been recognized as the world’s top expert on leadership by INC magazine and
other sources.
The pace of change is so fast we need to continually be learning to stay relevant in our industry. The best way for this to occur is by spending time reading. As an aside I would suggest we can also learn by attending events in our industry and learning from other experts. If you want to be that expert and leader in your industry, then read.
Provides Mentoring
When I was younger, I spent most of my time reading fiction but as I became an adult that shifted. My bookshelves are full of books on topics such as leadership, personal development, communication, and biographies. The last one is an example of how books can mentor us. I may never get a chance to sit across from John Wooden, C.S. Lewis, or any number of other authors and leaders who are dead or alive, but I can learn from them.
Throughout the years by reading biographies, I have learned from people’s pains and successes. Also, through reading books written by or about these leaders I have had the opportunity to be mentored and gain wisdom I would have never received had I not created the time to read.
I hope this encourages you to find a way to read or at least listen to books more. I can’t end without providing you a resource I have found valuable to help me read more in less time. If you go here you will be able to see the latest book summary available. If you want to receive notifications right to your e-mail inbox sign up for a free leadership e-book here and receive the weekly update of the summaries available and other leadership tips. Keep reading, learning, and growing and lead well.
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