Readers are leaders

Years ago, as an elementary principal, we had an assembly presented by McDonald’s. As you can imagine, Ronald McDonald was there and his message was that “Readers were leaders.” That phrase stuck with me, and I found myself revisiting it over the last few days.

Since I have accepted this position in the state department, I have had the opportunity to travel more. As I travel, it has given me a chance to do more reading, which has been a real treat to say the least. I have rediscovered the blessings of books and magazines and the assistance they can provide as we lead our organizations. As you can imagine, there is a wealth of information contained in the multitude of books on leadership. Two books in particular have caused me to think about how I handle my leadership responsibilities.

The book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins reminds me that an organization can always get better. It also restates the obvious: That our organizations will only be as good as the people in them. That we need to get the right people “on the bus” and make sure they are doing the right jobs. Collins also encourages the reader to focus on the goal (hedgehog concept) and not be deterred by other areas of less importance. Finally, he discusses the importance of facing the truth about our work and dealing with the “brutal facts.”

Another book that has caused me to think about the world around us is “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell discusses the moment when an idea, trend or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips and spreads like a fire. He reviews how Hush Puppies shoes jumped from 30,000 sales one year to over 400,000 the next.  He forwards theories on how epidemics develop and also suggests how you can deal with situations that you think are beyond repair by applying the “Broken Window Theory.” As I read this book, I saw hundreds of “tipping points” around me each day.

My point in sharing this information with you is to encourage you to read as much as you can. Our jobs are busy, and we need to take the time to sharpen our leadership skills. Books provide us with that opportunity. Try to carve time out of your day to read. Decide to turn the TV off a bit earlier or get up a bit earlier in the morning and delve into a good book. As you do that, you will discover what I have found – that Ronald McDonald had it right many, many years ago.