Successful Leaders Read

I have always been a reader. From an early age, I loved to read. In fact, I took a class in high school where all I had to do the entire quarter was read books.

I was in heaven!

As I began my career in law enforcement, my reading continued. However, I expanded the types of books I was reading to include books that would help me grow as a leader.

After Bobby Moody became Chief of Police for the Marietta Police Department in 1996, we began reading leadership articles and books for our staff meetings and had to report on what we read at our staff meetings.

We read book after book after book and grew as leaders.

We absorbed what we read so much that eight former leaders who served under Chief Bobby Moody became police chiefs.

Leaders from today and the past value the importance of reading. Here are a few quotes about reading.

“I cannot live without books.” Thomas Jefferson

“Reading is still the main way that I both learn new things and test my understanding.” Bill Gates

“My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.” Abraham Lincoln

“Read 500 pages….every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.” Warren Buffett

After I was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Dunwoody Police Department in 2008, I continued Chief Moody’s tradition of reading leadership books at our staff meetings.

Our leadership team has seen amazing growth over the last fourteen years. Much of that growth has come from the leadership books we have read together and the discussions about them at our staff meetings.

Of course, not everyone likes to read.

It is even more important for those individuals to recognize and understand the value of reading.

I’ll end with a quote attributed to President Harry S. Truman. It is a quote I really like and one I find true.

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”

I like this quote, so I had a high-quality bookmark designed using this quote. If you are interested in sending a message to your leadership team about how important it is to read, you can follow the link below to purchase some.

Or, you can buy one or just a few.

Shipping is free.

Happy reading!