Leaders Are Readers

Effective Leaders know continuous learning is important to them.  In fact, Leaders are constantly reading books, magazines, and articles that will help them grow more skillful in the essential Leadership qualities.  Since they are avid readers, it can be frustrating for them when their team members and associates are not that enthusiastic about reading.

A new survey about adult’s relationship to books may surprise many Leaders, and it answers the question of why it is so hard to get people to pick up a book and read it.  The survey found out:

1. 70% of adults in the U.S. have not been in a bookstore in 5 years.
2. 58% of adults in the U.S. never read another book after high school.
3. 42% of college graduates never read another book
4. 80% of families in the U.S. did not buy or read a book last year
5. 57% of new books are not read to completion
6. Most readers do not get past page 18 in a book they bought.
   (Source:  www.parabpub.com)

For most Leaders these numbers are shocking, and it explains why many newspapers, book publishers, and magazines are going out of business.  Some people may argue that they get their information from the Internet, i.e., on-line magazines or newspapers, or television news is available on-line 24/7.  E-books on-line are also popular and can be downloaded into special devices for reading, some holding many books at once.  However, these modern communications do not explain all the reasons for the decline in reading.  Most people are just not interested in picking up a book, sitting in a comfortable chair, and reading for pleasure or information.

When was the last time you were in a library or a bookstore just browsing through the stacks, picking out an interesting looking book?  Children learn by following the models of their parents.  Reading together is a fundamental building block of family unity, and children love the adventure of new books, new characters, and new situations. 

For those Leaders who are trying to encourage their team members to stretch their communications skills, a “team book” is one way to get everyone “on the same page.”  (Sorry for the pun!)  Pick out a book that is pertinent to your particular situation, for example Leadership.  At each team meeting, allot some time to discuss the ideas presented in the book with reading assignments by chapters.  (If some of the team members do not do the assignment, they will feel left out of the discussion and, hopefully, they will catch up on the reading.)

On this website is a section called “Recommended Reading.”  Amazon.com has thousands of books available, used and new, and you can read a summary to see if the book appeals to you.  There are also on-line book clubs.  One we recommended is dearreader.com.  Each week a book is highlighted with a chapter appearing each day in your e-mail.  You can choose from categories such as business, fiction, non-fiction, etc.  The advantage here is that you can start reading a book, and if you find it interesting or informative enough, you have a reason to go out and buy it or get it at your local library. 

According to USA Today “there was a drop among people not obligated to read, from 56.6% of adults in 2002 to 54.3% last year.  The fall was greatest among those younger than 55.”  Effective Leaders, who are enthused by this positive statistic, will do their part to keep improving it, both in the workplace and at home.

Thank you For Reading!