There is a reason reading continues to be a favorite pastime of most leaders. Whether reading for enjoyment or for informative purposes, reading stretches your mind and imparts new information.
Recently, in an exclusive America’s Healthcare Leaders’ interview, Mike Williams discussed his voracious love of reading. In the interview, Williams mentioned a variety of genres he is interested in reading, from work and leadership-development books to books for pure enjoyment, noting, “I think we all need to get away from the workplace sometimes.”
The English writer Joseph Addison is quoted as saying, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Sadly, while many acknowledge how detrimental lack of exercise is to our bodies, we often forget to consider the exercise our minds need.
So why is reading so important? JJ Wong, co-founder of Inspiration Boost, offers 8 reasons, which I’ve listed and expanded on below:
- Expose yourself to new things – Reading is one of the quickest ways to expose yourself to new ideas and topics.
- Self-Improvement – Self Improvement books have flooded the market, and while not all books may be pertinent to you, you are bound to find something from which you can learn.
- Improve Understanding – By reading you are improving your understanding of that specific subject.
- Preparation to Action – Before making a decision, it is often wise to learn in order to make the best decision.
- Gain Experience from Other People – Learning from others is an invaluable option we have available to us through reading.
- Tools of Communicating – Reading is a form of communication. It enables an author to share information and knowledge with the reader.
- Connecting Your Brain – Wong comments, “When reading, you’re in full silence because reading connects directly to your brain. In silence, you seek for more; in silence, your brain is clear and focuses.”
- Boost Imagination and Creativity – Reading can become an escape and encourage creativity.
There are many reasons why reading is important to you as a leader—personally and professionally. There is a never-ending supply of information available to us through books, newspapers, blogs, etc. The options are virtually limitless. So find what opens your mind and dive into it!
Question: What was the last book you read?