Loved this article in Forbes Magazine - another bit of evidence to suggest that IQ isn't all that important a determinant of success in life.
My parents were completely convinced that an undergraduate liberal arts degree was the key to success in life. They argued that whether you went on to be a lawyer, an architect, a business leader, a store owner, or a stay-at-home mom, having a grounding in good literature and a basic understanding of the sweep of human history and culture would provide the best foundation for any future learning – and for being able to interact well with other human beings. Even though I was a music major in college, I read pretty obsessively, mostly fiction and history, from a very early age and – in principle – I agreed with them.
Just today I read a wonderful article in the HBR blog by Anne Kreamer, The Business Case for Reading Novels, talking about some fascinating research that supports my parents’ contention. (Anne is my sister-in-law, so it seems this is a familial belief system.) She cites studies that show reading fiction actually increases people’s emotional intelligence: their accurate awareness of themselves and others, and their ability to create positive relationships with others based on managing their own reactions.I loved reading this – it wasn’t surprising to me at all. I’ve noticed for many years that executives I coach who only read non-fiction tend to be somewhat more two-dimensional in their perceptions of others and of situations; they seem to have fewer options to call upon when making decisions or solving problems. I’ve wondered about the cause and effect of it: Do people who read fiction already see life in a less black and white, more nuanced way, or do they see life in a less black and white, more nuanced way because they read fiction?
The research Anne cites resolves my chicken-and-egg quandary: it seems that reading fiction improves your sensitivity to and appreciation of complex human situations; it provides a richer ‘toolkit’ of understanding from which to pull when making decisions and building relationships. And as our business lives get more complex, faster-paced, less hierarchical and more dependent upon our ability to build support with those around us – that kind of toolkit becomes ever more critical to our success.
So if you’re feeling self-indulgent as you sit out on your porch of a weekend with Game of Thrones or One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest or Lady Chatterly’s Lover in hand – reassure yourself that you may be improving your chances of business success just as much or more than if you were reading the Financial Times or the Wall Street Journal.
And my parents would be proud of you.
I love this article. I’m an avid fiction reader myself, so I find this really interesting and amusing. Thanks for sharing this!
Posted by: Criminal Lawyer Sydney | June 20, 2012 at 08:39 PM
Which is likely why you are a successful lawyer!
Posted by: JDeQ | July 29, 2012 at 02:17 PM