“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~Dr. Seuss
“When you stop learning, you stop growing.” ~Kenneth Blanchard
“What you reading?” A friend asks me this question on a regular basis. He knows that I am always into some topic, book, article, or study. I love to learn, and reading is a part of my learning process.
But, what are you reading? What is piquing your interest? How are you growing?
This is an important question as a leader. I agree with Blanchard, “When you stop learning, you stop growing.” I’ve witnessed it! Leaders get complacent or over-confident in their own abilities. Leaders get too busy to add reading to their list of things to do. Leaders do not prioritize growing themselves. There are a ton of reasons.
I get it! We’re busy! If it wasn’t, then there would be nothing to lead.
But healthy leaders are growing leaders. Growing leaders are learning leaders. Learning leaders are reading leaders.
So, what are some tips and tricks to sneak “reading” into your schedule. Yes, I put reading in quotes.
- Set an appointment with yourself to read. This does not have to be daily or weekly. You get to choose the time, place, and environment. But if you don’t plan to read, then it may not happen.
- Set a goal. Sounds easy, but setting a goal to read takes energy and effort. Reading takes a lot of energy! Let’s just say you set a goal to read 12 books a year. That is one book per month. When can you read the book? What book will you read? Which articles are interesting to you? What skills do you need to develop? Each of these questions can provide goals to set.
- “Reading” can come in the form of listening or watching. Hey, we are in a digital age. Get creative. Walking? Listen to a book or podcast. Enjoy video? Check out the university of YouTube. Don’t have a lot of time? Check out Blinkist. Enjoy listening to books on the commute? Consider Audible.
Get creative. Have fun. Enjoy Reading!
So, back to my friend’s question.
I am back in school to finish my Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling. I stopped short of this degree to enter my Ed.D. I just finished my last class and have an internship to go. So, I am reading a ton of stuff on Counseling Women (my current class). But I am also reading other books. I like to skip around on books based on the environment I am in.
Car: “Canoeing the Mountains” by Bolsinger & “Your Brain at Work” by Rock. My next car book will be, “Think Faster, Talk Smarter” by Abrahams.
By my bed: “Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life” by Schwarzenegger
On my shelf at work: A re-read, “Better than Good” by Ziglar & a new book, “Chief of Staff” by Parris
Podcasts while exercising: “At the Table” with Patrick Lencioni, “Armchair Authentic” by my friends Rhett and Justin, “Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast” by Scazzero, “Grow Leader Podcast” with Chris Hodges, the “Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast,” “Beyond the To-Do List” by Fisher, and “AI Knowhow” by Knownwell. I also squeeze in some post-secondary accreditation and training podcasts from time to time.
As you can see, I love to learn! Why? Because I love to grow. Why? So I can help more people become what God has created them to be. Why? So, together, we can catalytically synergize His mission around the world.
To be fair, I did not start here. I began with a short list and slowly grew the list over time. I keep a “wish list” of books and topics to research. As long as I am on earth, I plan to learn. I plan to learn so I can lead others to become something more than they could ever dream.
So, “what are you reading?”
