None of us would ever want to admit it, but all of us have chosen comfortable activity over effective actions at some time in our work life.

Leaders are readers. In your efforts to communicate with and motivate others, you must stay abreast of new ideas and developments in your field and in the world around you. You must be able to read faster and at the same time remember more of what you have read. The first step in managing your reading is deciding where reading falls into your time priorities.

Ask yourself, “Is this the best use of my time at this moment?” Just as you are selective of the speakers to whom you listen and the television shows you watch, be selective in what you read. Choose to read only books, articles, and journals that give you ideas and information to keep you on the competitive edge or to enrich other areas of your life. Once you have chosen what to read, determine your purpose in reading that selection. Then you will know whether to scan the material or read attentively. Technical materials and historical materials often demand that you read word-for-word. But for most of your reading, you can achieve your purpose when you follow these tips: 

Although no two leaders are identical in personality or in their approach to management, all effective leaders share an important characteristic: They have a positive selfimage. Effective leaders see themselves as capable individuals, worthy of self-respect and deserving of the respect of others. Individuals with a positive self-image possess the inner strength and courage required for self-respect and self-confidence. Your self-image, or the mental picture you have of yourself, determines to a large extent the level of success you reach as a leader.

Messages bombard people relentlessly from every direction – emails, faxes, memos, letters, text messages, etc. – so the ability to write clearly and persuasively is more valuable than ever before. Whether your purpose is to provide information, to change an attitude or behavior, or to persuade someone to perform a specific task, you must remember that written communication is a substitute for your presence. Some of the best reasons to “put it in writing” include the following:

Successful people require a dependable source from which to draw acceptance, approval, and reassurance. Motivation is often neither logical nor factual. People are often moved or inspired by hidden motives that seem quite illogical to a casual observer.

Even when questioned, they may not be able to explain their behavior or desires; although their actions seem right to them. As a leader, you may not always be able to interpret accurately the particular behaviors of others, but you can understand the overall principles that govern behavior. 

Although different terms are used to describe the needs that motivate behavior, the universal motivators of human behavior include the following: