Leaders Should Be Reading
It’s been said many times by those much wiser than me that to be a great leader, you’ve got to be an avid reader. My
It’s been said many times by those much wiser than me that to be a great leader, you’ve got to be an avid reader. My
In business (and life) you are either growing and getting better or going in the opposite direction. Just like your muscles, your brain and natural abilities will atrophy if they don’t get exercise. You can’t stand still and expect progress. I see far too many people who “let up” at the very time they need to “push the envelope” and challenge themselves to do better. It’s also sad when a leader stays on too long and becomes more interested in ego, power and position than effectively navigating change and facilitating progress.
Growth and improvement as a leader doesn’t always involve heavy lifting or hard work. Here are 15 relatively easy things you can do right away to improve your performance and results
In sports and in life, it doesn’t matter how much potential you have or how good you are, if your team/organization consistently loses or doesn’t live up to expectations. I’ve seen many capable and talented leaders stumble when it comes to getting results from others. It’s not always the smartest, most confident, and technically superior person who wins, but rather the leader who is able to get great results from average people. Leaders need to grow and leverage the capabilities of their team, continually develop their own skills sets, and step up in the clutch if they want to leave a legacy of winning and high performance.
Knowledge is one of the biggest advantages you can have in life. If you know something and other people don’t then there is automatically a need for your informed opinion. It is the ultimate equalizer because it has nothing to do with age, gender or race. Some people may begin life with a genetic head start or environmental advantages, however, unless they keep learning it is very likely someone else will pass them buy.
I’ve sat through a large number of seminars with many leaders and one thing always sticks out. The most successful business people I know don’t just listen to and absorb information, they act on it. This doesn’t mean they act on everything they hear, but when something does resonate with them, they tend to move quickly to make changes.
I’m often surprised by the number of professionals I meet who say they have no time to read. I can’t imagine a life where reading wasn’t a big part of my routine. It doesn’t matter if it’s for business or pleasure – reading expands the mind. It allows your imagination to wander and let’s your brain recharge. Reading often introduces you to information and perspectives you probably wouldn’t have come across otherwise. Your vocabulary grows when you read and it also improves your own ability to communicate. There is no downside to time spent reading, but you are at a disadvantage in life if you are not well read.