Let’s be honest: motivating ourselves to read a 382-page book can be tough when we have the option to watch the movie, listen to the audiobook, or watch a YouTube video summary instead. Isn’t that true?
However, if your daily reading mostly revolves around social media posts, text messages, and news headlines, you’re missing out. So, what benefits do books offer?
How is Reading for Business useful?
1. Builds Perseverance
Lewis highlighted the importance of reading in fostering perseverance. Completing an assigned book or a work of fiction during leisure time can evoke a sense of achievement, motivating individuals to emulate this attitude in their professional lives. This may enhance their determination to reach new goals and make them less inclined to give up when faced with challenges.
2. Expands Your Vocabulary
Regular reading, encompassing a wide range of literary styles, enables the acquisition of new vocabulary and boosts self-assurance in their application. Furthermore, possessing strong communication skills and the ability to articulate thoughts effectively is a vital asset for any prospective employee.
As for a recommended book, we suggest “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Bronte. An enduring classic, this work follows the poignant yet empowering journey of Helen Huntingdon, the titular occupant of Wildfell Hall.
There are also many online novels that are from lesser known authors. I usually read on Fiction Me – a novel app with a huge library and user-friendly interface. I believe that I owe my improved communication skills to this application.
3. Build a shared lexicon
As children, we acquire new vocabulary by listening to our parents’ bedtime stories. Even as adults, reading remains crucial for the same purpose.
Daily reading exposes us to fresh vocabulary, including terms that can describe things we already do or things that pique our curiosity. Expanding our vocabulary enhances our communication skills, enabling us to effortlessly connect and interact with colleagues.
You can also share these valuable lessons with your team. Foster a culture of learning by offering to purchase books on specific subjects for your team members and have them delivered straight to their homes.
This approach helps create a shared lexicon and facilitates a collective understanding of your objectives, all without the need for individual explanations that take up valuable time.
4. Inspires Creativity
Experts suggest that creativity can be acquired, but were you aware that reading books can also serve as a catalyst for creativity? Writers conceive intriguing storylines, and immersing yourself in their works can inspire you to do the same in your professional life.
You too can create novel AI, which is still based on your creativity. Avid readers possess more expansive minds, enabling them to delve deeper into thoughts compared to those who read infrequently. Cultivating creativity can pave the way for innovation, a fundamental pillar of business success.
5. Foster a Growth Mindset
Readers are always eager to embrace the ideas of others – otherwise, they wouldn’t read. This same openness exists in individuals with a growth mindset.
When hiring new employees, one of my primary considerations is their growth mindset. I tend to choose someone who may have less knowledge about the job but demonstrates an eagerness to learn, develop, and put in the effort over a more experienced yet arrogant candidate.
Reading inherently nurtures a growth mindset. Each book you pick up exposes you to novel ideas and alternative approaches – some you may agree with, and some you may not.
What truly matters is that we remain humble and receptive to the fact that there will always be individuals who possess more expertise than us on a particular topic, or at the very least, offer a fresh perspective on it.
6. Lessеns Stress
Sometimes, escaping one’s own problems to immerse in someone else’s can be quite a guilty pleasure. Reading, in this case, offers an excellent distraction from reality, helping to alleviate stress.
By distancing oneself from potential stressors, it becomes possible to remain calm and better prepare for or wind down from a demanding workday.
While various methods exist to enhance work-life balance and capitalize on leisure time for stress reduction, reading deserves careful consideration.
Research conducted by the University of Sussex evaluated different techniques for stress reduction, including listening to music, enjoying a hot beverage, taking a walk, and playing video games.
Surprisingly, reading emerged as the most effective approach, reducing stress levels by a remarkable 68% while simultaneously inducing a decrease in heart rate and muscle tension after just six minutes.
7. You Sleep Better
Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that reading a few chapters of a book is a much superior method for relaxing the mind, unwinding, and preparing for sleep compared to watching a film or scrolling through your phone.
Neuroscientist Dr. David Lewis from the University of Sussex discovered that reading can diminish stress levels by up to 68%. Productivity, happiness, and task-focused abilities are heightened in well-rested employees.
Conclusion
You might be thinking, “I don’t have time to read every day.” But, you don’t have to, at least not initially. To cultivate a new habit, start with manageable goals.
Choose books that genuinely interest you and commit to reading one chapter either in the morning or before bed a few nights each week. If a book fails to capture your attention, set it aside and try something else.
As you develop the habit and experience the benefits, you’ll find yourself reading more and more, eager to absorb new insights at every opportunity.
