When I was in my late thirties, I knew that I was changing roles into a new area – several weeks beforehand. During that time frame, I spoke with a professional coach and asked what might be the best development action I could take prior to making the official change. She told me to read as much as I could so that I could start developing my subject matter expertise. Sadly, I didn’t listen to her. I changed roles and started to get to know my new team. Within days, it hit me up the side of my head … I was behind in knowledge. I’d better get reading. I read everything I could get my hands on so that I could consider insights relative to organizational needs, develop perspectives, and form opinions based on a combination of experience and research.
Books are like old friends, offering an experienced perspective and trusted for their sage advice.
– Melissa Law
For those of you who have been following along, you may recall that earlier this summer I wrote that knowledge alone cannot propel lasting and meaningful change. This is absolutely true when it comes to initiating and sustaining behaviour change. Knowledge gained through reading, reflection, and processing can however build increased awareness that provides a platform for ideation. This is what I love about reading, the new possibilities that form from learning about and exploring with different ideas and concepts. It’s all part of the pre-work helpful in sparking a directional impetus for change – after which the hard work comes from leveraging well-developed self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-command.
I find myself gravitating to books that help me build self-awareness because I can’t control anything or anyone around me, it’s only myself that I have full agency of. I am thankful for all the books I have read and the experiences I have lived because these have helped me to learn and grow. My favorite books are filled with post-it notes, highlighted passages, handwritten notes, and dog-eared pages that guide me back to revered insights and helpful reminders time and time again. They [Books] are like old friends, offering an experienced perspective and trusted for their sage advice. Over the next several weeks, I will endeavour to share some of my favourite books – which I have recommended to others – that have contributed to my growth as a person, a parent, and a leader.
– Melissa Law
