“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” – James Humes
Twenty years later, I look back on a conversation in the summer sun of Iraq as if it was yesterday. There were signs from the outset that he struggled to communicate, but the war was coming hot and fast and we didn’t have the luxury of slowing the deployment wave.
But months later, the struggles only worsened. He couldn’t articulate a clear vision. His intent was often clouded in vague language. And basic guidance was non-existent. After a particularly difficult staff meeting, I offered him a copy of William Slim’s book, Defeat into Victory, in which he speaks at length about the importance of a commander providing written intent and guidance.
“I don’t read books,” he replied flatly.
In a moment, everything came into focus. His struggles suddenly made perfect sense. I’d assumed that his “country bumpkin” approach to leadership was an act. It wasn’t. And the signs had been there all along.
Reading to Lead
Effective leadership begins with reading, which sets a strong foundation to build on. Reading helps to expand vocabulary, improve sentence structure, and broaden your perspective. At the same time, reading enhances how you translate your thoughts in written and verbal form, helping you to become a clearer, more convincing communicator.
Without that foundation, your ability to communicate effectively is significantly constrained. Vocabulary tends to be limited, the result of not encountering new works in unique and varying contexts. The ability to frame logical arguments – a reflection of critical thinking – is curtailed. And fluency and rhythm, which typically develop as proper grammar and flow are internalized, suffer.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Reading is a habit, one that is easily developed. Getting started is always the challenge. First, vary your source material – mix non-fiction and fiction, short- and long-form, essays and articles. Second, read actively. Immerse yourself in the content; this helps you to absorb how an author structures dialog and creates scenes, transitions between points, and captivates the audience. Third, reflect and discuss. Share what you read on a platform like Goodreads. Join a book club. Journal about your reading.
Read, and read as much as you can. As a leader, the more you read, the better informed you are. And the better informed you are, the more capable you will be of providing sound guidance and intent.
Reading to Write
On the first day of my required engineering technical writing course in college, the professor – a classically curmudgeonly instructor right down to the well-worn cardigan sweaters – scribbled a list of authors on the chalkboard. The names spanned from Joyce to Hemingway, from Tolkien to Asimov – all writers whose works I had consumed extensively growing up. “If you’ve read much from this list,” he said. “Chances are good that you’ll write well.”
As I soon learned, “reading and writing share a deep and symbiotic relationship.” The more you read, the better you write. The greater to the degree that you immerse yourself in the works of great writers, the more you begin to assimilate their styles into your own.
Reading translates to better writing. One, it expands your vocabulary, improving your ability to communicate ideas. Two, it exposes you to different writing styles, which increases the strength and tone of your written voice. Three, it helps you to absorb the stylistic conventions of multiple authors. Four, it allows you to subconsciously learn to avoid syntax, grammar, and style challenges. For me, this proved essential to my writing – I had never paid much attention in English class, but reading offset my lack of attentiveness.
All of which leads to a stronger ability to communicate ideas, to prepare a convincing argument, and to provide meaningful feedback. Much of leadership comes down to communication and decision-making. Reading is the vital pathway to both.
Reading to Speak
Reading also has a profound effect on your ability to speak with impact. As a leader, this is an essential skill that doesn’t always come naturally. Even the best writers can struggle on the podium. It’s one thing to capture your thoughts in text; it’s quite another to express them with people looking back at you.
Fortunately, reading can solve that problem, too.
There are three distinct ways you can use reading to improve your public speaking. First, read aloud. This is something I learned while reading Dr. Suess to my kids at night. While silent reading has its benefits, reading aloud exercises the mechanisms of speech. It helps your mouth to form words, your lungs to control breathing, and your brain to maintain a natural rhythm. Second, focus your tone and pacing. Remember what I said about reading to your children? Believe it or not, reading Fox in Sox out loud will do wonders for your pitch, tone, and modulation. It also gives you control over your pace and allows you to use your voice to command the audience’s attention. Finally, record and review. There is no more brutal feedback mechanism than listening to yourself speak. Except maybe hearing AND seeing yourself speak. The cringe will serve you well.
Turning the Page
I still have that copy of Slim. It’s a little more threadbare than it was two decades ago. But it remains on my shelf, something I use to tell a cautionary tale about reading, leading, and communicating. “Books remain the most underutilized leadership tool known to mankind,” wrote Alexander Puutio in a 2025 Forbes article. He’s not wrong.
Books inspire. They teach. And they change lives. But only if we allow them to.
“The best coaches ask more questions than they answer,” continued. The most effective teachers inquire more than they instruct. And the best leaders read more than they speak. “The principle sounds deceptively simple, yet it explains whey exceptional leadership is so very rare.” Leaders who read see the world differently. They see in systems where others see linearly. They recognize complexity when others seek simplicity. They think and act decisively in situations where others hesitate.
And it all starts with reading.
