A couple of weeks ago I received my student login details from the Heriot-Watt University. At last, I finally had access to my database journals in order to prepare for my research studies. And so earlier tonight I eagerly downloaded relevant articles related to my research interest, which revolves around organisational change and sustainability.
Upon downloading a number of articles, I decided to read one of them. To my horror I found I was lacking the “speed and agility” required for me to read through my first article. It was tedious, daunting and…at times just boring. I was speed reading through trying to find the “juicy nuggets” from the article but my gleaming efforts did not produce much fruit. I was slowly beginning to feel frustrated and anonyed when a pivotal thought just hit me.
This is not my corporate consulting work. When that thought it my head, I realised how foolish I had been with my valiant efforts to read and chunk down these academic journal articles. These articles are not meant to help me solve a problem at work, but rather to educate my mind, to build my foundational knowledge in organisational sustainability and change so that I can produce a decent research proposal for my future thesis. Upon reflecting and experiencing this “paradigm shift” I slowly started to just enjoy the reading. To read as though I am in a lecture hall, with a professor up in front delivering a lecture to me on my subject matter.
Yes academic reading is different from work reading. As I took my first baby steps into engaging in academic reading tonight, I realised I needed to change the way I read and perceive academic journal articles. I should look at this as an opportunity to further and broaden my knowledge and understanding of what these articles are trying to convey to me.
And more importantly, like one of my friends who is also considering doing her PhD reminds me – don’t rush through this journey, its a process. I can see why she said that. Reading these articles are a process to me. Its a gradual process to help me feed my mind, to keep me motivated on my topic and to help me grow my knowledge.
