What Reading One Book a Month Can Do for Your Business
Ours is a nation of small businesses. More than 5.5 million SMEs form the backbone of the economy, and the people behind them wear many hats—founder, strategist, marketer, HR, bookkeeper and problem-solver-in-chief. Amid the chaos, it’s easy to overlook something deceptively simple that could transform the way your business grows: reading one book a month.
It might not sound like a big deal. But as the Chartered Management Institute pointed out in their 2023 leadership report, continuous learning is directly linked to business success. Leaders who build regular learning habits—including reading—are more innovative, make better decisions and show higher confidence under pressure.
Books offer more than knowledge. They offer perspective, structure and a shift in mindset. And one good idea, properly timed, can do more for your business than any social media hack or productivity tool.
Reading Is a Strategic Advantage
In a world of fast information, deep knowledge is rare. Podcasts, blogs and bite-sized videos have their place, but they rarely give you the full picture. A book, on the other hand, slows you down. It lets you absorb an idea properly, consider its implications, and apply it in your own way.
The most effective business leaders aren’t chasing every new tactic. They’re rooted in strong principles and able to adapt with purpose. Many of those principles come from books—whether it’s learning to lead with integrity, understanding behavioural psychology, or refining how you think about customers, cash flow and company culture.
Books such as Drive by Daniel Pink or Good Strategy/Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt have shaped the thinking of entrepreneurs around the world—not because they give step-by-step instructions, but because they challenge the reader to think more clearly and lead more deliberately.
It Enhances Financial Thinking
One of the biggest challenges for business owners is getting a firm grip on finance. For those without a background in accounting or economics, it’s tempting to avoid the numbers entirely—until cash flow issues make that impossible.
Reading one well-written book on finance can demystify the basics. Titles like Profit First by Mike Michalowicz or The Barefoot Investor for Families (with lessons applicable to business budgeting too) help readers see money management not as a chore, but as a tool for sustainable growth.
A report from The Financial Capability Strategy found that over half of small business owners admit to struggling with financial decision-making. Regular reading can close this gap.
It Sharpens Resilience and Mental Fitness
Leadership is as much emotional as it is operational. The highs of a record month can be followed by the lows of a lost client or a difficult team issue. Reading books focused on mindset, stress management and emotional intelligence helps entrepreneurs stay centred in turbulent times.
Titles such as Dare to Lead by Brené Brown or Resilient by Dr Rick Hanson teach more than techniques—they offer frameworks for staying calm, building inner strength and leading with empathy.
Reading also serves as a powerful stress relief strategy in itself. The University of Sussex found that just six minutes of reading can reduce stress levels by up to 68%, making it more effective than listening to music, going for a walk or drinking tea.
It Supports Talent Development
Smart entrepreneurs don’t just read for themselves—they use what they learn to develop their teams. Whether it’s improving team communication, setting better goals or building a healthier workplace culture, books can be a quiet form of leadership training.
Sharing key takeaways from a book, or starting a small reading group within your company, creates a ripple effect. You don’t need to force it. Just let people opt-in. The impact over time can be significant—shared language, stronger relationships and more aligned decision-making.
Business owners using this approach often refer to The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, Radical Candor by Kim Scott or Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek as transformative reads, not just for themselves but for their entire business culture.
It Helps You Future-Proof Your Business
The pace of change in business today—through AI, automation, digital platforms, sustainability pressures and shifting consumer behaviours—makes standing still a risk. Reading books on innovation, future trends or emerging industries helps you stay ahead of the curve.
For example, books like The Future Is Faster Than You Think by Peter H. Diamandis, or Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez (on data bias and overlooked markets), help you spot opportunities your competitors might miss.
You don’t need to pivot every time a new trend appears. But being informed gives you the chance to lead, not just react.
Tips to Build the Habit
Block out 15 minutes each day. First thing in the morning or right before bed works well.
Keep a shortlist of books. Too many choices can slow you down.
Use a notebook or app to jot down key ideas and action points.
Set a monthly reading goal. One book. Just one.
Re-read the best ones. Some books offer more value the second or third time.
If audiobooks suit your lifestyle better, services like BorrowBox (via UK public libraries) and Audible make it easy to listen on the move.
Leadership Grows Where Curiosity Lives
The best entrepreneurs are not the ones who know it all. They’re the ones who keep learning, asking and adjusting. Reading one book a month won’t guarantee success. But it will help you become the kind of leader who knows how to spot it, build it and sustain it.
A better business starts with better thinking. And better thinking starts with what you feed your mind.
