Last week we looked at a few ways to get started on your leadership development.  One option was to start reading a little every day.

That seems simple, right?

Well it would be if there wasn’t so darn much information on leadership.  Books, blogs, videos, articles, reports, research…… the options are endless.

This post will help you help narrow down those options.  Pick one, try it out. If you don’t like it, try another.     

But first…..schedule it.

How much time would you like to spend reading?  30 minutes/day? 15? Weekdays with weekends off?   Start with something that fits easily into your weekly routine.

Next think about where you’ll read.  During your commute? After dinner? Before bed?  

And the last thing to do is schedule it in your calendar.  

What to read?

Whether you prefer to read, watch or listen, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Reading:

I prefer reading because I can make notes and highlight.  And - I like to read.

Most leaders I talk to want a list of books to read.  A better place to start is articles and blog posts. You can dabble instead of dive in. Explore a broad range of topics with a minimal time commitment.  You don’t even have to read the whole article. If the first paragraph or two don’t interest you, move on.  

Blogs not books

The easiest place to start is business publications.  Start small, follow a few sites. 5 max.

A few of my favourites are:  

• Harvard Business Review:  My top pick.

• McKinsey:  Great research.

• Knowledge at Wharton:  A nice blend of topics

• MIT Sloan:  In-depth articles.

• Fast Company:  Short and snappy, leadership and beyond.  

• I also subscribe to the Stanford Business School newsletter .  

As you can see, I like academic sites.  They emphasize research and challenge my thinking.

Getting Organized

There are lots of options to organize the sites you follow.  Feedly is the one that works best for me. If you’re interested in how I’ve set up my reading routine, here’s a quick guide to get you started.  

• Set up:

  • Create your account.

  • In the bottom left, click on Add Content

  • In the search bar, type in any of the titles above that interest you.

• Daily Review:   

  • Open the site and scan through the articles

  • See something you like?  Click the headline.

  • Select the bookmark icon (far left).  It will turn green. Close the article (Click the X on far right).

  • Continue scanning the headlines til you finish the list.

  • Done? Click the checkmark at the top of the page - mark as read.

• Time to Read:   

  • Those articles you’ve tagged become your reading list.  Click the Read Later section (top left). Pick an article.  If it’s boring, delete it. And on to the next. After 30 minutes, you’re done.

  • If there’s an article you’d like to save, you can create a file (called a board).  Click the star icon. Name the file. And save it.

  • If you’d like to highlight and make notes, you can go Pro with a subscription that enables highlighting.  Or skip the cost and save to OneNote (3rd icon from the left).

Magazines:

For more in-depth reading, magazines are the perfect option.  Online or hardcopy, here’s a few I return to every month.

• Harvard Business Review (HBR):  In-depth articles based on the latest research. If you create an account, you can access 6 free articles each month.

• Rotman Management Magazine:  University of Toronto’s scaled-down version of HBR.  

• Fast Company:  Cool and quirky.

• Inc / Success / Entrepreneur / Bloomberg / Forbes:  More business than leadership, but great content for well-rounded development.

All are available online and hardcopy. I like to pop into my local bookstore or library, grab my favourite beverage.  Find a seat and flip through the latest editions. It’s a nice little break.

Watch:  

If you’d rather watch than read, here are a few sites to get you started.   

• TED talks: Not leadership per se, but a library of inspiring and informative talks.

• Top 25 list

• A few of my favourites:

  • How Great Leaders Inspire Action

  • Dare to Disagree

  • The Happy Secret to Better Work

  • If you’re preparing a presentation, check out Hans Rosling. He’s a master at making data visually compelling.

• If you like what you see, you can create an account and save your favourites.   

• Business Schools:  

  • Columbia: Informative webinars (which tend to be a little dry) and endless interviews.

  • Knowledge@Wharton:  A multitude of videos on business and leadership topics. I like anything by Adam Grant

  • Stanford:  Any business leaders you’d like to hear from? They’ve probably done an interview at Stanford. Jamie Dimon, Eric Schmidt, or LinkedIn’s Jeff Weiner. Use the search option to find your faves. Or browse.

• Talks @ Google:  Top authors and others spend an hour with Googlers. This classic from Marshall Goldsmith is a favourite.   

Listen: Podcasts:

This is ideal for your commute.  I prefer to read or watch, so I don’t have favourites.  But do have a few suggestions to get you started.

• Most magazine have “Best of” lists like this one from INC magazine

• Knowledge@Wharton, Columbia, Stanford and Harvard Business School all have podcasts as well. I haven’t listed to any, so can only point you in that direction.

• If you’re an entrepreneur or entrepreneur-curious, check out Boiling Point.  The focus is entrepreneurs based in Atlantic Canada. Dave & Greg are great hosts.  These podcasts feel like you’re grabbing coffee with friends. Really, really accomplished friends.

• Speaking of friends, ask yours. Podcasts are crazy popular.  It’s a great reason to reach out to those friends you’ve been meaning to connect with.  A quick hello on Linkedin’s chat, an email or even grab coffee. A two-fer. Connecting with your network and finding great podcasts.

Books:  Create a Reading list

Over time you’ll find amazing authors in the articles you read.

When you find a favourite, check out what they’ve published.

Write it down. Google Keep works for me. Evernote. Notes.

And that’s you starting your own custom reading list.

Over time you’ll find some great titles.

If you’re looking for bonus points, this reading list is a great tool for connecting with your network. Are there a few people you’ve been meaning to reach out to? How many of them would like a recommendation or two?  A quick email to say hello. Share your finds. And that’s your networking done.

Conclusion

When you're ready to work on your leadership skills, reading is an obvious choice.  

Start small.  Keep it simple.  

And for bonus points, work in a little networking.