Leadership and Reading Fiction Literature 2015 to 2018

I recollect vividly a conversation from twelve years ago at a networking consequence. Information technology was a discussion with a fellow gorging reader about how many books nosotros read a year and the ratio of those books between fiction and non-fiction (self-development). My percentage skewed manner to the fiction side and his, non-fiction. He tried to convince me that I make a 180-degree turn to weigh more than heavily on the side of non-fiction.

Well, I didn't. And the more I read virtually the benefits of reading fiction, and in particular, adept fiction, I'm glad I didn't. It seems, reading all that good literary fiction is but as beneficial to my work as anything I may be doing.

Thus, in that location are six reasons why it is of import that leaders, specifically communications leaders, should exist reading good fiction.

1.   Information technology increases our creativity. Most of u.s.a. are writers by trade, merely even aside from that, nosotros have to be creative problem solvers. A researcher at the University of Toronto tested cognitive closure (a state of reduced creativity) of those who read essays compared to brusque stories and found that "reading fictional literature could lead to better procedures of processing data generally, including those of creativity." In brusk, reading fiction helps us open our minds to new and different ideas, options, and solutions.

ii.   Reading fiction makes us better storytellers.If increasing inventiveness isn't plenty,as storytellers, good fiction primes the pump for usa to do our jobs well. I personally am never more than inspired in my ain writing than when I've read beautiful language written past another. By reading good fiction, we learn how to use storytelling to achieve an emotional response from our readers, making our work more effective in achieving desired results. And no surprise, reading fiction improves your vocabulary, which in turns makes our writing more than succinct, more efficient.

iii.   Reading fiction increases empathy.Whether it is in face-to-face interactions or the tone and position nosotros accept in our communications, our ability to see things from another's point of view is essential to being effective as a communications leader. 1 researcher is quoted in the New York Times as suggesting that novels offering "the opportunity to enter fully into other people's thoughts and feelings." There is specific inquiry virtually how this applies to our feelings virtually stigmatized groups (think, your organization's diversity work).

4.   Reading fiction helps with relationships. A common leadership coaching action involves role-playing situations, practicing interactions earlier they occur. Reading fiction basically allows us to do this on an ongoing footing. "(J)ust every bit the brain responds to depictions of smells and textures and movements as if they were the real thing, so it treats the interactions among fictional characters every bit something like real-life social encounters." (Source) Combined with increased empathy, reading narratives can aid the states explore interpersonal relationships and equip us make better relational decisions in reality.

5.   Reading combats stress. Reading has been shown to be a more effective stress-reducerthan listening to music or taking a walk. Other reports accept shown reading to "put our brains into a pleasurable trance-like land, like to meditation, and it brings the same health benefits of deep relaxation and inner calm." (Source) As leaders, we all need effective ways to unwind.

half dozen.   Reading increases your life bridge. Ok, and then this i may exist a stretch. But, perhaps if reading does increase your life bridge, and practice makes perfect, you'll have more years to get better at what you do!

Equally Annie Spud Paul summarized, "(r)eading great literature, it has long been averred, enlarges and improves united states of america as human beings. Brain science shows this merits is truer than we imagined."

And every bit communications leaders, who are we if we are not first human? If you're a leader, read good fiction.

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This piece was originally posted on my LinkedIn page. Because I do communications in real life, this is an area where my worlds collide.

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Source: http://www.literatureandleisure.com/2018/10/on-reading-why-leaders-should-read-good-fiction/