By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
A nurse leader recently told me that she is too busy to read books. She is not alone – 27% of adults in the United States have not read a book during the past year. This is a mistake. Jeff Brown, the author of the new book Read to Lead, presents eight evidence-based reasons why reading books will make you a better leader. They include the following:
- Reading is an important catalyst in moving ahead in one’s professional career.
- The adage that the best leaders are readers has been demonstrated in research to be true. Reading improves your ability to lead.
- Reading improves your decision-making skills. Leaders who read broadly, including books about the experiences of others, are far less likely to make ill-informed or impulsive decisions. As Groucho Marx wisely reminds us, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can never live long enough to make all of them yourself.”
- Research indicates that reading books even for a short time each day reduces stress by helping us to refocus.
- Reading a book before bedtime will help you sleep more soundly.
- Reading makes you smarter. Your brain needs to be exercised like any other organ to perform more effectively.
- Reading (especially fiction) will help you be a more creative thinker.
- Reading helps you to improve your communication by strengthening your vocabulary and making your points more fact-based.
When young leaders ask me about career success, I always talk about the power of reading. Before I start any new venture, I will seek out books to read that will help me gain the skills I need. In a turbulent time like the present, I have turned to books to help build context around what we see in our work environments. Some books that have been especially helpful for me during the pandemic include the following:
Brown, B. (2017). Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. New York: Random House.
Feiler B. (2020) Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age. New York: Penguin.
Goudel M, Hendel D. Why cope when you can heal. Harper Horizon; 2020.
Holiday, R. & Ferriss, T. (2014). The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph. New York: Portfolio Books.
Lopez, S. (2013). Making Hope Happen: Create the Future You Want for Yourself and Others. New York: Atria Books.
Tedeschi RB, Moore BA. Transformed by Trauma: Stories of Post-Traumatic Growth. Boulder 2020.
So why not start a reading habit. Reading will help you gain perspective and be more reflective in your leadership. It is a good reminder that you are not alone in your struggles and can learn from the experiences of others.
References
Brown, J. & Wisnewski, J. (2021). Read to Lead: The Simple Habit that Expands Your Influence and Boosts Your Career. Baker Books.
© emergingrnleader.com 2021
Our Most Popular Right Now – Become the Boss No One Wants to Leave Nurse Retention in Turbulent Times
Give your leadership team the gift of a highly rated webinar – Nursing Leadership in 2021: Rebooting after a Life-Quake A Nursing Leadership Reboot Workshop.
Read the Nurse Leader Coach – Available at Amazon and Other Book Sellers.
Recommended Book by the Association of Critical Care Nurses – The Nuts and Bolts of Nursing Leadership: Your Toolkit for Success
LinkedIn
Instagram