I'm fairly low time but checked out on five or so types. Here's what I do when I encounter a new type. Instead of just reading the POH, I make my own personal extract from the POH, containing:
- Speeds that are important but not color coded on the ASI: Vr, Vx, Vy, Va and Vref
- Cruise performance plus fuel flow table + usable fuel per tank
- T/O and L/D distance assuming ISA, nil wind, MSL, MTOW
- Useful load calculation for a sample aircraft from our club, plus a W/B calculation for 2 adults up front, full fuel, nil pax and cargo, to see if there's balance issues. And a W/B calculation for three adults, full fuel, so see if that will work.
- Noise data
This helps me go through the POH a little more structured (although I do read it over in full) and also gives me an idea when the numbers are "tight" in some respect, meaning that I should do a calculation for W&B, performance, distance or whatever for the specific situation.