Reading is one of the best ways for leaders to stay on top of their game
The ability to keep yourself up-to-date on the latest developments in your industry and field can be crucial to your success as a leader. If you’re not knowledgeable about what’s going on, then you won’t be able to make smart decisions when it comes time to deal with something new and unexpected. For example, if you have no idea how smartphones or social media work, then you can’t help your organization deal with the impact of them and figure out how to use them effectively in the workplace.
1) Readers are always learning
Reading is one of the best ways for leaders to stay on top of their game. When you read, you’re constantly learning new information, which can help you run your business more efficiently and effectively. Take a look at these seven reasons why reading is such a crucial habit for all leaders.
- Reading helps readers realize they don’t know everything
- Reading helps readers become better listeners
- Reading helps readers learn how others approach problems
- The best way to understand another culture is through literature
- Readers are always learning
2) Readers have an open mind
A reader is someone who seeks out new ideas, perspectives, and information. They are not limited in their thinking by the thoughts they’ve already had. And readers have an open mind. In a study at McGill University, researchers measured the brain activity of participants as they read a text that supported or contradicted their own beliefs. Participants’ brains showed much more engagement when reading material that challenged their beliefs than when reading material that aligned with them–even though both types of text were written at a high school level. This suggests that people who read widely are better able to deal with complex problems because they’re used to hearing and processing opinions from different points of view.
3) Readers know how to focus
Leaders are readers. I’m not sure when or where I heard this first, but it stuck with me. Reading is how we stay informed and up-to-date, which is especially important as a leader. So, while there are many things that leaders do, what’s the one thing they all have in common? They read. Here are seven reasons why leaders are readers and how you can become one too
4) Readers make time for reading
Most people have heard the saying, leaders are readers. And while that may be an exaggeration, reading is important for personal growth and professional development. Reading can also keep you up-to-date on changes in your field or industry.
If you’re interested in becoming a leader, here are seven reasons why leaders are readers and some tips for how to start:
- Reading makes you more creative. 2. It’s good for your vocabulary and grammar skills. 3. Ideas from books can help spark new ideas for projects, speeches, articles – whatever you do at work or home. 4. There’s a book out there on every subject imaginable – so there should be one about what interests you! 5. Books help build our perspective on the world. 6. They inspire us to go places we might never otherwise visit or give us courage to try things we’ve always wanted to do but were afraid of. 7. Books broaden our understanding of others and make it easier for us to empathize with them.
5) Readers have a growth mindset
To become a reader, we recommend that you start by reading and sharing articles on LinkedIn. You can also download the app Blinkist which has 500+ book summaries. Reading articles will help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in your industry and may provide insight into how technology is affecting the future. It will also help you think about how you can incorporate this information into your current strategy or plan for moving forward.
If you feel like it’s hard to find time for reading, try setting aside 15 minutes before bedtime or first thing in the morning when you wake up. If you’re feeling really ambitious, set aside an hour each day for reading–you’ll be surprised at how much progress you can make over time!
6) Readers cultivate their network
One way readers cultivate their networks is by joining book clubs. A book club gives you the opportunity to read and discuss a variety of books with people who are interested in similar topics. Book clubs are a great way to make connections with others, share your thoughts, and find out what other people’s perspectives on certain ideas are. You’ll never know what connections you might make or books you might want to read if you don’t start reading!
7) Readers find mentors in books
Leaders find mentors in books. In fact, they often say that reading is the single most important activity in their lives. That’s because readers find mentors in books, and those mentors help them update themselves. Here are seven reasons why leaders are readers and how you can become one too:
- Books make you smarter. Most adults read below grade level so it’s not always easy to find a book on a topic you want to learn more about. But with good books, you don’t need advanced knowledge or years of experience; the author is your mentor who helps you learn new things while giving clear explanations and teaching skills necessary for success.
