I’ve been reading a lot of literary fiction this year. I always enjoy escaping into a different world, meeting diverse characters and the underlying complexity that informs their choices. Storytelling that challenges me to understand a different perspective or imagine another person’s motivations doesn’t just fulfill my leisure pursuits it stretches my mental muscle. And there’s proof that it does just that!
A 2013 study by researchers at The New School in New York City found that people who read literary fiction improve their empathy. These readers have a greater capacity for understanding social behaviour than those who solely read non-fiction or genre fiction. And we all know how important emotional intelligence (EI) is to being an effective leader.
Psychologist Daniel Goleman brought widespread recognition of the concept of EI when his book was published in 1995. He argued that the most successful leaders had greater EI, or the ability to recognize their own and others’ emotions and use that information to adapt their approach and work styles.
So, I propose the at-work book club with a twist. Sure, it’s valuable to consult the latest productivity tome or a bio from a well-respected leader, but add literary fiction to the reading list. Expose yourself to challenging characters who push you to alter your perspective and think about how you’d manage a scenario outside your sphere.