How Important Is Reading To Development and Leadership?

In one of those coincidental yet surprisingly common situations, I have been engaged in several scenarios regarding the importance of reading in recent weeks.

As a keen reader, this stimulated thought regarding my current situation and what has led me to where I am today – do I believe there is a link?

I recently left permanent employment to focus my time and energy full-time on a consulting business I have been developing for the past two years. As with most small business owners, I am keen to succeed for my own reasons (making a difference, ego, challenging myself etc.) as much as external factors such as earning an income and supporting my family. I was keen to investigate how much I have learned through what I have read as opposed to what I have done.

How does reading assist in people development and is there a link to leadership capability?

What has led me to this point? It is certainly a timing factor, with opportunity, networks and experience all colliding this year. It has an encouragement element, with my wife and those whose views I value most being very supportive. The drive to change my situation and maximise my skills and opportunities suggest there is more to it than that though. Clearly skills and knowledge have some part to play in building experience and intuitively, experience derives from application of skills and knowledge also.

So, how do we develop skills and knowledge?

Through many resources, several already listed, but I want to concentrate on the importance of reading and its link to development and leadership. I agree with Frances Whiting who recently stated:

Out of all the gifts my parents gave to me, a love of reading has been the greatest

Reading is a passion my wife and I share and one that we are instilling in our three daughters. I am an advocate of reading! I am passionate that we should all read more! I know many people who read very little or nothing at all beyond the daily newspaper or similar.

When I reflect on my development, reading has been critical in providing avenues to challenge my thinking. It is my time. A safe and rewarding opportunity. I get to challenge myself with absolute frankness and honesty. My thoughts are between the words on the page and myself.

Interestingly, whilst researching this subject I found an outstanding blog on the same theme written by Mike Myatt. He shares some interesting (slightly disturbing!) statistics and clearly draws the link between reading and an individual’s ability to develop their leadership capability and knowledge.

All great leaders have one thing in common: They read voraciously. Did you know that the average American only reads one book a year? Worse than this is the fact that 60% of average Americans only get through the first chapter. Contrast this with the fact that CEOs of Fortune 500 companies read an average of four to five books a month…Furthermore, studies show that active readers are likely to have annual incomes more than 5 times greater than those who spend little or no time reading.

Fascinating stuff, no matter what your motivations are. I am sure there are other useful readings available, however as with most learning, the key to making a difference through gained knowledge is to use the information to advantage in some way. The written word, in whatever form, provides the opportunity to expand thoughts and subsequently take action in a way that may not have existed in your mind until it was read.

Obviously, reading is not the only source of learning. However, I would argue that without a regular rhythm of seeking knowledge through the written word, each of us is limiting our capacity to learn and grow. I can see this change occurring every week in my children – I know that reading is playing its part. The evidence in those I have led and worked with is apparent. Those who read have a deeper level of knowledge. I also know it has been a game-changer for me!

I believe that an interest in reading starts early and is a life-long journey. Most people I know who are not keen readers as adults were also not prolific readers as children. The diagram below is interesting in many ways but particularly the high relevance that reading has on the stages of development from birth through to adulthood.

That does not mean that you cannot change your situation – the choices remain your own to make.

I may well be preaching (or writing) to the converted if you have read this far, as it probably indicates you are someone who is seeking development through reading by seeking out blogs such as this.

If this is the case, challenge yourself to challenge others:

How do you think you can influence someone in your life to develop themselves even further through the power of reading?

If you like, also let me know your thoughts and responses to the questions:

Do you believe reading has assisted in your development?
What sort of reading stimulates your thoughts i.e. books, articles, magazines etc?
Do you find there is a difference between reading a physical book as opposed to an eReader, such as Kindle?

…and most importantly, keep on reading to continue growing!

Oh Yes, Enid and I Got On Famously (Frances Whiting – The Sunday Mail, June, 2012)
What All Great Leaders Have In Common (N2Growth.com)
Does Digital Publishing Really Encourage More Reading? (publishingperspectives.com)
Independent Reading Tips and Strategies (myiesolutions.wordpress.com)

Feel free to Email, Print or Share and Comment.

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Carrie Doyle

22:11 17 Apr 24

The time I have spent with Steve, over the course of 12months, has been extraordinarily positive.Unquestionably, he has accelerated my professional growth and in-turn, the growth of my team.He had an excellent reputation prior to me starting the course and I can honestly say having completed the yearlong course, that he exceeded my expectations! His knowledge and expertise, and ability to connect, makes for compelling coaching sessions.The course is challenging. If you truly want to improve yourself, for me, the key is to surrender, be completely honest with yourself and Steve, and put the hard work in. It is worth the risk.In an ideal world, I would have his support for an additional 12months. However, that would be a nice to have, not a must have, given he had equipped me with the fundamentals to succeed and keep improving.If you need support in improving your self-confidence, self-worth, driving accountability, time effectiveness, prioritization, holding effective 1:1s and team meetings, setting expectations, addressing behavioral issues and respecting your time and others. Then you need to engage Steve.I have received unsolicited feedback from peers, direct reports, my manager, family and friends. All commenting on noticeable positive changes in my behavior, confidence, communication skills, accountability, organization and effectiveness. All of which has been incredible to hear and a direct result of this course and the effort I’ve put in. The challenge continues and will always be constant.Steve has made a profoundly positive impact on my life. Highly recommend.

Robert Burgess

21:31 27 Mar 24

Recently I worked with Steve over a 12 month period to become a better leader. Prior to the program I'd had various group workshops or informal training through a variety of avenues. Steve's program is a deep dive into who we are as leaders and how we can better support our people by know them better. His program is tailored very closely the individual - and paced and structured in a way which means it is not only effective through-out but has had a lasting impact. I would recommend Steve for anyone seeking a robust program where you come out the other-side with better skills, better relationships and a wider perspective.

Mitchell Tanzer

06:16 22 Mar 24

A truly transformational experience. Going into the program I was struggling with a number of things. I was questioning my ability, struggling with my confidence and the ability to identify my core values, and the effect my overworking was having on my health and my relationships. Early on in the program, with Steve's support, I identified the key areas that we wanted to work on during the course of the engagement that we knew would net the greatest return. Every session we worked together focusing on the fundamentals of leadership using the relevant experiences from my workplace. Steve and I spent half a day working through an exercise of identifying my core values, as well as my partners, which has helped guide me even further. Steve challenged me throughout the program in a constructive and authentic way that allowed me to see those improvement areas more clearly. I was astounded by the progress made during our time together. The most valuable piece of professional and personal development I have had in a decade. Its a shame I can't rate 6 stars.

Sara Khan

04:09 28 Feb 24

Steve where do I start ...Our last session was 2 months ago and I have to say that I have missed our catch ups. I have attended many programs but have never gotten so much out of them before. Experiencing your coaching program enabled me to access skills I never thought I had or skills i thought i was really good at but you made me see them in a totally different light and how I can be a better version of myself. I am very aware of myself and how I approach things. I find myself being less reactive to things and take a step back to think and assess things. I can go on and on about the impact these sessions have made on me. I can't thank you enough for your support and guidance.

Rebecca Kok

01:31 12 Jan 24

This is the best leadership program I have undertaken.I have been in a management role for over 10 years and completed various management courses, however nothing has provided me with the leadership skills and abilities like CoachStation’s coaching and mentoring program. The coaches are so approachable and take the time to understand the needs of the individual leader. CoashStation also provided coaching and leadership training for new leaders in our organisation and this was so valuable to help them begin their journey in their new roles.I have seen significant transformation in both my own abilities as well as our new leaders through this program which has resulted in significant improvement for the organisation as a whole. Since completing the program I am a much more confident and effective leader, able to support my team to reach our goals. I would absolutely recommend CoashStation’s services to all organisations wanting to achieve superior leadership within their team, whether for long term leaders or those who are new to their leadership role.

Anthony M Wickramasinghe

01:35 30 May 23

Steve is a great mentor and coach and has helped me immensely in both my professional and personal life. His approach is very personalized and relatable that it made it easy to build a relationship from the start with a strong foundation of trust. He genuinely cares about your development and goes above and beyond to help whenever there is a need. This was evident from the way he answered my call at an unscheduled time and the way he provided guidance, encouraging me to reflect on my core values, answer my own questions, and come to the realization of the actions that needed to be taken. Steve challenged me, made me feel accountable, and made me discover a side that I haven’t explored. His unique way of coaching goes beyond the tools and materials he provides and brings about positive changes and results. I am very grateful to the time spent, especially meeting Steve at a time that was crucial for my career and personal growth. I would not hesitate recommending Steve as a mentor and coach to anyone who is pursuing positive changes in their personal and professional life.

Simone Visini

05:44 22 Apr 23

I highly recommend this program with Steve, the skills, experience and understanding on how to be a good leader I have gained throughout the program have already made a strong and positive impact in my abilities as a leader. I began this program at the same time I was promoted into a new leadership role, I was struggling with time management and self confidence in new role which was hindering my abilities to perform to a high standard for the business and my team; I needed some coaching and guidance. Steve immediately built a great rapport with me making me feel comfortable speaking with him openly and honestlyBy building such a strong foundation early we really were able to make good progress. Steve shared his expertise and experience which I could relate to and with his guidance he encouraged self-reflection which gave me so many insights into my skills, my progress, an understanding into my areas in need of improvement. We collaborated well and implemented strategies into my time management and my day to say roles as a leader, I immediately noticed a huge improvement which benefited myself, my team, and the workplace. Over the course of the program a learnt a lot about myself both personally and professionally noticing growth in both areas. By feeling more comfortable and confident in my role I was able to decrease my stress and improve overall as a leader. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Steve and would recommend anyone wanting to take their career as a leader to the next level to work with Steve.Thank you, Steve, for providing me with lifelong skills and understanding that I will be able to use personally and professionally.

Andrew Midgley

22:36 28 Mar 23

Simply put, if you are looking for a professional performance coach to help you grow your self-awareness, be a better leader and learn practical techniques to immediately improve team or individual performance then look no further than CoachStation.Having worked with Steve over the last year I can confidently recommend him to you. With Steve’s expert coaching and mentoring I’ve been able to take practical steps to be a better leader to my team, while gaining the perspective necessary to navigate the transition from sole-contributor to leading a department. While I’ve only just begun my journey Steve’s tried and tested approach has left with the tools to climb the steps I need to get to where I want to be. He has helped me to recognise and understand my personal values, motivators and strengths. Empowered with this knowledge, I’ve been able to create a plan for my professional development that extends well past the formal coaching period and has the right ingredients to help me achieve my personal goals, build relationships and take the next step in my career.Whether it’s performance coaching, mentoring, professional development or business strategy, Steve from CoachStation, can and will help you.

Jilleta Mitchell

22:10 27 Mar 23

I met Steve at Coachstation at a time in my career where I was at a crossroads and facing difficulty in seeing past the next few years.. possibly months. I felt invalidated and broken and I think that is how I opened the conversation. I have now spent 12 months working with Steve, refocussing my thoughts and identifying new goals to push into a different framework for success and most importantly change.Steve has been invaluable in my journey to identify what was holding me back. He is part strategist, part thought provoker, and part cheerleader. Steve helped me to identify my values and where these values aligned and how to invoke the skills to bring out a clarity of purpose and desire that is often hard to pinpoint on your own. Steve was a safe place to talk about challenges and a calm voice to steer me when I was not seeing issues clearly. Steve gave me confidence, focus to rewrite the narrative and has culminated in a change of career direction.I am so grateful to have worked with Steve during a challenging period professionally and highly recommend his services to anyone who is looking to transform their career or even just gain clarity for their professional development.

Alex Bozianu

09:52 16 Mar 23

My experience with Steve has been one of self reflection and growth. Steve has a fantastic insight on what it takes to be a great leader. His method is very conducive toward introspection which results in inspiring change. The overall experience has helped me personally identify my strengths and weaknesses and specifically how I can tackle the latter via my personal leadership style. His coaching is fully tailored and personalized and there has been a great attention to detail in the approach. I think every up and coming and established leader will greatly benefit from Steve's coaching in order to take their leadership to the next level.

Ben Leighton

22:51 12 Mar 23

Since starting at my current company, I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Steve, both in a formal capacity and informally.First and foremost, Steve is people-centric. He is a uniquely gifted communicator, able to convey difficult, sometimes hard to hear feedback in a way that means you’re still happy to have a beer with him at the end of the day.Steve has played an immense part in my professional development over the last 5 years. As my role has adapted during this time, he has proven an invaluable voice of reason and experience.Having had the benefits of Steve’s coaching from an early point in my professional life, he has helped foster self-awareness, leadership and empathy: all key factors for the success that I have seen so far.For anyone invested in themselves and their career, I could not recommend CoachStation any higher. Steve’s passion for inspiring development creates an engaging and personal coaching experience, the fruits of which I believe I will be seeing for years to come.

Matt Wootten

04:51 02 Mar 23

I was lucky enough to introduced to Steve's program through my employer. I have never been a big believer in coaching or mentorship however I have come to realise and appreciate the impact it can have after my experience working with Steve over the last 12 months and now see it as invaluable.Steve helped me understand myself and how I interacted with others and it has really helped me to me to grow and improve as a person. From a work perspective is has really helped me to get the best out of myself and my team.Best of all Steve has challenged me and held me accountable to what I have committed to and been an invaluable sounding board when working through challenges. Thanks for all of the support Steve!

Michael Friend

23:12 26 Feb 23

I had the opportunity recently to participate in the Coaching and Mentoring program run by Steve from CoachStation. This program run over a 12-month period focuses on developing and enhancing skills to create more effective leaders both professionally and personally.Early on in the program it was clear to me that Steve had a great style, and we were able to create a genuine and authentic working relationship. At the end of each of our 1 on 1 sessions I walked away with new skills and tools and renewed motivation that has allowed me to continue to develop on my leadership journey.At the end of this course, I have a much clearer understanding of my core values, my leadership style and how I can adjust and tweak my approach to get the best out of my people. I would highly recommend Steve for anyone that is looking to develop effective leadership skills.

Charl Dreyer

02:14 27 Jul 22

If you are looking for a motivational program filled with feelgood taglines, this is probably not the program for you. If however you are looking to make change or develop your competencies and is willing to be challenged, be vulnerable, open to feedback and putting in the work, Steve will take you on a journey that can change your life, personally and professionally.Steve is first and foremost a people person, with extensive commercial experience, who clearly has a deep passion for working with people and bringing a better version of you to the fore. In our 15 month relationship, he helped me break ingrained habits and implement strategies and practice ideas to address areas where I could do better. Understanding what my value system is, is impacting not just how I approach things and interact with people, it is also guiding me in my longer term goal setting.I highly recommend this program. Thanks Steve!

Gassan Charabati

02:08 03 Mar 22

I was fortunate enough to be nominated to Steve's Coaching and Mentoring Program in early 2020. Unfortunately in May 2020 I had a serious health issue followed by the COVID lock downs so I had to post pone my coaching & mentoring program until 2021. Steve was brilliant, incredibly caring, truthful and insightful. Steve made me think about what my true values are. I never really understood or appreciated the power of mentoring but after my sessions with Steve I have never looked back. I have used the lessons learnt from my mentoring sessions to be a better leader and have meaningful discussions with my team. I strongly recommend Steve for anyone wishing to improve their leadership style or wishing to develop their relationships with their staff, peers or leaders.

Tim Girling

22:28 18 Jan 22

Steve has been an excellent coach for me over a period of two years. I commenced with CoachStation while transitioning from being IN a sales team, to managing that same team. Over the course of the coaching I shifted from simply managing, to truly leading, and have successfully navigated a number of challenging situations with Steve's support. Steve both supported and challenged me through this period and has assisted in setting me up for success in the future. His methodology of values / passions alignment, and significant real leadership experience means he has many things to draw from to support you in any phase of your career. I would recommend CoachStation to anyone that cares about their career and is willing to put in the effort to grow.

Neil Peters

21:50 02 Dec 21

I have known Steve since 2017 and been part of his coaching program for four years. Steve is a rare individual who understands people and instantly makes you feel safe and secure when you are working with him. I have held a few roles whilst working with Steve and he has assisted my thinking, self-awareness and attitude towards my career but ultimately they are life skills that can be used every day.I truly believe that Steve has lifted my capability as his techniques and approaches are realised subconsciously which makes the learning easier to apply.Steve has become a true business partner and friend of mine in which I am forever grateful of meeting him through coach station. I highly recommend Coach station for anyone wanting to develop themselves.Thanks Steve.Neil Peters

Shannon Barry

00:17 12 Nov 21

I never realised the impact a coach and mentor could make in both my professional and personal life until I met Steve.After working for a big corporate firm for the last 13 years, I thought I knew myself and how I worked. Moving into a smaller professional company and into a completely different role, has opened my eyes to new methods of how more effective and efficient I can be in the workplace. Steve has helped me learn to tap into my strengths, understand my core values and focus on areas where I have the potential to grow.It was and continues to be, eye opening during coaching sessions with Steve. What we discuss has most definitely resonated with me and changed the way in which I see myself and how I think both in my personal and professional environments. I value and look forward to our coaching sessions! Steve is professional, honest, approachable, poses good thought provoking challenges and is willing to listen.I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to meet Steve via my current employer who understands the significant impact and value coaching and mentoring can have for their staff.

Tian Cao

00:27 19 Oct 21

Steve's coaching has been the most beneficial experience in my working career and I have developed skills that I will take with me as my career grows. He changed the way I thought of coaching from a results driven approach to a journey of self development and realization.Within the first session, I felt like I was able to trust him and open up. He provided insight into my communication behaviours that I was not aware of and how that would effect how people receive my message. As I was having issues with training a new employee, Steve's was able to provide a framework of knowledge, run through examples of difficult conversations and guide me through areas to focus on. I was able to convert my uncertainty to useful planning which helped me manage those difficult conversations. Every session was tailored to my developmental needs and there were action points after each session for me to work and reflect onI would highly recommend Steve to anyone as the skills developed can be transferred to any aspect of your life.

Kylie Garthwaite

22:43 29 Sep 21

Working with Steve over the past two years has been a journey of self awareness and personal development. As a newly appointed Manager in our our organization, I'd had limited experience with managing others and Steve's coaching has helped me navigate the challenges that come with that - such as having difficult conversations with staff who were once your peers. The coaching program was well paced, thorough and worked on identifying existing strength of character but also identified areas of opportunity for self development. Whilst there were some self awareness observations Steve made throughout the sessions, his feedback was always supportive but candid. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Steve, the lessons I have learnt will serve me well in my career now and in the future.

How Important Is Reading To Development and Leadership?

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