What is logical thinking and why is it important to
employers
What is logical thinking and why is it important to
employers? The word "logic" comes from the Greek word meaning
"reason." Employers place a high value on workers who display strong
logical thinking or reasoning skills because their decision making is based on
factual data. In most cases, organizations don’t want employees making
decisions influenced by emotions instead of facts.
What Is Logical Thinking?
Logical thinkers observe and analyze phenomena, reactions,
and feedback and then draw conclusions based on that input. They can justify
their strategies, actions, and decisions based on the facts they gather.
Deductive Reasoning
Logical thinkers can also reason deductively. They can
identify an acceptable premise and apply it to situations that they encounter
on the job.
Example: An organization may work with a core belief that
employees are more productive if they have control over the ways they carry out
their responsibilities. A manager could demonstrate logical thinking using
deductive reasoning by meeting with subordinates, communicating department
goals, and structuring a brainstorming session for staff to decide methods for
reaching those objectives.
Examples of Logical Thinking
The following are some examples of logical thinking in the
workplace. Take a look at this list, and think about situations at work where
you have used logic and facts — rather than feelings — to work toward a solution
or set a course of action.
Conducting market research tests to gauge consumer reaction
to a new product prior to devising an advertising strategy.
Developing a recruiting profile for new sales
representatives based on an assessment of the qualities of the company's most
productive sales representatives.
Recommending a strategy for quitting smoking after reviewing
the latest studies on smoking cessation.
Analyzing reviews by restaurant customers prior to
structuring training protocols.
Surveying employees about their preferences for employee
benefits before finalizing contracts with vendors.
Soliciting feedback from users about their experience with
software prior to creating the next generation.
Deciding whom to designate as team leader after comparing
the past evidence of leadership behaviors by prospective candidates.
Interviewing departing employees to uncover patterns of
unwanted turnover.
Reaching out to colleagues at other organizations to
discover high-impact practices prior to finalizing strategy for the next cycle.
Creating campaign slogans based on an assessment of
hot-button issues for potential voters.
A contractor recommending extra insulation, high-efficiency
heating, cooling equipment and appliances, and a passive solar design to a
customer who wants the most energy-efficient home possible.
Logical thinking helps all employees process facts and
reason solutions rather than act on their emotions. A strategy set based on
logic is also more compelling to other employees than a feeling-based strategy.
How to Demonstrate Logical Thinking as a Candidate
During job interviews, you likely won't hear an interview
question that directly mentions logical thinking. That is, interviewers won't
say, "Tell me an example of a time you used logic at work." Instead,
an interviewer may say, "Tell me about the steps you took to determine the
next steps in that project you mentioned." Or, they may ask, "How
would you respond if a newly launched product received negative feedback?"
In your answers to questions like this, you want to outline
the steps you'd take for the given scenario. Walk through the process you'd use
to arrive at a decision — or share an example of how you set a strategy in the
past. You can talk about what questions you asked, data you pulled, or research
you analyzed to come to conclusions. This will help show your logical thinking
skills.
You can also emphasize logical thinking abilities in your
resume or cover letter. Again, you'll just want to outline your process. For
instance, instead of simply saying, "Created new training program,"
you could add more details. For instance: "Solicited and analyzed customer
feedback, then created a new employee training program to address areas of
weakness and standardize employee performance."
As a reminder, employers seek candidates with a track record
of logical thinking because it ensures a smooth decision-making process.
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