From Insight to Impact - How Applying What You Read Makes You a Better Leader

Like many aspiring leaders, I once believed that reading business books from cover to cover would somehow make me a better leader. I highlighted key lessons, absorbed powerful insights, and felt a sense of accomplishment just by finishing them. But over time, I realized that simply reading wasn’t enough. Not even close.

The true shift happened when I started asking myself a simple but powerful question during my second read-through: “How will I change my behavior because of this?” That question marked the beginning of a deeper transformation. I started highlighting not just what was interesting, but what resonated with my strengths. I wrote down how I would apply those lessons. That’s when the real work began.

This is where so many well-meaning leaders lose their way. They think that reading a book makes them better. But the truth is: until you apply what you’ve learned, you haven’t even started the journey. Leadership isn’t about collecting ideas; it’s about changing how you show up every day. Knowledge is only the beginning—what you do with it is what defines your growth.

I made a list of changes I was going to make. I shared it with others. I asked for guidance from people who had walked the same path, who had wrestled with the same questions. I wanted to know what worked for them, and what didn’t. Those conversations kept me honest and helped me stay committed.

Of course, it wasn’t easy. In the early days of leadership, I was consumed by chaos. There were always more problems than hours in the day. I felt like being a student was a luxury I couldn’t afford. I was just trying to survive—just trying to keep the lights on. I believed that grit, hustle, and resilience were enough. I thought I could lead by simply working harder than everyone else—being the first one in and the last one out. I told myself that work ethic and charisma would carry me through.

I was wrong.

I had the instincts. I had the drive. But I lacked the discipline to grow intentionally. I knew how to sound smart in meetings. I could drop the right buzzwords and fake confidence when I needed to. But deep down, I knew it couldn’t last. One particularly tough meeting opened my eyes. I realized I had to change—not just how I worked, but how I learned.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about knowing your strengths and relentlessly refining them. It’s about recognizing your weaknesses and surrounding yourself with people whose strengths complement your own. Most people understand that in theory, but few commit to the practice. And that’s what separates good leaders from great ones.

Over time, I learned that leadership requires you to stay a student—forever. It demands humility. It demands consistency. And it demands the courage to keep learning, even when you feel like you should already know it all. I’m still on that journey. I’m still reading, still reflecting, still asking how I’ll change my behavior because of what I’ve learned.

The biggest mistake I made was believing that learning was enough. It’s not. The real transformation lies in the application. That’s where growth happens. That’s where leadership is born—not in the pages of a book, but in the choices you make after you close it.

I’ve been clumsily applying what I’ve learned from the greatest minds in business, and in doing so, I’ve slowly begun to shape a leadership style that’s my own. I’m deeply grateful for the thought leaders who’ve lit the path. And I remain humble—and hungry—to keep learning, keep applying, and keep growing.

Because leadership isn’t something you claim. It’s something you earn—every single day.