Home > Leadership > Best Practices > Leaders Are Readers

Leaders Are Readers

63347c89c07e9c7a930f531b7118de5b
My grandmother was known for reading a book a day. I’m not exaggerating! As a matter of fact, she is famous in our family for reading all of the books in two libraries! She had the habit of waking at 4:00 in the morning to have quiet time to read. Grandma Esther loved to learn. Imagine what you could learn just by intentionally reserving time each day to read. I hope to instill this love of reading in my children as well.  

 
Leadership expert John C. Maxwell says, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” One of the outstanding leaders I know is Nate Parks. Whether he is taking his kids to an activity or waiting for the gas tank to fill, he always has a book with him. By having the reading material with him at all times, looking for chances to read a few more pages, Nate reads many books a year. Mrs. Klein, my daughter’s kindergarten teacher wisely said, “Reading is critical because in the first three years of school, one learns to read. After that, one reads to learn.”   
 
Maybe getting up at 4:00 isn’t an option for you, but here are some tips to help you get some reading done.
 
  • Keep a book with you whenever you can.
  • Read everywhere you can. This means on the bus, while waiting in line, or any time that you get a few minutes.
  • Take a little time to read before bed, it can help you relax.
  • Read different types of books. Mix it up.
  • Learning how to speed read can be helpful but reading too fast can lead to decreased comprehension.
 
This article was originally published by David Horsager
Published: September 19, 2013
2058 Views

Trending Articles

Stay up to date with
Avatar photo

David Horsager

David Horsager, MA, CSP, is a business strategist, keynote speaker and author of the National Bestseller, The Trust Edge: How Top Leaders Gain Faster Results, Deeper Relationships, and a Stronger Bottom Line. His work has been featured in prominent publications such as Fast Company, Forbes, The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, SUCCESS Magazine, and The Washington Post.

Related Articles