Reading is a passport to the world! And nobody is more well-travelled when it comes to books than Dr Danny Brassell - former teacher, founder of The Reading Habit, a global reading engagement platform, and author of 16 business and education titles. Danny believes in the power of books for not just learning and development but also for connection and inspiration. He has strategies and insights for everything from getting kids excited about reading to helping leaders prioritise reading and using books to supercharge presentations and leadership perspectives. Being a book lover does not preclude embracing technology - Danny shares ways to use technology to help build reading habits and track progress. We can read for entertainment, education, empathy, empowerment… in the words of Danny: read, lead, succeed!
Inspiring leadership stories are everywhere!
Why you should listen: unlocking the power of reading for leadership growth
To write better we need to read more
We explore how to develop a leadership reading habit
Pick up a book for more compassion in your leadership
Expand leadership horizons by reading widely
Prioritise reading as part of leadership development
About Dr Danny Brassell
For nearly three decades, Dr. Danny Brassell has served as an educational advisor to students ranging from preschoolers to rocket scientists. While he has held a variety of titles and worked with leaders from a variety of fields and disciplines, Danny has always considered himself first and foremost a teacher. He has published 16 books, including A Baker’s Dozen of Lessons Learned from the Teaching Trenches and Leadership Begins with Motivation and is the founder of TheREADINGHabit.com, the world’s top reading engagement program. Danny also travels widely, speaking and coaching. Find out more: https://dannybrassell.com/
Key moments
Getting kids excited about reading [00:04:47]
Strategies for getting kids excited about reading based on their interests.
Embracing Technology [00:07:48]
The importance of embracing technology and how it can be used to our advantage, including listening to audiobooks and podcasts.
Importance of Reading Aloud [00:11:36]
How reading aloud to children can help them become readers.
Using Technology for Learning [00:13:47]
Dr. Danny shares how he uses his phone to set reminders for learning and how technology can be used to introduce kindness in the world.
Reading for Inspiration [00:17:18]
And an inspiring story to get you started.
Different Reading Plans [00:20:30]
Zoë Routh and Dr. Danny Brassell discuss their different reading plans, including reading for fun, business, and personal development. They also recommend books to each other.
Importance of Reading for Leaders [00:22:37]
Reading about effective leaders can be beneficial for anyone in a leadership position - and reading science fiction can expand vocabulary and make people smarter.
Reading with Kids [00:23:42]
Danny shares his strategy for reading with his three kids, including different books for each child and reading together as a great date.
Reading Habits [00:26:33]
Danny talks about his reading habits, including reading 10 books at the same time and reading about 5000 books a year due to his website, LazyReaders.com.
The Art of Writing and Reading [00:28:43]
On reading for writers, how good writers influence their readers, and how reading can help people become better writers.
Passport to the World [00:31:07]
How reading takes you to different places.
Practical Tips for Reading [00:36:49]
Including building it into existing habits and using audiobooks during commutes.
Learning from Books [00:35:57]
Insights from books about successful people like Warren Buffet and Elon Musk, and how reading can help you understand different ways of thinking and develop empathy.
The Power of Stories [00:38:49]
Using stories in crafting powerful presentations and personal development.
Finding Inspiration Everywhere [00:40:32]
Danny shares his love for finding inspiration in personal development books, sports, and the Olympics.
The importance of listening [00:46:10]
How to connect through stories
Key takeaways for reading [00:47:29]
Zoë shares four key takeaways for developing a reading habit, including determining why you want to read, using the ‘when then’ habit, tracking your reading, and sharing your insights.
Love reading or want to read more? Sign up for Zoë’s Bookish ejournal
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About your host, Canberra leadership expert Zoë Routh:
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture sessions with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a near future science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing Big Ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.