There is a simple but profound truth: A leader must be a reader.
History consistently confirms this. When you read the biographies and memoirs of leaders who shaped their generation—whether in politics, business, ministry, or academia—you discover a common pattern: they were disciplined readers. Even today, when prominent CEOs or statesmen step away for vacation, one item almost always accompanies them—a stack of books.
Reading is not incidental to leadership. It is formative.
Reading Shapes Thought
The theological foundation of the Old Testament prophets was rooted in the Pentateuch. Their prophetic voice did not arise from spontaneous inspiration alone; it was grounded in deep familiarity with Scripture. Without repeatedly immersing themselves in the Law—absorbing its theology, its history, its worldview—their message would not have carried authority or coherence.
Leadership insight grows out of long-term immersion, not occasional exposure.
Reading Expands Perspective
Consider the story of Jang In-ok, an ordinary homemaker in South Korea. She was not highly educated nor widely traveled. When the Asian financial crisis (IMF crisis) struck, her family faced severe economic hardship. In the midst of emotional strain and marital tension, she turned to reading simply to survive.
Through books, she began to understand herself. She began to understand her husband. She began to see beyond her immediate circumstances into a larger world of ideas.
She set a goal of reading one book per day and completed 1,000 books in three years. Over six years of disciplined reading, her thinking deepened so profoundly that she eventually published her own book. What changed? Not her environment. Her mind.
Reading did not merely give her information—it gave her interior depth.
Reading Builds Faithfulness
One of the most overlooked benefits of reading is that it cultivates discipline.
Leadership is less about charisma and more about consistency. Before you can lead others, you must be able to lead yourself. And self-leadership requires habits that form endurance and focus.
Reading is one of the most accessible disciplines for developing this capacity.
In Korean, we sometimes refer to intensely focused individuals as “bookworms” or “workworms.” The metaphor is instructive. A worm moves slowly, persistently, repetitively. It does not leap forward in dramatic bursts. It advances through steady, almost invisible repetition.
Excellence is rarely the result of inspiration. It is the result of disciplined repetition.
The brilliance displayed by Olympic athletes on the world stage is nothing more than the accumulated effect of thousands of unseen repetitions. Likewise, intellectual and spiritual depth is formed by daily, faithful reading.
Leadership Is Character Before It Is Technique
Lamentations 3:22–23 declares:
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Faithfulness is presented as an attribute of God Himself. Because God is faithful, He is trustworthy.
Leadership, at its core, is not technique—it is character. A leader may gain attention through achievement, but he earns respect through integrity and consistency.
Reading shapes character because it slows you down. It forces reflection. It confronts you with ideas beyond your own. It challenges assumptions. It trains the mind to think deeply rather than react impulsively.
Simplify, Create Margin, Read
If you want to lead with excellence, step back from the endless list of tasks demanding your attention. Identify one or two priorities that truly matter. Create margin. Protect thinking time.
And read.
Read broadly. Read deeply. Read outside your comfort zone. Read biographies. Read history. Read theology. Read philosophy. Read voices that challenge you.
Through reading, you encounter yourself.
Through reading, you refine your convictions.
Through reading, you sharpen your judgment.
Over time—almost without noticing—you will discover that you have become a different kind of leader: more thoughtful, more stable, more discerning.
Leadership influence is visible.
Leadership formation is hidden.
Reading belongs to the hidden work.
And the hidden work always shapes the public impact.