How to Think Logically

Important: GDPR Email Preferences

As you may already know, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will be coming into effect on 25th May 2018. We take your privacy seriously and we are working hard to ensure we comply with the new data protection laws. You can find out more about how we're doing this in our privacy policy on our website.

We want to make sure you continue to receive the latest newsletters, blogs, special offers and more.

As someone who has opted-in to receive our emails in the past, we’d like to give you this opportunity to confirm what you wish to receive:

Just so you know, if you don’t let us know what kinds of emails you want to receive from us, we’ll stop emailing you on the 24th May 2018 - you'll be missing out!

You are of course free to change your mind at any time – just follow the link at the bottom of any of our emails.

Advert

How to think logically

Let us look at the question of logical thinking and contrast it to every other type.

Logic is a system of thought (and communication).

Logical thought (and communication) are different from all other types.

Logic is not guessing, nor wishing, or hoping.

Logic is a special kind of thought process, which is distinguished by the following characteristics:

1. Logic is based upon facts, not feelings.
2. Highly structured.
3. Systematic, inductive and deductive.
4. Self-consistent, (Coherent / non-contradictory).
5. All key concepts have clear definitions.
6. Logic is the method of reason.

"Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear". Thomas Jefferson.

Structure your message like a tree

Knowledge is hierarchical in nature, or at least it should be.

Nature loves heirarchical branching structures.

This shape suggests that there are two fundamental ways of logical thinking: Analysis and synthesis.

• Analysis (is the act of mentally deconstructing a problem).
• Synthesis (is the act of mentally reconstructing solutions).

In any situation, we need to understand:

1. What is the fundamental issue? (The trunk of the tree)
2. What is NOT our fundamental issue? (This fact pertains to a different tree)
3. What are the main subset elements? (Main branches)
4. What are the minor subset elements? (Derivative branches)
5. What are the details? (The leaves on the tree)

Common errors to not thinking logically

It is a common error not to think logically, for example:

• Failing to sort things into categories, sets and subsets.
• To think all on one plane, as if all the pieces were equally important.
• To act emotionally, without reference to logic.
• To be unstructured.
• To be disorganised.
• To be self-contradictory, (to say one thing and do another).
• To misidentify the fundamental issue.
• To focus on a trivial issue and therefore to miss the main point.
• To fixate on one thing to the exclusion of other parts of the system
• To concentrate on solving individual details, whilst ignoring their major causes. (Not recognising that the underlying cause of the leaves is the roots of the tree).

What happens to people who habitually fail to think logically?

What are the painful long-term consequences suffered by anyone who is habitually illogical, unsystematic and disorganised?

What happens to their own work performance?

What is their effect on the others around them?

Problem Solving Training

Problem solving relies mainly on two forms of logic.

• Analysis: Deconstructing the logical structure of the problem
• Synthesis: Constructing Logical solutions.

If you would like to develop your problem-solving skills please take a look at our in-house Problem Solving Training Course.

Blogs by Email

Do you want to receive an email whenever we post a new blog? The blogs contain article 5-10 minutes long - ideal for reading during your coffee break!

Your Comments

Further Reading in Leadership and Management

• What is Positive and Negative Feedback?
  If you are responsible for giving feedback to others, you may find that giving negative feedback is not that easy. It is essential to deliver critical feedback in a positive way, in order to gain improved performance, without destroying motivation.
  Read Article >
• Leadership Skills: Keep Calm and Carry On
  Irrespective of your thoughts on whether or not Brexit is good or bad, the fact is that the UK will soon be making its negotiations to leave the EU and we need to succeed.
  Read Article >
• Effective Leadership Management Training
  We identify the four mistakes which are the root cause of all the other management mistakes. Rectify these and the pay off would be huge.
  Read Article >
• How to be a better manager?
  Managers are responsible for organising people and resources to achieve predetermined goals. To be effective, they must have these key management skills: goal-setting, prioritisation, communication, delegation, motivation and conflict management.
  Read Article >
• The Language of the leader (Rhetorical communication)
  The Language of the leader (Rhetorical communication) Communication skills can be split into two broad categories: Logic Rhetoric Logic is the art of trying to convince another of the truth by means of appealing to: The facts The information The deductions drawn from the facts Reasoning Rhetoric is the art of...
  Read Article >