"Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers" ~Harry TrumanWhen was the last time you saw a positive and uplifting story on the news or the Internet? Our news media is saturated with negative stories and messages. While it's good to be informed about current events, as leaders it serves us to feed our minds with positive information and stories so we can inspire and empower our teams.
Not only is reading a way to improve our intelligence, generate ideas, and inspire innovation, it can also reduce stress. One study showed that reading for just six minutes reduced stress by 68% (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/5070874/Reading-can-help-reduce-stress.html).
Many of the most successful business leaders are readers. Steve Jobs was an avid reader of William Blake, Warren Buffet spends up to 80% of his time reading or thinking, and Elon Musk is reported to have read two books a day as a child.Bottom line: reading can make you a better leader. Exceptional leaders are always looking to improve their skills and become more effective.
John Coleman, author of the Harvard Business Review article, "For Those Who Want to Lead, Read," suggests reading material in different genres; not just leadership or business books. He cites that many business professionals claim that reading across fields is good for creativity and innovation. (https://hbr.org/2012/08/for-those-who-want-to-lead-rea/)
I occasionally read historical books by David McCullough and historical fiction. Mostly, I gravitate to leadership and personal development books. If you are looking to add some books to your reading list, here are my five favorite leadership and personal development books:
1) The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni illustrates why organizational health is more important than other variables like strategy, marketing, and finance. An organization that is smart, but not healthy, will not be successful. Lencioni shares four disciplines that must be done all at once and maintained on an ongoing basis to be preserved. The four disciplines are:
1. Build a cohesive leadership team
2. Create clarity
3. Overcommunicate clarity
4. Reinforce clarityThis brilliant book illustrates how these four disciplines overcome organizational issues like dysfunction, politics, and confusion. This book is a must read for leaders; particularly executives.
2) Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown is a book I recently read, and I couldn't put it down. Not just because of the author's compelling stories, but because I was craving more simplicity in my life. McKeown shares a systematic discipline for deciding what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution toward the things that really matter. This is not a book about time management, it is a book about life management. If you are craving more space, time, and better results in your life, this book will help you get there.
3) The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield isn't just a book about professional success; it's a book about life success. Canfield shares 67 principles that will propel you to success. That may seem like a lot of principles, but some of them are so simple, it's a matter of making a decision and sticking to it. Whether you want to become more clear about your purpose in life, achieve greater levels of success, become a better leader, increase your confidence, or become a better parent, this book will transform your life. I felt so motivated and inspired by this book, that I signed up for Jack's training on how to teach these principles.
4) Leadership From the Inside Out: Becoming a Leader for Life by Kevin Cashman is my favorite leadership book of all time. If every leader read this book, we would have a world of exceptional leaders! What I like most about this book is that every chapter has exercises and reflections to help put the concepts into practice. This book isn't about fixing weaknesses or just implementing a few strategies like many other books. Cashman guides the reader through a journey to grow as a whole person in order to grow as a whole leader. His model focuses on mastery in the following areas: personal, purpose, change, interpersonal, being, resilience, and action. It's refreshing, inspirational and backed by research. If you read one leadership book this year, let this be the one!
5) The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller provides tools for increased productivity, less stress, and better results in less time. Keller shares the lies that mislead and derail us and then provides tools for clearing the clutter and focusing. One of my favorite nuggets from this book is the focusing question which is the simple formula to finding exceptional answers that lead to extraordinary results. The focusing question is: "What's the one thing I can so such by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?" This question can be applied to all areas of your life. This book is another inspiring read on how to cut through all the distractions and lead a high quality life.
What is one of your favorite leadership books? Please share in the comments below!
I really love and enjoy this reading. Reading this I learned that when you speak out clearly you thoughts and ideas people see you as winner, because you are not afraid to go straight to the point.
Great article.....And happy belated birthday! Welcome to my world, young lady!
Whenever I have a work project that I keep putting off - I think about delegating that project to someone else - which accomplishes 2 things- it gets the project done and frees us my brain space thinking about it.
Good morning. I loved this read. Thank you so much for sharing. Sincerely, Melissa :)
Thank you for this blog Laurie. I liked most part and specially "As organizations have become more complex, there is a tendency to require employees to do more with less. This is a slippery slope, and often can result in employees feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. One of the biggest contributors to this is not evaluating resources during the strategic planning process." I will use this practice "A best practice is to do what I call Priority Planning—putting important practices on your calendar ahead of time so they become a priority in your day. Examples of activities to Priority Plan include scheduling recurring coaching sessions with each team member, time for strategic thinking and planning, vacations, doctor appointments, important children’s events, and blocks of time for focused work on projects." To be more effective, I will get a good rest so I can have enough energy in the morning. I will read the blog again along with the other links on employee evaluation. Thank you so much Laurie. Best wishes to you and your family.
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I love the feedback on the more than 50 hours of work. AND filling time. So true. Unfortunately, showing that you work longer hours is still seen as being a "hard worker" - not sure how to change that though.
I enjoyed the read. I concur that transitioning from technical skills to delegating results was a task within itself. I did not realize I was almost trying to do the same thing from my previous position, and it was not working. However, I am seeing the results of how delegating daily tasks makes my job and workload easier. Thank you, Laurie.
Thank you for sharing information about your trip Laurie! All 3 things resonate with me - probably #1 being the biggest. I know when I'm gone for a week, I'm still thinking about work and need a vacation when I get back because I did not relax enough. I think your idea of a longer vacation is definitely in my future!!
Hey Laurie, My take on your list - 1 - everyone has a story - listen 2- social media causes interpersonal problems 5- generational differences create hurdles / earn it you aren't entitled / we should help them get there not give it to them 6 AMEN some leaders I would have followed thru Hell, some I wish - well, you know 7- true BUT be as good as your word and 14- Hopefully we leave some good from our efforts, I know the good leaders I have had have. Seen a lot in my career but it really comes down to treat others the way you want to be treated, fair, honest, and straight forward. Good read. Take care
I love this so much and thank you so much for sharing! I really just love realizing that enjoying the simple things sometimes is the best! Also recognizing that what is important and fun to you may not be everyone else's fun on the on the trip. “Do we get to keep these toiletries?” was my favorite!!!! :):) Glad you had a great time and got to spend it with your family!
I very much resonate with lesson no 3! Thank you Laurie
I think the part that you might have missed in their top 5 things, some of which were not "Italian" or even different from home, all of them happened with you, both of you. And i think that is what they will remember too. And you've got tons of photos that will remind them of what the Sistine Chapel looked like - then they might remember what it sounded like or smelled like. Oh- and i agree with you 100% about sleep!
LOTS of great take-aways from this post! Thank you for posting! I especially love "slow down to speed up". That's a keeper!
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the not getting enough rest to be at my best. definitely need to get more quality sleep and make that a priority
It really is hard to narrow down the 3 lessons into one because they are all so interconnected. You need to give your mind and body THE TIME to relax SO THAT you can enjoy the SIMPLE THINGS, including REST. I enjoyed that lesson as a whole. I will take that lesson with me on my next vacation (or staycation). As always, thank you Laurie for your candor and for sharing your own lessons with others so that we too can benefit.
Great information and reminders
Laurie, Thank you for sharing your trip and these nuggets. The lessons that resonate most with me are it does take time to relax and getting proper rest. When you devote 15 plus hours of your day for work, taking care of home and others; the 6-7 hours you lay down does not cut it! For me during this time I'm trying to unwind and find myself thinking fighting not to think about what I have to do tomorrow. Even after I create a to do list for the next day...I find things I need to add. Taking a day off here and there doesn't cut it as well because of all the plans you have for that day. I try to make sure my Mental Health Days remains just that.... time for me to laugh, cry, scream.... whatever I need to release the cares and stress!
Really enjoyed the article... and all very true!
Since I was already well aware of #1 (I'm in the same boat with taking a long time to relax), I think I'm resonating most with #3. I'm learning to prioritize sleep / rest and it's been wonderful. Love that you said "I love sleep.". :)
Welcome back from vacation. Well deserve! Action is the key to success. Shoulder to shoulder, coaching and delegating task to help other employees grow are very important. It is a sacrifice that one must do. Forget about yourself and be with your team day in and out to help them grow, is not always easy. On the long run, your team is stronger, and you can depend on them for the success of the organization. Thank you so much!
So many great tips here, thank you!
I am so impressed you're able to disconnect and these are great tips I'll be sure to try on my next trip!
Such a great post - so inspiring!