Most professional development is structured.
Workshops.
Frameworks.
Training sessions designed to deliver information efficiently.
But leadership doesn’t always develop that way.
It develops in how we think.
How we interpret situations.
How we make sense of what we’re experiencing – often in conversation with others and through shared experiences.
This is where leadership reading circles offer something different.
What Is a Leadership Reading Circle?
A leadership reading circle is a simple, low-structure approach to development:
- A shared book
- A small group
- A set of thoughtful prompts
- Space for conversation
Not to summarize what was read – but to explore what it means.
Why This Works
What makes this approach effective is not just the reading – it’s the combination of reflection, discussion, and application.
Research on professional learning environments shows that discussion-based reading:
- strengthens critical thinking
- helps individuals reinterpret existing knowledge
- and leads to deeper perspective shifts
For leadership, this matters.
Because leadership isn’t built on information alone – it’s built on how you understand and respond to what’s happening around you.
More Engaging Than Traditional Training
Workplace studies on book-based learning have found that this approach can be:
- more engaging
- more enjoyable
- and often more memorable than traditional training formats
Why?
Because people are not just receiving information – they are processing it in their own words and applying it to real situations.
It Shapes Leadership Thinking and Behavior
Research also shows that structured reading and discussion can influence how people lead.
Participants in leadership-focused reading groups report:
- shifts in how they think about situations
- increased confidence in navigating conversations
- and greater awareness of how their actions impact others
Not because they were taught a specific process – but because they took time to reflect.
It Builds Core Leadership Capabilities
Reading and discussion-based development supports:
- communication
- empathy
- emotional intelligence
- critical thinking
These are not secondary skills. They are foundational to effective leadership.
Why This Approach Feels Different
Leadership reading circles don’t ask:
“What did you learn?”
They ask:
“What do you think about this – and how does it show up in your work?”
That shift moves development from:
- theory → human
- content → application
A Practical and Accessible Approach
One of the most overlooked advantages:
This is easy to implement.
No budget.
No formal program.
No complex structure.
It’s as simple as:
- a book
- a few prompts
- and a willingness to think more deeply
How to Use This
This approach is intentionally flexible.
You can use it:
On Your Own
- Reflect as you read
- Apply ideas directly to your work
With Colleagues
- As part of leadership development
- In small, informal discussions
With Like-Minded Peers or Friends
- As a shared space for connection and growth
- A more thoughtful alternative to traditional networking
You don’t need to wait for a formal program to develop as a leader.
Sometimes, it starts with a conversation and a different way of thinking.
Where This Fits
This doesn’t replace formal development.
It complements it.
Because while training provides:
- structure
- tools
- frameworks
Reading circles provide:
- depth
- perspective
- integration
The Leadership Read
Leadership isn’t always built in structured environments.
Sometimes it’s built:
- in conversation
- in reflection
- in the space between perspectives
And often, it starts with something as simple – and as powerful – as a book.
This is the foundation of The Leadership Read – a space for curated selections and thoughtful prompts designed to help you reflect, think more deeply, and apply what you’re learning in real time.
It will continue to evolve – through shared reads, guided reflections, and practical ways to bring these ideas into your work.
If you’d like to follow along as new selections and reflections are shared, you can join the newsletter here.