READING

 

Reading faster The second aspect of this approach is to improve your actual reading speed and here again there are a number of techniques to learn.

 

One extremely useful technique is to use a guide such as a pencil, a cursor or even your finger to underline the words as you read. Your guide in this context is your pace-setter and keeps your eyes moving along the line smoothly. On its own people find that this one technique can sometimes double their reading speed because it simply helps them to improve their focus. Another technique which I have already alluded to is to maintain momentum. So when you have the urge to go back over something you have just read – don't do it. Stop yourself. Instead keep reading forward. Rereading text is just a bad habit that you have to learn to break.

 

In this respect the first part of the process is to create a positive attitude towards your task. If you are in a negative frame of mind you will find that you absorb very little of what you are reading. So what beliefs do you need to have in order to become an accomplished speed reader?

 

One surprising insight about beliefs is that they are not fixed. You may tend to act is if they are but upon examination you will find that over time your beliefs will have changed considerably. So can you change your beliefs around speed reading? Can you, for example, try out this belief…'I believe that I can learn speed reading very easily' or perhaps this one 'I believe that in three weeks I will be able to read at least three times faster than I read now'.

 

In essence then if you want to develop your skill as a speed reader you will need to do more than simply learn about the techniques. You will need to apply yourself to learning with commitment and with a positive belief until you are reaping the benefits of this approach. In this respect you can help your self by:

 

o being clear what outcomes you want to get from becoming a speed reader

 

o choosing the attitude that will help you to become positively engaged with the material that you are about to read

 

o suspending disbelief and working towards a belief that is consistent with your goals

 

o taking account of your energy and your own rhythms of learning and, when necessary, taking breaks and relax

 

o managing your environment so that you are not disturbed or interrupted

 

Conclusion

 

For all of us learning to learn is becoming less of a choice and more of a necessity. It is not only a response to an accelerating world but it is also about harnessing our potential and becoming truly effective in the world in which we work.

 

So should you be learning how to speed read? Is it worth the investment of your time and energy? Only you can assess how much information you have to take in every week and how much pressure you feel as you try to keep abreast of all the latest advances in your industry. But if you want to improve your ability to manage information overload and keep your knowledge up to date then I believe that speed reading is part of that answer.

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