Putting the words you read into practice

Did you know that even as you read this sentence, your brain is developing a multitude of skills you may not even be aware of. Your cognitive development is enhanced the moment you indulge in any kind of literature from blogs to online articles and from books to journals.

Reading is proven to enhance your memory, reading speed and comprehension, not to mention your oral and written skills. Don’t forget that higher level skills such as critical thinking, analytical and persuasion skills help to enhance your articulation and overall understanding of concepts. Here are ways in which literary texts can support your long-term career goals and give you skills for work.

Articulation

Many people struggle to explain their ideas fully or find the right words for it. Reading will help you develop the right vocabulary, form better sentences and allow you to explain things in a clear and coherent manner. Others will see that you are well-spoken, know what you are talking about and value your contributions.

Memory enhancement

During your literary endeavors, you will recall and remember sequences of events and historical periods, helping to enhance your memory. Not only will you pick up new words too you will also maintain concentration levels and be more attentive. As some written materials will be highly interesting to you as an individual, you will naturally be drawn to reading and hence gain a better focus.

Take a short memory quiz

Does reading improve memory

Critical thinking

Being able to critically evaluate concepts, tasks, events and the like and find solutions to problems is one of the best ways to be forward thinking, solution focused and motivated to do better, which is key to what employers are looking for. Reading material that allows you to think of new perspectives and give your opinion, will give you the confidence to be more involved in the teams work and to take ownership of your role.

Test your critical thinking skills

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Persuasion

Being able to influence others is a top skill as you would be able to work on ideas that you are passionate about and those you think would make a positive impact to your work. Being persuasive means you have leadership qualities and good interaction skills, which will highlight your strenghts to your employers. This means you may have greater opportunities for promotions or even strong recommendations for your next role.

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Reading Speed

Enhancing your reading speed will help you get through your work much more efficiently, enabling you to meet deadlines and make faster decisions. One way to help yourself is the hand pacing technique, where you can point to your sentences to sharpen your focus and speed. The most important thing to remember is that the more you continue to read material, whatever it may be, the more your reading speed is developed.

Test your reading speed

How to speed read: 6 easy techniques

Remember that literature means more than just novels, poetry, creative writing and books. It encompasses all kinds of material from leaflets to published articles. Your everyday reading is subconsciously building a set of skills that you can use long-term, not only for your future job, but also for your own intellectual growth.