10 Ways To Improve Your Analytical Skills

Learning to analyze situations applies to all aspects of life. When it comes to the workplace, employers want to know that you’re able to think on your feet, solve complex problems and gather information to make rational decisions and consider your next step. There are several methods you can take to sharpen your analytical skills, but choosing which is most effective and preferable for you will yield greater results. In this article, we will define analytical skills and learn how to improve them.

What are analytical skills?

Analytical skills refer to the ability to research, collect and analyze information to form more complex ideas about it. Using analytical skills is a great way to develop solutions for complex problems and interpret data to gain more knowledge about the subject.

Related: Analytical Skills: Definitions and Examples

How to improve your analytical skills

Because being analytical provides us with more in-depth information about a topic and helps us make more rational decisions, having this skill can be beneficial in the workplace. Employers want to know that you’re not only able to gather information, but articulate it and solve complex problems. Here are several ways you can improve your analytical skills:

1. Read more

An important part of being analytical involves being alert and remaining stimulated. Try joining a book club or picking up more books. Reading on a more frequent basis will help keep your mind running, force your brain to think in new ways and encourage you to view ideas differently as it pertains to the various characters in your novel or reading material.

2. Build your mathematical skills

Mathematics involves solving an equation step-by-step to reach an answer. Because all forms of mathematics are highly logical, sharpening your mathematical skills is a great way to refine your analytical skills. Practice various forms of math problems that will help build your logic and problem-solving capabilities. Often, solving these equations is trial and error. Enroll in an online or college-level math class. Reasoning with others will also help you build your analytical skills.

3. Play brain games

Brain games challenge you to think deeply and logically. Because they are seen as entertainment, brain games are often a preferred method used to sharpen your analytical skills. Playing Sudoku, solving crossword puzzles or playing board games are great examples.

4. Learn something new

As obvious as it may seem, expanding your knowledge can improve your analytical skills. The more you learn, the more ways and information you’ll have when it comes to solving problems and analyzing situations. After completing their required education, many people become passive learners. Boost your cognitive abilities by learning something new each day. To make sure you stay motivated, learn about something you find interesting or that you have a passion for. Opt for an online course in a subject you aren’t familiar with. This will allow you to expand your knowledge in subjects you did not know.

5. Be more observant

Paying attention to detail and being observant is a great way to improve your analytical skills because it allows you to process the way things work and interact. Using your senses and actively engaging in the world around you will help you hone your analytical skills. Try going for a walk and observing the birds and how they interact. Consider the connections and patterns in the outside world. Being more attuned to the small details in life will help you bring this set of skills into the workplace.

6. Join a debate club

Working in a group setting allows you to come together with others to discuss ideas, problems and various situations. Understanding how others process information and interpret the world will help guide your own worldview and develop your own analytical skills.

7. Take an exercise class

Exercising more frequently can help improve your cognitive abilities. Regarding exercise classes, memorizing the next steps in a workout routine is a great way to help develop your analytical skills. Knowing the sequence will help keep you focused on the task at hand while also helping you prepare for what’s next.

8. Keep a journal

Recording your day’s events gives you time to reflect. When things don’t turn out as planned, you can learn from these mistakes and take them into account for your future actions. A large part of analyzing involves trial and error. Keeping a journal to remind you of your past is a great way to hone your thinking and analytical skills in considering your future.

9. Ask questions

When someone asks questions, they’re often asking for clarification and understanding. Expressing curiosity provides you with different viewpoints and allows you to compare your own opinion with someone else’s. Sometimes your questions will lead you to a different answer than initially expected. This is commonplace in any problem-solving situation and actively wires your brain to think more analytically.

10. Download apps

While not all apps can help improve your analytical skills, many brain game and organizational apps can. Recording what you’re eating each day through food diary applications, for example, allows you to track and analyze your caloric and nutritional intake each day. These apps allow you to interpret the data and take the necessary steps to adjust and improve the next day. In the same way, using apps to track your budget can help you see your past spending habits to determine how to proceed with your future ones. Analyzing these types of data will help you sharpen your analytical skills.

While improving your analytical skills takes practice, there are several methods you can take to ensure you stay motivated. It’s important to stay open to the process to adequately allow for knowledge consumption. The more you experience, the more you can analyze and add to your value in the workplace.