The Surprising Benefits of Reading Fiction for Professional Success

Hi Friends👋,

In July, I have been spending quite a lot of my time reading classic fiction like "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" by Ernest Hemingway, "The Moon and Sixpence" by W. Somerset Maugham, and "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut. Right now, I'm deep into "The Magic Mountain" by Thomas Mann. 📚🌄

Many of you know I love reading, but I usually stick to non-fiction—economics, history, business, and philosophy. About 85-90% of my reading is in these areas, and I leverage this to shape my understanding of the world 🌍 (and use them as raw materials for many previous episodes 😉).

I've always prided myself on being rational and analytical (INTJ vibes!), believing the best idea and person will always prevail. But I've come to understand the importance of emotions and motives. In consulting, "reading the room" is crucial, especially with multiple stakeholders. It's not just about great analysis; client satisfaction matters too. 🤝

I still remember joining a high-stakes meeting for a data center relocation in China in my most recent project. The global team focused on cost-saving and control, while the local team needed flexibility for market adaptability. Tensions rose, but my project manager skillfully navigated the conflict reading the room, pitching a phased approach that satisfied both teams. 🎉🛠️

I wondered how people develop such emotional sensitivity and room-reading skills. Surprisingly, research shows that reading literary fiction is a powerful tool for this. 📖✨

Right now, you might be thinking, "how on earth does reading about Wizard or dragon have anything to help with understanding others?" 🤔

Fiction Puts You in Someone Else’s Neurological Shoes

We often talk about "putting yourself in someone else's shoes" to foster mutual understanding. Research by Natalie M. Phillips reveals that reading about a character’s experiences, such as hiking, can make your brain feel like you’re actually hiking. Fiction reading not only activates the language processing centers of your brain but also engages the motor cortex and sensory areas. 🧠

By immersing yourself in someone else's experiences through fiction, you gain a neurological preview of their life. This practice enhances empathy and improves your ability to understand others. Think of it as a brain workout, but without the physical effort. 💪

For example, while reading The Moon and Sixpence, I was drawn deeply into the narrator's perspective, which helped me grasp multiple viewpoints. This is handy in a room full of stakeholders with differing opinions! 🌟

In The Moon and Sixpence, I saw the world through the narrator's eyes, particularly the enigmatic Charles Strickland. Strickland leaves his life as a stockbroker to pursue an all-consuming passion for art, challenging our usual ideas about duty and societal norms. Confronting the narrator's biases and judgments made me more adept at handling different viewpoints and navigating complex emotions—a priceless skill in any collaborative environment.

Immersed in the narrator's perspective, I grappled with Strickland's shocking actions, such as abandoning his family and moving to Paris to live in poverty for the sake of his art. This journey broadened my understanding and enhanced my empathy for those who think and act differently from me.

I vividly remember when Strickland, now in Tahiti, creates his final masterpiece, a mural that captures his vision but comes at a great personal cost. Witnessing these events through the narrator’s eyes made the story feel incredibly personal and transformative.

Seeing from Others' Perspectives Makes You More Open-Minded

A while back, I read a 2013 study that discussed how some people like to quickly make decisions and avoid uncertainty. I realized I was one of those people who clung to the first piece of information I got and found it hard to change my mind when new details emerged. This often made me overconfident in my initial, sometimes flawed, beliefs. 🤔

But then, I started reading more fiction. 📚 Literature makes you slow down, absorb a lot of information (which might seem irrelevant to the main plot for a lot of classics), and remain flexible in your thinking. For example, when I read Lolita, I despised the narrator Humbert Humbert, but I was forced to understand his twisted mindset along the reading journey to finish the book.

I gradually learned to change my mind about people and not to be fixated on my first impressions. In novels, there's always a plot twist revealing the true nature of different characters. It's fascinating how a seemingly good character can expose their flawed side, and vice versa. This constant reshuffling of character dynamics in fiction made me realize that people in real life are also multi-faceted and can surprise you. This lesson has been incredibly valuable in my interactions with others. 🌟

In my work, being open-minded has been a game-changer. Whether I'm meeting new clients or collaborating with colleagues, this reduced tendency to jump to conclusions has helped me better understand and navigate diverse perspectives. It fosters more effective communication and collaboration. 🤝 I remember a consulting project where being open to different viewpoints sparked innovative solutions and built a stronger rapport with the client, ultimately boosting the project's success. 🚀

Learning to read the room

Imagine getting a crash course in human behavior from the comfort of your couch 🛋️. A good novel often condenses the lives of one or many people into a rich tapestry of experiences 📚. You learn from what characters say, how they behave, and how they interact within different power dynamics. Gradually, you begin to analyze patterns, understand different personality types, and predict how people might react in various situations. This helps you better navigate social interactions and read the room more effectively.

One fascinating study compared readers' scores on the classic "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" (MIE) assessment, which measures one's ability to determine someone else's emotions based on their facial expressions alone. This test is also a gauge of a person's theory of mind—the ability to infer the mental states, intentions, and beliefs of others.

The results were striking: fiction readers scored higher than non-readers and readers of nonfiction. Researchers suggested that reading fiction allows you to practice taking on someone else's perspective, thereby enhancing your social awareness. Beyond the MIE test, research shows that reading literary fiction improves one’s theory of mind 🧠 and emotional intelligence 💡.

In essence, diving into a well-crafted story makes you more observant 👀, compassionate 💖, and emotionally responsive 🌟. You'll find it easier to notice when a friend or loved one is upset, allowing you to act accordingly rather than worsening the situation. So next time you pick up a novel, know that you're not just enjoying a good read—you're honing your social skills and emotional intelligence in the most engaging way possible 📖.

The Moral of the Story

So, if you want to be more empathetic, socially aware, and just a generally nicer person, pick up a novel! 📖 From understanding complex emotions to performing simple acts of kindness, fiction has got you covered. And who knows, it might just make you a better consultant too!

Despite listing out all these benefits and studies in this episode, I am still at a beginner level in truly understanding human behavior and being observant to these power dynamics. But I think reading fiction is a great and probably easier way for me to gradually pick up this skill. It’s going to be a long journey, not a silver bullet or immediate solution like most non-fiction books that give quick answers.

I encourage you to try it out and let me know what you think! Or, if you have any other suggestions for boosting this capability, I'd love to hear them. Let's embark on this journey together—who knows, we might even have some fun along the way! 😄

Happy reading! 📚✨

Sherman