Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking. ~Albert Einstein
My first job after college was an assistant college instructor while pursuing a graduate degree, for which I stayed through only for two semesters. After that, I was hired a by a large appliance retail company to join their roster of in-house trainers and employee seminar facilitators.
It was fun!
I never really felt working there at all because 80%of my working time reading books, studying, preparing instructional materials, facilitating other training seminars, and brainstorming with my training team. The other 20% was the time by which I am conducting the training myself.
I have read countless management books from popular business gurus, so much so that I can quote verbatim some of the important principles they taught.
There was a problem though –I was training 'would-be' store supervisors the practice of business management directly out of the shelf. I had many management training, but I never truly smelled the trenches of business or people management, except in the context of training others. At times, I felt that I was detached from what I am sharing with my trainees.
Reading books or a book itself, according to Edward P. Morgan,
…is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy.In effect, reading allows you to comprehend more any subject matter. And now, with the growing popularity of audio books, the task have been made easier for us. Thus, whether you are driving or doing something else, you can soak your brains with any good management book in audio.
However, one needs to go beyond reading and reflection in order to get the full benefits therefrom. Again, in the context of managing business and people, you need to immerse yourself on the experience itself. Otherwise, in my experience then, you will not lend credibility in what you teach.
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About the Author
Nor Franco is the Managing Director and Virtual CEO of nextManager.net. He's a former corporate executive whose passion is bringing out the full potential of HR in Businesses. This time that passion is pursued through Virtual Management. He writes and blogs about his management views and insights here. Follow him on Twitter.
