How Book Clubs Can Make You a Better Business Leader

Media executive Fran Hauser credits her success, in part, to the community of readers around her.

Here at The Emerald, we believe that the benefits of book clubs are legion. They can facilitate relational connection, spark intellectual stimulation, promote diversity of thought, and can even become a springboard to community service. But book clubs can also make you a better business person. As the old saying goes, “leaders are readers.”

If you don’t believe us, just ask Fran Hauser. She is a longtime media executive and startup investor who has held senior positions at some of the world’s largest digital media companies, including People, InStyle, Entertainment Weekly and AOL. In 2018, Business Insider named Hauser one of “30 Women in Venture Capital to Watch.” She is also author of The Myth of the Nice Girl, which was named one of Amazon’s best business and leadership books of 2018.

Fran knows a little something about business, and she is also a book club evangelist. For this reason, we decided to sit down with her to discuss why she values them and the role they have played in her professional development.

EMERALD: You’re not just the author of a critically-acclaimed book; you are also a voracious reader and business leader. How have books played a critical role in your professional success?

FRAN: I came into my first managerial role at Coca-Cola with very little experience or training about how to lead a team of people. Feeling a bit lost, I started by turning to books. I read so many management and leadership books during those first few years. The very first one was The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, which had a profound impact on me both professionally and personally. I learned that our character is basically a composite of our habits, from taking responsibility for your own actions to being able to prioritize the stuff that really matters.

I also highly recommend The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins; it is THE book to read when it comes to career transitions and new jobs. It helped guide me as I navigated a new career at Time Inc., giving me clarity about how to define success and the importance of securing early wins (even if they are small). After I experienced how effective it was, it became the bible for every new hire I made.

E: One of the strengths of book clubs is their ability to help build community. As a strong female leader who has found success in a male-dominated world, how have the people you have surrounded yourself with positioned you for greater impact?

F: I always say that I would not have been able to successfully pivot in my career as often as I have if it weren’t for my network. When I transitioned from media to investing, it was in large part because of people like Soraya Darabi, who saw the need for more women investors, encouraged me to make the leap, and then introduced me to her network of NYC-based founders. The same goes for my book. When I think about the success of The Myth of the Nice Girl, it never would have happened without my agent Yfat Reiss Gendell or Ellen Archer and Rick Wolff at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. When you surround yourself with people who believe in you and share your values, you can achieve amazing things.

E: Have you ever personally been involved in a book club? If so, why did you find this to be more advantageous than reading alone?

F: One word: wine. Just kidding (kind of). I am in a book club with six of my girlfriends, and there are a ton of advantages. Last month, we read Disappearing Earth and actually had the author Julia Phillips join us for the discussion, which was incredible. I always love it in book clubs when we interpret things differently; in the case of Disappearing Earth, some of us interpreted it as a happy ending, whereas others thought the exact opposite — and that’s what makes the discussion so interesting. Also, because we all bring different perspectives and life experiences, what starts as a discussion about the characters often turns into a discussion about us.

E: What do you believe to be the value of book clubs beyond exposing oneself to new ideas?

F: In our tech-driven world, a lot of us are hungry for genuine human connection. Books clubs help you connect with people on an emotional level, in a way that you simply can’t do on Facebook or Instagram. I almost always leave our book club gatherings buzzing with joy and inspiration. And I love reflecting on what other people had to say. Sometimes the discussion will start me down a path of wondering, which is a beautiful escape from my to-do list.

E: You worked for years at one of America’s largest media companies, TIME Inc. What did that experience teach you about the power of big ideas to shape community and culture?

F: When you work at a big company, it’s easy to feel like your opinion doesn’t matter. But the truth is, we all have a voice, and you never know what can happen when you speak up. Finding my voice was instrumental in helping me get to the point where I could lead teams and shape the culture. Whether you’re a journalist exposing an issue that people aren’t paying attention to or a marketer proposing a new strategy, we all have the power to use our voice to make a difference.

E: If you were starting a book club for young business leaders today, what would be on your shortlist of books to read — besides The Myth of the Nice Girl, of course?

F: In addition to the books I mentioned earlier (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The First 90 Days), here’s what’s on my shortlist:

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: I would be nowhere today without my network. This book is a classic when it comes to building relationships that will help propel you throughout your career.

Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne: This book challenges conventional thinking about strategy and market competition.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson: Whatever you might think about Steve Jobs’ leadership style, his journey is enthralling and enlightening. The book will inspire you to challenge the status quo and never question the limits of your own creativity.

Mindset by Carol Dweck: A psychologist and researcher, Dweck offers fascinating insight into how a growth mindset can dramatically influence a person’s success.

The Startup Way by Eric Ries: This book shows how you can apply a startup mentality to any business (especially established corporations), with plenty of case studies and examples to back it up.