Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC)

Subject: Soft Skills

Topic: Thinking skills

PLAN
1. What is thinking?
2. Types of thinking
3. Analytical thinking skills
4. Critical thinking skills
5. Creative thinking skills
6. Agile thinking skills (Agile mindset)

Acquaintance with the text of the lecture students will receive information about the different
types of thinking skills and will know why developing these skills are so important in today’s
world.

1. What is thinking?

In this lecture, we will clarify what is thinking, what types of thinking are in general and why
people have different types of thinking skills. What is the reason behind of these different
thinking skills we have?
Thinking is the cognitive activities you use to process information, solve problem, make
decision, create new ideas. You use thinking skill when try to make sense of experiences,
organize information, make connections, ask questions, make plans, or decide what to do.
As we know learning does not only rote learning which is memorizing of information based on
repetition. Examples of rote learning are the alphabet, rhythms and poems, numbers,
multiplication tables, statistical and chemical formulae etc. However, its role is limited to
learning of basic facts and figures. In order to pursue higher levels of learning or to move up in
your chosen profession, it will be helpful if thinking skills are developed. It will ensure that the
learning that takes place will not only be based on real understanding of the subject but will also
be of a more lasting nature. It is more so because such learning will be borne out of one’s own
conviction.
You can improve your thinking skills by understating specific types of thinking, how they work,
and practicing improving your thinking abilities. As you become more conscious about these
skills, you become a better learner and a more efficient practitioner of your professionalism.
2. Types of thinking
There is main four types of “thinking skills” or ways to think:
 convergent or analytical thinking
 divergent thinking
 critical thinking
 creative thinking.

We use these skills to help us understand the world around us, think critically, solve problems,
make logical choices, and develop our own values and beliefs.

3. Analytical thinking skills

Analytical thinking is the ability to tackle complicated issues by evaluating information you’ve
gathered and organized. Analytical thinkers can detect patterns between datasets that often lead
to creative solutions. They are able to turn noisy data and information into action. As critical
thinkers, they help teams make informed decisions based on collected data and identified
goals. Analytical thinkers also help their team embrace new ideas and develop a growth mindset.

Behavioral indicators of analytical thinkers:

1. Collects information and data.

2. Extracts relevant data in order to identify possible causes for the problem.

3. Critically examines issues by breaking them down into manageable parts.

4. Analyses information to determine and ascertain the most likely cause of the problem.
5. Identifies the logical, factual outcomes based on the data, information and analyses
conducted.

6. Identifies action to prevent the problem from occurring partially or totally

Employees who possess these skills can help solve a company’s problems and improve its
overall productivity and success.

Employers look for employees with the ability to investigate a problem and find the ideal
solution in a timely, efficient manner. The skills required to solve problems are known as
analytical skills.

You use analytical skills when detecting patterns, brainstorming, observing, interpreting data,
integrating new information, theorizing, and making decisions based on the multiple factors and
options available. Solutions can be reached by clear-cut, methodical approaches, or through more
creative techniques. Both ways of solving a problem require analytical skills.

How analytical skills work

Most types of work require analytical skills. You use them to solve problems that may not have
obvious solutions or that have several variables.

Let's say you're the manager of a restaurant and have been going over budget on food for the past
two weeks. You review the menus and what customers have ordered along with food costs from
your suppliers. You see that the cost of seafood has increased over the past two weeks. When
you talk to the supplier, they explain that there's been a disruption in the supply chain due to
weather. They've increased costs to compensate. You decide to reduce your seafood order to
lower costs and work with your chef to develop new specials that take advantage of other protein
options. In this example, you used analytical skills to review data from different sources,
integrated new information, and made a decision based on your observations.
Types of analytical skills

The best analytical skills to highlight on a resume depend on the position you're applying for.
Here are five skills to consider.

Communication- Analysis only goes so far if you can't share and implement your findings. You
need to be an effective communicator to discuss the patterns you see and your conclusions and
recommendations. Analytical communication skills include:

 Problem sensitivity
 Active listening
 Reporting
 Surveying
 Teamwork
 Oral communication
 Written communication
 Conducting presentations

Creativity-Analyzing information often requires a creative eye to spot trends in the data that
others may not find. Creativity is also important when it comes to problem-solving. The obvious
solution is not always the best option. Employees with strong analytical skills will think outside
the box to come up with effective solutions to big problems. Creative skill sets include:

 Budgeting
 Brainstorming
 Collaboration
 Optimization
 Predictive modeling
 Restructuring
 Strategic planning
  Integration

Critical Thinking-Critical thinking refers to evaluating information and then making a decision
based on your findings. Critical thinking is what helps an employee make decisions that
help solve problems for a company. It may include:

 Process management
 Auditing
 Benchmarking
 Big data analytics
 Business intelligence
 Case analysis
 Causal relationships
 Classifying
 Comparative analysis
 Correlation
 Decision-making
 Deductive reasoning
 Inductive reasoning
 Diagnostics
 Dissecting
 Evaluating
 Data interpretation
 Judgment
 Prioritization
 Troubleshooting
Data Analysis -No matter what your career fields, being good at analysis means being able to
examine a large volume of data and identify trends in that data. You have to go beyond just
reading and understanding information to make sense of it by highlighting patterns for top
decision-makers.

There are many different types of data analysis, but some of the most common ones in today's
workplace include:

 Business analysis
 Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis
 Cost analysis
 Credit analysis
 Critical analysis
 Descriptive analysis
 Financial analysis
 Industry research
 Policy analysis
 Predictive analytics
 Prescriptive analytics
 Process analysis
 Qualitative analysis
 Quantitative analysis
 Return on investment (ROI) analysis

Research-You must learn more about a problem before you can solve it, so an essential
analytical skill is being able to collect data and research a topic. This can involve reviewing
spreadsheets, researching online, collecting data, and looking at competitor information.

Analytical research skills include:

  Investigation
 Metrics
 Data collection
 Prioritization
 Checking for accuracy

Analytical thinking is a soft skill, but field-specific, technical types of analysis are hard skills.
Both should be highlighted on your resume and in interviews.

4. Critical thinking skills

Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical
connection between ideas. Critical thinking has been the subject of much debate and thought
since the time of early Greek philosophers such as Plato and Socrates and has continued to be a
subject of discussion into the modern age, for example the ability to recognize fake news.
Critical thinking might be described as the ability in reflective and independent thinking. In
essence, critical thinking requires you to use your ability to reason. It is about being an active
learner rather than a passive recipient of information. Critical thinkers rigorously question ideas
and assumptions rather than accepting them at face value. They will always seek to determine
whether the ideas, arguments and findings represent the entire picture and are open to finding
that they do not. Critical thinkers will identify, analyze, and solve problems systematically rather
than by intuition or instinct.
Someone with critical thinking skills can:
 Understand the links between ideas
 Determine the importance and relevance of arguments and ideas
 Recognize, build, and appraise arguments.
 Identify inconsistencies and errors in reasoning.
 Approach problems in a consistent and systematic way.
 Reflect on the justification of their own assumptions, beliefs, and values.
Critical thinking is thinking about things in certain ways so as to arrive at the best possible
solution in the circumstances that the thinker is aware of. In more everyday language, it is a way
of thinking about whatever is presently occupying your mind so that you come to the best
possible conclusion.

Main characteristics of critical thinking

Critical thinking includes a complex combination of skills. They are accuracy, precision,
relevance, depth, breadth, logic, significance and fairness.

Critical thinkers display the following characteristics:

 They are by nature skeptical. They approach texts with the same skepticism and suspicion
as they approach spoken remarks.
 They are active, not passive. They ask questions and analyze. They consciously apply
tactics and strategies to uncover meaning or assure their understanding.
 They do not take an egotistical view of the world. They are open to new ideas and
perspectives. They are willing to challenge their beliefs and investigate competing
evidence. By contrast, passive, non-critical thinkers take a simplistic view of the world.
 They see things in black and white, as either-or, rather than recognizing a variety of
possible understandings.
 They see questions as yes-or-no with no subtleties.

5 important critical thinking skills

Here are five common and impactful critical thinking skills you might consider including on
your resume or discussing in your interview:

1. Observation
2. Analysis
3. Inference
4. Communication
 5. Problem solving

1.Observation-Observational skills are the starting point for critical thinking. People who are
observant can quickly sense and identify a new problem. Those skilled in observation are also
capable of understanding why something might be a problem. They may even be able to predict
when a problem might occur before it happens based on their experience. Improve your
observation skills by slowing down your pace of processing information and training yourself to
pay closer attention to your surroundings.

You might practice mindfulness techniques, journaling or actively listening during and outside of
work to thoroughly examine what you’re hearing or seeing. Then, consider if you notice trends
in behavior, transactions or data that might be helpful for your team to address.

2. Analysis-Once a problem has been identified, analysis skills become essential. The ability to
analyze and effectively evaluate a situation involves knowing what facts, data or information
about the problem are important. This also often includes gathering unbiased research, asking
relevant questions about the data to ensure its accurate and assessing the findings objectively.

Improve your analytical skills by taking on new experiences. For example, you might read a
book about a concept you’re unfamiliar with or take an online math class to push yourself to
think in new ways and consider new ideas. Doing so can help you build the skills to interpret
new information and make rational decisions based on sound analysis.

3. Inference-Inference is a skill that involves drawing conclusions about the information you
collect and may require you to possess technical or industry-specific knowledge or experience.
When you make an inference, that means you are developing answers based on limited
information. For example, a car mechanic may need to infer what is causing a car’s engine to
stall at seemingly random times based on the information available to them.

Improve your inference skills by placing focus on making educated guesses rather than quickly
drawing conclusions. This requires slowing down to look for as many clues as possible—such as
images, data or reports—that might help you evaluate a situation. Carefully consider all the
pieces of the puzzle together before making a decision.

4. Communication-Communication skills are important when it comes time to explain and

discuss issues and their possible solutions with colleagues and other stakeholders.
Communication is an important skill to have and improve on for many purposes at work
including critical thinking.

Improve your communication skills within the context of critical thinking by engaging in
difficult discussions, for example, where you and another participant may hold differing views
about the topic. Maintain good communication habits like active listening and respect to try to
understand their perspective and explain your ideas in a calm, rational manner. This can help
prepare you to evaluate solutions more effectively with your colleagues.

5. Problem-solving-After you’ve identified a problem, analyzed it and explored possible

remedies, the final step is to execute the solution. Problem-solving often requires critical
thinking to implement the best solution and understand whether or not the solution is working as
it relates to the goal.

Improve your problem-solving skills by setting goals to acquire more industry knowledge
within your field. Problem-solving at work typically becomes easier if you have a strong
understanding of industry-specific information. It can also be helpful to observe how others
around you solve problems at work—take note of their techniques and ask questions about their
process.

5 strategies to grow critical thinking skills

Through continuous learning and reasoned but rapid analysis, professionals can become better
critical thinkers.
Professional Development-Critical thinking skills are often mentioned as a key trait employers
seek in potential hires. But what exactly is critical thinking? Conversations with other
professionals show that not everyone is certain about the definition.

Critical thinking can be described as disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and
informed by evidence. While that seems to describe the ability of many accounting professionals,
some leaders in organizations today have a strong feeling that this ability is fading. Here are
strategies that will help you and your team grow critical thinking skills:

Strategy 1: Be a continuous learner. Learners have a natural sense of curiosity about the world
and their profession. They read and talk to people. Basically, they educate themselves without
being told to. This can come from reading, talking to subject matter experts, listening to lectures
online, or attending conferences. The more workers know, the more evidence they have to
consider when making a decision.

Strategy 2: Make the right decision for the majority. Critical thinkers put their egos aside and
think about what is best for the overall organization, even if that is not the best solution for the
individual. Their goal is seeking to understand and then making a clear and rational decision that
is best for the majority.

Strategy 3: Listen and consider unconventional opinions. Critical thinkers have a tendency to
seek out new solutions to old problems. They don’t like the phrase “that is the way we have
always done it.” They also see that collaboration with their team, their profession, and sometimes
their competitors will bring about the best solutions, and they are OK with that.

Strategy 4: Avoid analysis paralysis. Critical thinkers will avoid the trap of too much
information and getting stuck in the decision-making process by looking at the big picture and
the details. They recognize they will never have 100% of the information they might be able to
gather, but they also know they can move forward and adjust a decision later if necessary.
Strategy 5: Analyze yourself. Critical thinkers develop a skill for explaining to others why they
came to a specific conclusion. Others can follow their reasoning and can understand their
thinking. They are willing to change their views when they are provided with more information
that allows greater understanding.

5. Creative thinking skills

Creative thinking is the ability to consider something in a new way. It might be a new approach
to a problem, a resolution to a conflict, or a new result from a data set. Creative thinking is the
process of nurturing your imagination allowing you to “think out of the box”.

Creative thinking is about applying imagination to finding a solution to your learning task. It is
embodying a relaxed, open, playful approach and is less ordered, structured and predictable than
critical thinking. Therefore, it also requires some risk-taking as there is a chance that you will
make ‘mistakes ‘or not come up with an answer at all. You need to be prepared to cope with the
resultant risk, confusion and disorder. If you are generally ordered and organized this may take
some getting used to. Creative thinking skills are as much about attitude and self-confidence as
about talent.

Creative thinking skills involve such approaches as:

- Engaging in reflection.

- Looking for many possible answers rather than one.

- Allowing yourself to make wild and crazy suggestions as well as those that seem sensible.

- Not judging ideas early in the process - treat all ideas as if they may contain the seeds of
something potentially useful.

- Allowing yourself to doodle, daydream or play with a theory or suggestion.

- Being aware that these approaches necessarily involve making lots of suggestions that are
unworkable and may sound silly.

- Making mistakes.

- Learning from what has not worked as well as what did.

Every person can improve their creative thinking skills. By doing so, it will help you create,
interpret and come with solutions to challenges in your daily life routines at school, university,
organization or simply at home. Often, creativity involves lateral thinking, which is the ability to
perceive patterns that are not obvious. Creative thinking might mean devising new ways to carry
out tasks, solve problems, and meet challenges. It means bringing a fresh, and sometimes
unorthodox, perspective to your work. This way of thinking can help departments and
organizations be more productive.

Creativity thinking isn't limited to artistic types. Creative thinking is a skill that anyone can
nurture and develop.

“Everyone is born creative” – Hugh Macleod

A group of CEOs were asked “What is the skill you most value in your people?” as part of
a survey, they said creativity, the ability to solve problems, come up with new solutions, and use
brainpower to figure things out.
Everyone should become a creative thinker Being able to train your mind to think
creatively helps you invent, problem-solve, create and communicate in fresh, new ways. When
you think open-mindedly you become a happier person ready to accept exciting surprises from
life.

Types of Creative Thinking

Creative thinking is expressed in several ways. Here are some of the types of creative thinking
you might see in the workplace.
Analysis
Before thinking creatively about something, you first have to be able to understand it. This
requires the ability to examine things carefully to know what they mean. Whether you are
looking at a text, a data set, a lesson plan, or an equation, you need to be able to analyze it first.
Open-Mindedness -To think creatively, set aside any assumptions or biases you may have, and
look at things in a completely new way. By coming to a problem with an open mind, you allow
yourself the chance to think creatively.
Problem-Solving -Employers want creative employees who will help them to solve work-related
issues. When faced with a problem, consider ways that you can solve it before asking for help. If
you need the input of a manager, suggest solutions rather than just presenting problems.
Organization -This might seem counterintuitive: Aren’t creative people known for being
somewhat disorganized? Actually, organization is an essential part of creativity. While you
might need to get a bit messy when trying out a new idea, you need to organize your ideas so
others will understand and follow through with your vision.
Communication -People will only appreciate your creative idea or solution if
you communicate it effectively. You need to have strong written and oral communication skills.
You also need to be able to understand a situation fully before thinking creatively about it. That
means you also need to be a good listener. You may come up with a unique solution by asking
the right questions and listening to the answers.
If you're looking for creative opportunities as a means of personal fulfillment, you can find
satisfaction in surprising places. Any job that allows you to put your own spin on your work will
end up being and feeling creative.

6 Ways to apply creative thinking in your everyday life

Successful people today are great creative thinkers. Practicing creativity on a daily basis guide
you to become a great success in the future.
The most important thing is to feel free when trying to apply creativity in your life. Creativity is
having the power to expand your imagination bringing the most out of your potentials.
The following are 6 ways to apply creative thinking in your life:
1. Risk Taking: Being adventurous and ready for life’s challenges pushes you a step
forward to creativity.
2. Playing: Trying to play and be funny at times gives you the chance to manipulate the
given problem accordingly to what you need.
3. Regularly asking Why: Being curious and nosy, wanting to ask questions all the time
opens endless doors and possibilities.
4. Generating large quantity of ideas: By producing a big number of possible solutions, a
smart, unique, unexpected answer might be discovered.
5. Day Dreaming: Wondering about things related to your project frees your mind to
expand its horizons and explore new ways out there.
6. Reading: Going to the library and spending hours reading can nurture your imagination
and grow a strong creative thinker.

Therefore, by working on being a risk taker, a day dreamer and a good reader you are forcing
your mind to grow in all directions. So, follow the above steps to WOW your way to become a
high-standard creative thinker as opposed to being a boring, traditional thinker with limited
abilities!
Thinking Hats: Approach Creative Thinking by de Bono

The “6 Thinking Hats” is a system designed by Edward de Bono as an approach to promote

creative thinking. It is a tool used to enhance real thinking to make the process more productive
and focused. The ‘6 Thinking Hats’ separates thinking into 6 different roles, each role identified
with a colored symbolic thinking hat. This approach helps to redirect thoughts by mentally
switching from one hat to the other.

6 Thinking Hats – by de Bono

The following are the 6 thinking hats and what each color represents:

1. “White Hat”– stating facts and information, things you already know.
2. “Yellow Hat”– looking at the bright side, being optimistic and positive, adding value and
benefits.
3. “Red Hat”– expressing feelings and emotions, your reactions and opinions.
4. “Blue Hat”– managing and controlling, looking at the bigger picture.
5. “Green Hat”– exploring other alternatives, generating new ideas and solutions.
6. “Black Hat”– being realistic and practical, being cautious, finding where things might go
wrong, discovering dangers and difficulties. Black Hat is usually called the ‘devil’s
voice’.

The above 6 hats, when combined together, allows your mind to think clearly and objectively.
For example, you can start by grabbing the “Blue Hat” asking yourself questions such as: what is
our goal? Are the 6 guidelines observed clearly? What is the subject addressed? This helps you
get an overall view of your problem. Next, you can grab the “Red Hat” expressing what you feel
towards the problem and asking yourself who might be affected by this problem. Then, you can
grab “Yellow” and later “Green Hat” to invent new concepts and solutions. Finally, you can
switch between the “White” and “Black hat” in order to validate your solution by using
information that you already know. Start training your mind to switch directions from one hat to
another to solve problems efficiently, effectively bringing out benefits too!

7. Agile thinking skills (Agile mindset)

Agile Thinking is the ability to consciously shift your thinking when and how the situation
requires it. To be agile means to be quick to adapt to changes. Agile thinking simply talks about
responding to change when the need arises over following a defined plan. The agile thinking
developers launched the Agile Alliance to overhaul the process of creating and deploying
software. Since then, agile thinking has become a crucial factor in software development. While
the concept sprang up from the software development arena, agile thinking quickly found its way
in the broader business community, thanks to the influence of technology.

The agile concept encourages you to be flexible in your approach to matters rather than
following a predetermined trajectory irrespective of developments that crop up along the line. As
a result, agility allows organizations to address unexpected events effectively.

4 Key Agile Thinking Principles

The Agile Alliance drafted a manifesto outlining critical principles for agile thinking. These
principles are essential to all businesses.

1. Break Down Big Tasks into Smaller Portions

It’s hard to maintain motivation when you are working on a larger project. For example, you may
feel a false sense of achievement. In addition, people often struggle to stay motivated in large
projects because when something takes longer to accomplish, you can quickly lose your focus
along the line. However, there is a proven benefit to breaking down more significant problems
into manageable sizes – smaller tasks can be completed in time.
2. Self-organized Teams do the Best Work
People tend to become generalists. However, understand that you can’t fit perfectly in all areas.
It’s only when your team is self-organized and people that you can best deploy the unique skills
at your disposal.

3. Assemble Your Team Regularly Throughout the Project Execution

It’s true to say that people don’t like the idea of sitting down for long hours in a meeting.
Therefore, agile meetings need to be short and snappy. Also known in the software web
development space as daily stand-ups, agile meetings deliver quick results and allow all team
members to stay in sync.

4. Teams Should Reflect Regularly on How to Become More Effective

Imperfection exists among all teams, so see every project as a learning curve. Therefore, you
should form a team that constantly reflects on becoming better and adjusting to new trends
accordingly.

Why Learn Agile Thinking

In one market research by the Project Management Institute, it was observed that agile
institutions performed better than non-agile organizations.

75% of agile companies achieved their goals as compared to 56% of non-agile organizations.
Furthermore, 65% of agile organizations completed their projects on time compared to only 40%
of their non-agile counterparts.