Read a Book Day: The benefits of reading for business decision-makers
Every year, Read a Book Day is designed to encourage people to put their heads down and get stuck into their favourite books. Whilst you might imagine that it is just for schoolchildren as they begin their latest year in education, the benefits of reading for decision-makers in the business world has an overwhelming impact too. In fact, results from a survey reveals that just six minutes of reading can reduce a person’s stress levels by 68%*.
It’s said that to become an expert in a particular field, you need to read 50 books a year on that topic for 5 years – roughly translating to one a week. Kevin Riley, a business growth specialist from ActionCOACH Warwick, supports many clients in the region and, being an avid reader himself, he knows just how much it can benefit a business owner and impact the success of their business.
“Regardless of whether it’s for professional development or recreational purposes, reading has many benefits,” Kevin explained. “Many business owners might think they’re too busy to factor time into their diaries for such activities, but by committing to just an hour a day – half an hour in the morning and another in the evening – the results within your business will be huge. It all comes down to how reading affects our bodies and how we, as humans, operate.”
Here are Kevin’s top five benefits of reading:
1. Promotes mental health. By simply opening a book, you allow yourself to be invited into a world that distracts you from your daily stressors. Reading can relax your body by lowering your heart rate and easing the tension in your muscles.
2. Improves memory, focus and concentration. Reading not only improves your brain’s connectivity, it also increases attention spans, focus and concentration. Books with better structures encourage us to think in a sequence so, the more we read, the more our brains are able to link cause and effect. All great attributes for a business owner.
3. Provides a brain workout. Reading daily helps your brain to stay in shape by providing a workout in multiple complex cognitive functions. Research also suggests that reading can help reduce the risk of developing dementia as, for those that read later in life, have a 32% lower rate of declining mental abilities.
4. Improves expertise. Perhaps one of the most obvious benefits is how knowledgeable you’ll become as a result. By spending one hour a day reading, at the end of the year you’ll have finished around 50 books. To become an expert in your field, it’s estimated that you need to complete over 1,820 hours of reading – which amounts to one hour a day for five years. Break segments down into digestible chunks and you’ll be an expert in no time.
5. Enhances sleep. Combining all four of the benefits above will help to enhance sleep. Getting an adequate amount of rest will help you seize the day and the challenges of business ownership with a fresh mind and body.
Kevin lists his top five must-reads for business owners:
• Emyth Revisited by Michael Gerber
• Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller
• Sales EQ by Jeb Blount
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Secrets of a Millionaire Mind by T Harv Eker.
Kevin added: “When individuals invest in reading, the results are destined to be huge. Putting aside the time to focus on your own development will only have positive effects, not just on you, the business owner, but the rest of your team too. You never know what you might achieve with just an hour of reading a day – the results really are limitless.”
Kevin’s next virtual BookCLUB takes place on September 24th, which business owners can try for free, and will be welcoming world-class business speaker and author, Michael Heppell. The group will be reviewing Michael’s book, “How to be Brilliant”. To find out more and book your place, visit https://warwick.actioncoach.co.uk/events/bookclub-september-2020/
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Editor’s notes:
For more information, or to speak with Kevin directly, please contact Liam on 07395 641 523 or liam@revpr.co.uk
Images attached: Kevin in a group coaching session.
Sources:
* Sussex University: 'Galaxy Stress Research'