"For many executives, reading isn't just a pastime; it's a performance habit. IBM's chief commercial officer, Rob Thomas, recently told me that he considers it a discipline worth mastering early in one's career. Most mornings, he spends two to three hours reading before the workday begins, diving into biographies, history, technology, and sports to understand "what makes people and systems successful.""
"In conversations with some executives I've interviewed this year, three clear reading patterns emerged. Many gravitate toward books on strategy and systems thinking, which sharpen foresight and strengthen decision-making. Others favor works on leadership and psychology to better understand how people think and act. And nearly all incorporate biographies and narrative nonfiction that connect business to the broader human experience."
Top executives treat reading as a disciplined habit essential to decision-making and leadership. Many allocate 30–60 minutes each morning and block two to three hours weekly for deep reading, plus extra time during flights and commutes. Reading selections commonly include strategy and systems thinking to sharpen foresight, leadership and psychology to understand human behavior, and biographies or narrative nonfiction to connect business with broader human experience. Regular reading of newspapers and diverse history works supports situational awareness and cultivates thoughtful judgment over time.
Read at Fortune
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