"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader."
–Margaret Fuller
Coach Wooden would have loved this quote! During Wooden's childhood, his father read poetry to his children, instilling in them a love for reading, English, books and knowledge. Wooden called this a “priceless gift” that truly enhanced his life.
Leaders from all walks of life sought out Coach Wooden for wisdom and advice. Many marveled at the simple, yet profound way he lived. The wisdom that fueled his life flowed from his decades-long discipline of reading good books, especially the Bible. Wooden's extraordinary life illustrates the direct correlation between reading and wise leadership.
The biggest excuse that leaders use for not reading more is a lack of time. I know because I’ve used this one myself! Yet, if we want to become stronger leaders, we must find a way to read more. Check out these suggestions:
Change a habit. I used to automatically turn on the television during dinner. One show quickly became 4 and before I knew it I’d wasted a few hours. This past year I downgraded my cable package and began reading while eating. This small change made a big impact on my reading intake. What “automatic” routine could you change in order to read more?
Ask for recommendations. Whatever your profession, you have colleagues you respect. Find out their favorite leadership books or the authors they enjoy most. Popular authors include John C. Maxwell, Jim Collins, Patrick Lencioni, Brian Tracy, Stephen Covey, and of course, Coach Wooden himself. You won’t be disappointed by the leadership tips you pick up from gurus like these!
Get a library card. Creating your own leadership library can be expensive, but you have an unbelievable resource where you can read for FREE: the library. Unlimited books and knowledge right at your fingertips!
“A library is the best possible gift for a community, since it gives people the opportunity to improve themselves.” -Andrew Carnegie
Retain more with a “Net Out.” This idea comes from one of my favorite leaders, Michael Hyatt. How many times have you told a friend about a great book, but then struggled to articulate the key points you learned? I can relate! Hyatt suggests taking 45-60 minutes after reading a book to put together a “Net Out” to help you remember your takeaways. Here’s his post on the topic: http://bit.ly/hPKump
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