How many words can you read per minute? What about at 10 pm at night when faced with a 20 page case study that is due for the next day? What about your ability to understanding what you are reading?
It did not take me long to recognize that to get more out of an MBA lecture, it was critical to do the advanced readings suggested by the faculty. The readings suggested are not that tough but it was the volume of reading required that was the biggest shock. You will quickly realize that the effort you put into preparing for the lecture is directly related to the value you walk away with at the end of the lecture.
I have never been a quick reader and at the start of my MBA I knew I would need to start preparing for certain lectures weeks in advance using my current reading speed. So I did some research on how I could improve my reading speed before the MBA started – enter the speed reading course! A quick search on Groupon at the time threw up a few results for low-cost and on-demand courses. I was surprised to learn that the techniques being taught were not difficult and the changes in my reading speed were hugely evident after only 30 minutes of practice.
A typical speed reading course will teach a student to not only improve their reading speed but also improve their understanding of the material being read. Spending time learning this skill virtually paid for itself while preparing for my first lecture. I would highly recommend that any future MBA student takes some time to develop this important soft skill needed in an MBA before starting their program.
Rylan Dobson is an MBA candidate at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. He is currently a Director on the Executive Committee of SFU’s Net Impact Chapter and is a Beedie student Ambassador. Rylan’s future career goal is to work with global organizations to improve the way they use natural resources, specifically water, to enhance both economic growth and social equality. Rylan has a post-graduate degree in Biotechnology and is an experienced project management professional. Contact Rylan on LinkedIn, email or through Twitter.