In the past, in my first venture, My co-founder and I came up with the phrase “hedgehog mode” about our working style in building the company. The problem was that nobody else was aware of what it meant. When we hired new team members or talked with investors, we repeatedly needed to explain our process.
Later, Eric Ries wrote “The Lean Startup” and offered the world’s most universal definition of many methods we’d used for a long time. Our team was suddenly given an easier time creating an open language that enriched our communication. We also got more insight into our strategies than we had before.
Since then, as I have read business-related books and others, I have greatly benefited by using the concepts and definitions they provide to clearly describe an event or procedure that I believed was necessary for my entire team to think about. Through this common language, we were in forming an idea of the future of our company while providing us with the confidence to achieve these objectives. This all happened because I picked an exciting book. Intriguing.
The more I read, the more I understood the importance of reading regularly for building a company with an effective team. It broadens your horizons and opens your mind to new possibilities, and fuels inspiration and creativity. Similar to eating healthily or exercising, the effects are more significant when we practice it regularly.
1. Create a standard dictionary
As children, we acquire new words by listening to the stories that our parents read to us in the evening. Even though our books into adulthood could be more sophisticated, their goal is similar. Through reading each day, we learn new words, some of which refer to something we’ve been doing (such as “lean startups”) “lean startup movement” I previously mentioned) or have been interested in. The more we know about vocabulary and master it, the more efficient our communication skills will become, which will allow us to more easily communicate and connect with colleagues.
Learn these skills for your team as well. Encourage learning and build an understanding of the same language by offering to purchase specific books for your team members and then shipping the books directly to their homes. Utilizing books on particular topics that interest you is an excellent method of establishing a shared understanding of your objectives without explaining everything to every person.
Effective communication is a vital capability for leaders of all levels, and reading is among the most effective methods to increase your knowledge base of communications skills.
2. Develop the development mindset
Readers are always ready to be open to the thoughts of others, and if they didn’t, they wouldn’t even be able to. The same kind of openness is evident in people with an open-minded mindset.
An attitude of growth is among the most important factors I consider when hiring new employees. I tend to select a less knowledgeable candidate about their job but am eager to be a better learner and put in the effort more than a skilled but pompous candidate. Reading is a great way to foster a growth mentality. It is a chance to discover new concepts and methods of doing things through every book you read, Some of which you’ll be able to agree with, while others that you won’t. Whatever the case, we must remain in awe and non-judgmental of the possibility it is inevitable that someone more knowledgeable than we about a specific topic or, at least, possesses a different viewpoint on the subject.
In addition, reading our subconscious mind naturally engages with the information that we store in our brains even when we’re not involved in reading or even contemplating the content. Once we’ve embraced the growth-oriented mindset and supplied our minds with new and interesting facts, our brains shut off and lead to imaginative thinking and a wide-ranging development.
3. Unlock the power of
Reading can transport us back to our childhood excitement, curiosity, and belief that super-powered beings are real. Santa Claus exists, and that magic is achievable. No matter where you stand on superheroes, motivation and imagination are crucial in business, encouraging creativity and helping us achieve our goals. When we’re searching for inspiration, there’s no better source than the pages of a book.
In reading about someone’s story of how they have persevered in a personal battle and have been inspired to strive for the same success. When an executive outlines their climb up the ranks, we could get a fresh perspective on how to address issues within our businesses. There’s nothing new to be discovered, and if there’s something you’re trying to solve or are experiencing difficulty with, the possibility is you’ve had someone who has dealt with the same issue -and they might have written a book about it when we read about how others have taken similar paths as ours. We might even make a few costly mistakes down the road.
Whether you’re expanding your business, creating products or teams, or learning ability, reading is an excellent method to discover new ideas and increase excitement over your potential and your team members to reach your objectives.
How do I begin?
You might be thinking, “I don’t have time to read every day.” While this may be contrary to what I’ve written, It’s not necessary, or at the very least, you won’t initially. As with any habit you’re trying to establish, you should begin by setting manageable smaller targets. Find books that are fascinating to you. Then, resolve to read a chapter each morning or before bed for a few hours every week. If the book you are reading isn’t getting your attention, set it aside and read another. Once you’ve gotten into the routine and begin reaping the benefits, you’ll be immersed in reading, eager to absorb every new insight.
Our teachers in the first grade weren’t deceiving us when they emphasized to us how critical reading was for our growth. However, amid the rush and bustle that goes with business life, We put that advice aside somewhere along the way. The benefits are profound if we can make time to even just an hour of leisure reading every day. The act of reading can improve the communication between people and a desire to improve, and a feeling of inspiration. When you combine the three, you’ll realize that your team and you are unstoppable.
