Analytical thinking increases the chance of career advancement
Find out what analytical thinking is and how you can advance your career thanks to it.
In the article you will learn:
Analytical thinking is related to the ability to gather and evaluate information, solve problems and make decisions. Employees who have this skill can quickly identify a problem, propose a solution and improve overall productivity and success in a team or company. Job candidates with strong analytical judgment are therefore attractive to employers.
In people with a strong analytical mindset, the left hemisphere dominates, which is responsible for logic and the dominance of “reason” over the senses. Analytically minded people do not give in to their emotions and often work in jobs such as programmer, statistician or notary. However, in case you don’t have analytics in your genes, there are ways to improve it.
What is actually analytical thinking?
Analytical skills are used in brainstorming, observing, interpreting data, integrating new information, theorizing, and making decisions based on multiple available factors and options. Employers often prefer employees with the ability to research a problem and find an effective solution. Solutions can be achieved through clear, methodical approaches or creative techniques. This can also impact your career growth. So, with analytical skills, you approach problems rationally and use logical judgement rather than your emotions to make decisions. People with a strong analytical mindset approach situations impersonally and with a certain distance. This is what makes their final decision objective, which is perceived as extremely positive by employers, especially in stressful work environments or for important projects.
An example of how analytical thinking works in practice
Example: a customer (insurance company) came to us after CR-close (deadline for submitting requests for the next software delivery) with a new CR (change request). They specified this request so that the change could be deployed to production within the defined deadline. The request was a new interface (batch) to automate the reporting of the insured people in the divorce process. This new functionality was to be able to identify relevant policyholders in the database and extract the divorce and property details of the policyholder so that the insurer could report them to another institution via a generated file.
Creating a batch is always a complex and time-consuming task. Based on the customer requirement, a new process diagram is modelled and within it, logically interdependent rules are defined that serve as the basis for implementation. The first step was to develop a cost estimate, which we specify in PT (man-days). However, we had no chance to deliver in the required quality in the next software delivery. Since we had the divorce process implemented and implementable through a GUI (Graphical User Interface), it occurred to me to try to include the creation of the newly required file in the process.
Instead of new functionality for automated file creation via batch, the application would add a new field to the existing distribution process that would serve as a trigger to generate the required file for a given policyholder. After discussion with development again, this solution proved to be feasible and was agreed to by the customer.
Consequently, it was necessary to pre-prioritize the CRs that were to be included in the next software delivery. We evaluated that if we moved the two smaller requirements to a later date, we could handle this requirement instead in the current delivery. In the end, the customer was satisfied because they could put the change into production within the statutory timeframe. Thus, in solving the problem, we analyzed the reality of the situation based on observation and evaluation of all relevant factors and assessed the feasibility of the requirement itself. We had to change and adapt our strategy several times in order to satisfy the client in putting the change into production within the statutory deadline. But in the end, we figured out a way to meet all the requirements and deliver a result that the client was happy with. And all of this only through analytical thinking.
Types of analytical skills
Few people have a strongly developed analytical mind, but everyone has some analytical skills. As part of the job application process, you need to highlight specific analytical skills on your CV, depending on the position you are applying for. You should definitely mention these five skills in case they are characteristic of you. In fact, it is their inclusion that may determine your future employment.
Communication
As they say, communication is the basis of everything. In work, but also in everyday life, it is therefore essential to be an effective communicator in order to be able to discuss one’s own ideas and suggestions, together with conclusions and recommendations. You will appear more confident in front of your employer, who will also get the impression that you are confident in your decisions, which will increase your value in the work team and your worth on the job market. Analytical communication skills include:
- active listening,
- survey,
- teamwork,
- oral communication,
- written communication,
- presentation skills.
So these are fairly common abilities that you may not even have known were related to analytical thinking. Think about how you manage working in a team. Do you find it difficult to present ideas in front of colleagues or do you have a habit of jumping in, not giving them your full attention or reacting passive-aggressively? By analysing your strengths and weaknesses, you will be able to evaluate your analytical communication skills and use them to your advantage.
Creativity
Analyzing information often requires a creative and skilled eye with the ability to spot and detect subtle details or trends in data that others may not see. But creativity is also important in problem solving. An employee with strong analytical skills will think outside the box, resulting in the ability to come up with effective and original solutions. This makes them an invaluable part of the work team. Creative skills include:
- brainstorming,
- budgeting,
- cooperation,
- optimization,
- predictive modelling,
- restructuring,
- strategic planning,
- integration.
However, the current times have a negative impact on the creativity of employees. They are often under a lot of pressure to come up with new and innovative solutions and ideas, which over time takes a toll on their mental health. Not only do they have to deal with stress, but many times also with burnout syndrome. However, at our company, the health of our employees comes first and we treat each team member individually and humanely.
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is related to evaluating information and then making decisions based on specific findings. This analytical ability greatly helps in solving the problems of the society. An employee who approaches a situation critically becomes a valuable member of the team because of his or her ability to objectively and factually assess as well as evaluate the problem and propose an adequate solution. Critical thinking includes:
- process control,
- auditing,
- benchmarking,
- big data analysis,
- business intelligence,
- causal relationships,
- comparative analysis,
- correlation,
- decision-making,
- inductive reasoning,
- interpretation of data,
- setting priorities,
- problem solving.
Data analysis
In the context of analytical thinking, we can’t forget about data analysis. This is the process of breaking down a complex problem into its individual parts. It means that you pay attention to specific data in an effort to better and more accurately evaluate the situation and therefore the desired effective solution to the problem. There are many different types of data analysis, but the most common ones you will encounter in a work environment are:
- business analysis,
- strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis,
- cost analysis,
- critical analysis,
- descriptive analysis,
- financial analysis,
- predictive analysis,
- process analysis,
- qualitative and quantitative analysis,
- ROI analysis.
Research
The ability to collect data and research a particular topic is also a fundamental analytical skill. This includes online research, data gathering and competitive intelligence. Analytical research skills include collecting metrics, data, setting priorities or checking for accuracy.
How to highlight your analytical thinking?
Analytical thinking is appreciated by many employers, so it’s best to emphasise this skill when applying for a job. List your analytical skills with a specific example of where you have used them. Your skills may come from previous work experience, volunteering or school. Focus on what you are good at and show why you would be a great asset to the work team.
Tips on how to improve analytical thinking and skills
Being analytical gives you more detailed information about the topic and helps you make more rational decisions. Employers want to see that you can not only gather information, but also articulate it and solve complex problems. We can advise you on how to improve both your analytical thinking and your skills.
1. Read more
An important part of analytical activity involves vigilance and constant stimulation. Regular reading can keep your mind active, make your brain think in new ways, and encourage you to look at the issues in the book differently.
2. Build your math skills
The math involves solving the equation step by step to get the correct answer. All forms of math are logical, so honing your math skills is a great way to improve your analytical thinking and abilities. Practice different types of math problems to help you build your logic and problem solving skills.
3. Play games that boost your cognitive abilities
Games like this challenge you to think deeply and logically. Although they are mostly perceived as fun, this type of game is a common and preferred method used to hone analytical skills. A great example is playing sudoku, board games or doing crossword puzzles.
4. Learn something new
Expanding the skills and knowledge you have acquired so far can also improve your analytical thinking or skills. The more you learn, the more information and methods you can use to solve problems and analyse situations. Many people become passive learners after completing the required education. Strengthen your cognitive skills by learning something new every day – something that interests you, or get better at an activity you are passionate about. You can also take an online course in a subject you don’t know and are intrigued by, or learn a new foreign language. This will also help you to expand your knowledge in areas you didn’t know before and make you a little bit smarter again. (As part of our employee benefits, we also support colleagues’ growth through language courses.)
5.
Buď pozornejší a vnímavejší
Paying attention to detail and being more perceptive of your surroundings is a great way to improve your analytical thinking and skills. This aspect allows you to understand how certain things work and interact. Engaging your sensory perceptions as well as actively participating in the world around you will help you improve your analytical skills. A very small thing can also be helpful. Try observing birds and their interactions, or consider the multiple connections and patterns taking place in the outside world. Paying more attention to the small, seemingly unimportant details in your life will help you in your working life.
6. Join the discussion club
Working in a group environment allows you to meet other people and discuss ideas, problems and other situations. Understanding how others process information and interpret their surroundings will greatly help you to guide your own world view and develop your analytical thinking and skills.
7. Write down your experiences in a diary
Regularly recording the events of your day in a journal gives you time to reflect on yourself. When things don’t go according to plan, you can learn from those mistakes. This is because much of the analysis involves trial and error. Keeping a diary helps you to apply the knowledge you’ve gained to current problems and improve your thinking and analytical skills when considering the future.
8. Často sa pýtaj
When someone asks a question, they often ask for an explanation so that they can better understand the issue. Expressing curiosity provides different perspectives and allows you to compare your own opinion with someone else’s. Sometimes common questions will lead us to a different answer than originally expected. This is a common condition in any situation, and especially in problem solving, as your brain becomes more actively wired to think more analytically.
9. Download apps
While not all apps can help improve your analytical skills, many are helpful in this regard. Logging what you eat each day via a mobile app allows you to track and analyse your daily calorie and nutritional intake. Similar apps allow you to interpret the data and take the necessary steps to adjust and improve your diet. In the same way, using apps such as budget tracking can help you identify past spending habits and determine how to proceed with future ones. While honing your analytical skills takes practice, there are a few ways through which you can make sure you stay motivated. The more you experience, the more you’ll be able to improve your analytical thinking and skills, and increase your value in your professional life as well.
Improving analytical thinking and skills is in the interest of every employee
Analytical thinking is linked to the ability to gather and analyse information, solve problems and make appropriate decisions. Most employers require applicants to have analytical skills. They are used to solve problems that may not have obvious solutions or have multiple variables. There are many types of analytical skills, including communication, creativity, critical thinking, data analysis, and research. Try our guide on how to improve your analytical thinking and skills and become a valuable team player who will impress any future employer with your resume and skills. How your career develops depends on it too. Make sure you move up in your work and in your everyday life.
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