66 - Observe and Deduce

Second part about the book Think Like Sherlock: Creatively Solve Problems, Think with Clarity, Make Insightful Observations & Deductions, and Develop Quick & Accurate Instincts by Peter Hollins.

• Sherlock Holmes and Observational Skills – Sherlock was able to solve crimes and problems with his keen observation skills and the power of deduction.
• Five Observational Skills
  1. Become a more detailed person, which also means remembering what you observe.
  2. Give 100% of your focus which is hard to do in our busy world.
  3. Notice the difference from baseline or the last time you saw it.
  4. Understand people's self-perceptions and what is important to them. What are they saying or wearing that pushes that perception? What goes against it?
  5. See the big picture.
• If we want to become more detail-oriented, that we just have to do a better job of paying attention to the little things that we tend to overlook
• Start with small quizzes about people in the room with you
• Once you have the big observations down, look to more minor details.
• Being observational before a crisis can save your life.
• Pay More Attention to Others – Notice what they are wearing and any clues about them. What are they saying clearly? What are smaller and more hidden messages they might not want you to see?
• Be Better at Deduction – Deducationis reverse storytelling. What you can you read into the observations you made?
• Be Impartial with Distance – When you are involved in the object of your observations, you can bias your own judgments.
• Do your own research to understand a situation properly.

Links

• Think Like Sherlock: Creatively Solve Problems, Think with Clarity, Make Insightful Observations & Deductions, and Develop Quick & Accurate Instincts (Think Smarter, Not Harder Book 3) - Kindle edition by Hollins, Peter. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/madeleine-albright-on-her-life-in-pins-149191/
• https://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Club-Secrets-Science-Could/dp/B004TE6O2G

Challenge

• Spend 10 minutes observation a room or a zoom chat and write a list of things you observe. What can you deduce from these observations?