Thinking Skills: Meaning and Types

 Thinking Skills: Meaning and Types

Thinking

1.     Thinking is an inner mental process that leads to generating new ideas out of already acquired knowledge.

2.     Thinking is the action of using one's mind to produce thoughts.

3.     It involves cognitive, emotional, and sensory processes.

Thinking skills

1.     Thinking skills are the mental skills that are used to process information, make connections, make decisions, and create new ideas.

2.     These skills play a fundamental role in various aspects of daily life.

3.     Thinking skills are used to solve problems, decide, ask questions, make plans, organize and create information.

4.     Thinking skills include- Remembering, recalling, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, creating, etc.

Types of Thinking Skills

To accomplish a variety of objectives, it’s helpful to use different types of thinking

1.     Analytical thinking

Analysis is usually an orderly, step-by-step way of thinking. It enables a person to analyze a given problem step by step and explore all possible way to interpret the situation.

2.     Concrete thinking

Concrete thinking is the ability to understand and apply facts. This type of thinking is usually direct and can form the basis of more complex types of thought that may rely on a solid understanding of facts.

3.     Creative thinking

Creative thinking uses existing knowledge to develop new, original or innovative ideas. This type of thinking can help you approach challenges with a new perspective.

4.     Critical thinking

Critical thinking means using existing understandings to evaluate the usefulness of new information. It covers identification, collection, analyzation, interpretation, establishment, decision and communication. It helps to find out what is important and make good  decision.

5.     Divergent thinking

Divergent thinking occurs when a person  pursues many responses to a problem or challenge. All the responses are compared and  then an individual determines which solution is most appropriate based on this evaluation.

6.     Convergent thinking

Convergent thinking involves combining many ways of thinking about potential solutions into one cohesive idea or plan. An individual identifies the most useful part of each option to combine them most effectively. The goal is to create one effective outcome for a problem or need.

7.     Metacognition

Metacognition is thinking about the way you think. This type of thinking involves careful reflection and analysis of one's own thought patterns. It’s used to better understand a problem or challenge.

8.     Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking involves deep planning and envisioning the future. It is used to prepare long term plans, developing strategies, seeing challenges and finding opportunities to fulfil the goals.

 

Emotional Intelligence: Trust through Communication

Emotional Intelligence: Trust through Communication

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

1.        Emotional Intelligence is also known as emotional Quotient (EQ).

2.       It is an ability to manage the emotion of self as well as others.

3.       It is an ability to perceive, express and regulate emotion.

4.       Emotional Intelligence is an ability to recognize, understand, manage and regulate emotions in various situations and environment.

Importance of Emotional intelligence in communication

1.        It is used to make better choices when talking to someone.

2.       Reduces conflicts

3.       Enhance performance

4.       Improves quality of live

5.       Lays the foundation of good relation, personal and professional

Components/Pillars of Emotional Intelligence

1.        Empathy

2.       Self Awareness

3.       Self Regulation

4.       Interpersonal Skills

5.       Emotional Management

1.        Empathy

1.        Empathy is an ability to guess/sense and understand the emotions of others.

2.       It connects an individual to other people on an emotional level.

3.       It helps to give comfort and support.

2.       Self Awareness

1.        Recognize and understanding self emotion is called Self awareness.

2.       It helps to understand why does an individual feel a particular mood and how it influences his actions

3.       it also helps him how his emotions affect others.

3.       Self Regulation

1.        Understanding and managing self emotion to regulate them is called Self regulation.

2.       It helps to adapt to changing situations.

4.       Interpersonal Skills

1.        Skills used to communicate with others is called interpersonal skills.

2.       These help to builds and maintain relationships.

3.       These help to resolve conflicts and communicate effectively.

5.       Emotional management

1.        Regulating and controlling emotions according to situation.

2.       It helps to use emotions deliberately.

3.       Various strategies of managing stress and emotions helps to remove negativity.

Trust

1.        Trust is a positive quality.

2.       It is the assurance that someone is your well wishers and wants you to be happy and prosperous.

3.       It is a belief that someone will not play a trick to ham and betray you.

4.       A leader uses his communication skills effectively to build trust among team members.

Tips to develop Trust through effective communication and  emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence leverages awareness, emotional control, and honesty to enable effective communication skills that inspire trust and build meaningful, strong relationships.

1.        Communicate respectfully: respectful communication  foster trust in relationship personally and professionally.

2.       Behave empathetically: Emotional Intelligence works on empathy. People feel other’s feelings and perspectives. This feeling build trust.

3.       Control emotions and act consistently: Management of emotions enables a person to act according to situations and respect other’s emotions. It is needed to build trust.

4.       Listen Actively: It is needed to pay undivided attention and show interest in communication through verbal and nonverbal cues. It develops between speaker and listener.

5.       Take responsibility: An individual must take responsibility without making excuses and giving justification for failure. This attitude build trust.

6.      Respond timely and fulfil promises: It is very important to response on time and fulfill the promises to build trust.

7.       Communicate openly and transparently. Transparent and open communication removes doubts and develop trust.

8.      Communicate with clarity: Clarity enhances understanding about the purpose and message hence trust is developed.

 

 

 

Tact and Intelligence

Tact and Intelligence

Tact

1.     In leadership communication, tact refers to speaking and acting skillfully and sensitively.

2.     It helps to communicate diplomatically, considerate of others' emotions and opinions without offending anyone.

3.     It involves choosing the right words and tone to convey a message respectfully and effectively.

Importance of Tact in Leadership Communication

1.     Demonstrating good manners: Tact is able to consider other’s feelings hence it helps to demonstrate good manners.

2.     Building Relationships: Tactful communication fosters trust, respect, and positive relationships among team members, leading to enhanced collaboration and productivity.

3.     Delivery odd information: tact helps to deliver an odd (negative/sad) message whether personal or professional situation.

4.     Conflict Resolution: Tact enables leaders to solve conflicts with empathy and consideration, finding mutually beneficial solutions.

5.     Enhancing Receptiveness: Tactful people are welcomed and understood .

Intelligence

1.     Intelligence is the capacity to (learn) and apply knowledge effectively.

2.     Intelligence in leadership communication refers to the cognitive ability to understand complex ideas, analyze situations, and make decisions.

3.     It includes logic, critical thinking, reasoning, memory, adaptation, and problem-solving skills to communicate effectively.

Importance of intelligence in leadership communication

1.     Learning new concepts: Intelligence  helps to learn new concepts and new knowledge through cognitive skills.

2.     Using knowledge to solve problems: Intelligence helps to solve various problem y using learned concepts.

3.     Bringing facts in light: Intelligence also helps to find the truth and bring it to light.

4.     Reaching to the root of incident: Intelligence uses its skills’ set to reach to the root of any incident.

Difference between Tact and Intelligence

	Tact	Intelligence
1	Ability to communicate and handle situations with diplomacy.	Ability to communicate with cognitive approach.
2	Tact uses emotional intelligence, empathy, and social awareness.	Intelligence uses reasoning, problem-solving, critical and analytical thinking, etc.
3	Tact can not be measured by scientific tools.	Intelligence is measured through IQ Tests.
4	Tact allows to use of sugar-coated words	Intelligence uses to-the-point statements.
5	Tact aims to speak the truth considering other’s emotions.	Intelligence aims to bring truth to light without any coat.
6	Tact focuses on interpersonal fineness.	Intelligence focuses on cognitive abilities.
7	It is professionally unacceptable.	Intelligence is required and appreciated.
8	Tact represents negative shade.	Intelligence represents positive shades.
9	Tact avoids offending anyone in the dealing.	Intelligence hides nothing.
10	Tact is used to develop good relations	Intelligence is used to learn, and adapt new things and their application, etc.

 

Providing and Receiving Feedback

 Providing and Receiving Feedback

1.     Feedback is the last step in the process of communication and response from the receiver.

2.     Feedback in communication decides the success of communication and motivates sender to continue the communication.

3.     Feedback can be given verbally or nonverbally.

4.     Whether you are providing (Giving) or receiving feedback, clarity, open mindness, unbiasedness, and objectivty must be taken care.

5.     Feed back is different from evaluation and judgement.

6.     It is a formative assesment tool that used descriptive, constructive, and nonjudgemental language.

Importance of feedback

1.     Helps in effective communication.

2.     Helps in coordination.

3.     Helps to achieve goals of communication

4.     Helps to solve problem.

5.     Helps to understand the weakpoint.

6.     Helps in decisin making.

7.     Helps to exchange ideas and information

8.     Helps to get ground reality of a situation.

9.     Helps to motivate an individual.

10.  Negative feedback helps in improvement.

Tips to provide feedback

Honest feedback gives the reality- what did an individual do and where can he improve? Effective feedback is crucial for personal and professional development. An individual must know how to give feedback-

1.     Start with positives: Always start with positive points and appreciation for good things.

2.     Be specific: Don’t hover, come to the poiunt and be very specific about a point.

3.     Be clear:  Be clear so that it can provide reality to the receiver.

4.     Be consice: Be concise to attaract the focus of the receiver.

5.     Be genuine: Use positive verbal and friendly words.

6.     Be on time: provide feedback timely so that weak point can be taken care and strong point can enhance confidence.

7.     Give opinion not judgement: Simply provide your opinion and mention it clearly.

8.     Make it an ongoing process: Make receiver comfortable and few tips can be suggested.

9.     Focus on action: don’t’s focus on person rather speak about action//behaviour.

10.  Deliver with tectics: Deliver feedback with empathy and respect

Tips to receive feedback

Receiving feedback with courage and an open mind leads to a more confident person. An individual must learn how to welcome a feedback-

1.     Listen actively: be focused and attentive while reeiving feedback.

2.     Appreciate the feedback: always welcome a feedback as it gives you other’s opinion.

3.     Don’t hurry to revert back: accept it with open mind. Don’t make excuse or throw back.

4.     Take it seriously: never ignore any point/advise. Be serious about it.

5.     Do self evaluation: start improving the weak point by evaluating self.

6.     Take it as an opportunity to learn: don’t be negative. Take it as an opportunity to learn.

7.     Follow the tips given in feedback: take feedback seriously and follow the expert’s opinion.

8.     Ask to clarify: Ask question to clarify any point.