What is Logical Thinking & How to Improve Logical Thinking Skills? [2025]

Logical thinking is crucial in making informed career decisions, solving problems, and setting realistic goals. For instance, if you’re a project manager in tech, logical thinking helps you break down project timelines, allocate resources effectively, and anticipate potential roadblocks. 

It’s about focusing on facts and evidence, rather than emotions. To improve, practice activities that challenge your reasoning, such as problem-solving exercises and pattern recognition. Building logical and analytical thinking is essential for approaching complex situations with clarity and sound judgment.

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What Is Logical Thinking?

Logical thinking is your ability to think in a disciplined manner or base significant thoughts on evidence and facts. The process involves incorporating logic into an individual’s thinking abilities when analyzing a problem to devise a solution. Logical thinking may require Soft Skills training because it involves progressive analysis systems.

To improve your logical thinking, engage in structured problem-solving exercises, practice analytical thinking, and challenge yourself with critical reasoning tasks. Fields such as project management, where strategic decisions are crucial, greatly benefit from strong logical thinking skills. 

Want to improve your logical thinking and leadership skills? Choose the course that fits your career goals and start learning today!

• Advanced General Management Program– IMT Ghaziabad
• MBA from O. P. Jindal Global University
• Post Graduate Diploma in Management – BIMTECH

Before we get into strategies to improve your logical thinking skills, let’s understand its importance.

What is the Importance of Logical Thinking?

Problem-solving, a critical and logical thinking aspect, is one of the top skills employers look for in job candidates. So, it explains the demand for logical thinking or reasoning abilities.

You have previously explored the meaning of logical reasoning. Now, let's examine its significance through the points below.

1. Builds Independent Thinking Skills
In 2019, Vishwajeet Singh, a rural student from Bihar, cracked the IIT-JEE without formal coaching. He couldn’t afford tuition, so he relied on logical reasoning and self-analysis to solve problems from online material. He would break down tough physics problems and cross-check concepts from different free YouTube channels. Instead of memorizing formulas, he understood the “why” behind each step, a skill that came from independent, logical thinking.

2. Boosts Creativity and Innovation
During the Kerala floods of 2018, a group of engineering students from Govt. Engineering College, Thrissur used logical reasoning to build makeshift floating devices from plastic bottles and bamboo for stranded villagers. They had limited materials, but by logically analyzing buoyancy, balance, and weight distribution, they created functional rafts. Their creativity came not from artistic flair but from applying logic in a crisis.

3. Sharpens Analytical Skills
In 2021, Zomato faced a logistical problem during the second COVID wave: delivering essentials when restaurants were shut. The operations team used logical analysis to reassign idle delivery partners to pharmacies and grocery stores. By comparing delivery zones, time slots, and item perishability, they optimized routes for essentials. This wasn’t just data work, it required sharp logical reasoning to manage real-time trade-offs in service delivery.

4. Strengthens Brain Function
Soumya Swaminathan, India’s chess grandmaster, often credits chess, not just for victories, but for building cognitive muscle that helps her focus in high-stakes matches. Chess demands memory recall (openings), pattern recognition (tactics), and logical anticipation (opponent’s strategy). Practicing chess, like many school kids do in Tamil Nadu’s state-run tournaments, is a practical example of logic improving mental strength, not just IQ.

5. Improves Focus and Concentration
Take the CAT exam topper of 2022, Ravi Prakash from Kanpur. He trained his focus using logical reasoning puzzles rather than just speed math. In interviews, he said puzzles like “direction sense” and “circular seating” forced him to slow down, visualize better, and block out distractions. He practiced with a timer and no background noise, building the mental stamina to stay razor-focused during 3-hour aptitude tests.

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Also Read: The Importance of Communication Skills in 2025

Now that you have a clear idea of why logical thinking is important, let’s check out some strategies to improve your logical reasoning skills.

How To Improve Logical Thinking

Improving logical thinking involves strengthening your cognitive frameworks for pattern recognition, decision-making, and structured analysis. These skills are foundational for programming, data analysis, and algorithmic reasoning in tech-driven roles. Here are some tips to implement logical thinking in your day-to-day problems.

• Analyze past outcomes using retrospectives or root cause analysis to identify flawed assumptions and logic gaps.
• Utilize predictive modeling to simulate scenarios and forecast outcomes using tools such as Excel, Python, or R.
• Take cognitive assessments, such as GMAT logic puzzles or HackerRank challenges, to improve deductive and inductive reasoning.
• Practice with brain-training apps that target working memory, pattern recognition, and problem-solving under constraints.
• Differentiate data from interpretation, e.g., separate raw metrics from insights in business intelligence (BI) dashboards using Power BI or Tableau.
• Solve pattern-based problems like number series or logical matrices, often found in aptitude tests and coding interviews.
• Apply critical thinking frameworks such as SWOT or MECE to break down complex decisions and analyze structured cases.

You should also check out these Top 45+ Logical Reasoning Questions with Answers!

Logical Thinking Skills

The best way to define logical reasoning skills is the ability to focus on tasks and activities by following a chain of thought processes and relating statements to one another. The process allows you to find a logical solution to your problem.

Here are some suggestions to improve your logical thinking skills.

Building Logical Thinking Skills

Work on your logical thinking development to enhance your problem-solving abilities. Here is a breakdown of the techniques to help you overcome your thinking obstacles and understand what the concept of logical thinking is.

• Consider Multiple Perspectives

  Logical thinking requires objectivity. Instead of jumping to conclusions based on your own beliefs or biases, try to understand other people’s viewpoints.
  Example: In a group project, before rejecting a teammate’s idea, ask why they believe it might work. You might discover a solution that combines both your strengths.

   

• Think Strategically Before Taking Action

  Rushing into tasks can lead to inefficient outcomes. Instead, plan your approach based on your goals and the resources available.
  Example: If you're preparing for an exam, break the syllabus into sections and allocate time to each based on difficulty and importance, rather than studying randomly.

   

• Pay Attention to Language and Meaning

  Logical thinking involves understanding precise meanings. Words and sentence structure can influence how information is perceived.
  Example: When reading instructions or legal documents, note specific terms like “must” vs. “may”,  these can completely change obligations.

   

• Strengthen Your Mind with Puzzles and Problem-Solving Games

  Activities like chess, Sudoku, logic puzzles, and mystery novels train your brain to think in patterns and spot inconsistencies.
  Example: Playing chess helps you think several moves ahead, developing both planning and prediction, key components of logical reasoning.

Also Read: Key Differences between Hard Skills and Soft Skills

How To Think Logically in Five Steps?

Logical reasoning means rationalizing your thoughts and creating positive outcomes. The process combines situational awareness and the ability to regulate emotions to enable efficient decision-making. Here is how you can think logically before making decisions.

1. Take Part in Creative Activities

Creative activities like painting, writing, or playing music push your brain to think outside the box. They force you to structure ideas, recognize patterns, and solve problems creatively. For example, when writing a story, you organize the plot in a logical sequence while balancing emotions and narrative flow. Similarly, in music, you create harmony by logically choosing notes that complement each other.

How to implement it: Dedicate 30 minutes a day to a creative outlet. If you’re into music, try composing a short melody. If you enjoy writing, spend time crafting short stories. This consistent practice will exercise your brain, making your decision-making sharper by thinking in diverse, organized ways.

2. Practice Asking Meaningful Questions

Asking questions is key to gathering a full understanding of any problem. Instead of accepting answers at face value, ask “Why?”, “How?”, and “What if?”. For example, if your team is behind on a project, don’t just ask “When will we finish?” but “What’s the root cause of the delay?” or “What assumptions are we making about the project timeline?”

How to implement it: When facing any challenge, pause and ask probing questions. Break down a problem by asking, “What are the risks?” or “What’s the bigger picture here?” Challenge assumptions and encourage those around you to do the same. This opens up new ways of thinking and uncovers solutions you might not have considered.

3. Spend Time with Other People

Interacting with people from different walks of life broadens your perspective. It forces you to think about problems in new ways. For instance, a conversation with a colleague in marketing can shed light on customer pain points you might have overlooked as a software developer. The key is not just talking but actively listening to different viewpoints, which challenges your own assumptions.

How to implement it: Regularly engage in discussions with people outside your immediate circle, whether it’s colleagues from other departments or friends with different life experiences. Participate in brainstorming sessions where everyone’s input is valued. These conversations will help you approach problems from diverse angles and avoid narrow-minded thinking.

4. Learn New Skills

Learning new skills forces you to approach challenges logically. Think about coding, for example: it requires a step-by-step, logical approach to create a functioning program. Whether you’re learning a new language, taking up photography, or mastering Excel shortcuts, each new skill adds to your ability to analyze and approach problems systematically.

How to implement it: Set aside time each week to learn something new. Start small, like learning a new productivity app, or take up a hobby that challenges you logically (e.g., chess or coding). The key is consistency. The more you expose yourself to structured thinking, the better your decision-making will be.

5. Visualize the Outcome of Your Decisions

Before making decisions, visualize the potential outcomes. For instance, if you're thinking about changing careers, imagine how it will impact your finances, lifestyle, and personal growth in both the short and long term. Visualizing these scenarios gives you a better grasp of the consequences, helping you make a well-informed choice.

How to implement it: For every major decision, take a moment to mentally walk through the possible outcomes. Think about the positive and negative impacts over time, like how moving to a new city for a job might affect your work-life balance. This exercise allows you to critically assess your options and make choices grounded in logic rather than emotion.

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Also Read: Lateral Thinking and How to Develop it as a Skill

Now, let’s understand the components of logical thinking more closely.

Components Of Logical Thinking

Logical thinking is built from several key parts that work together to help you reason clearly and make sound decisions. These components include identifying facts, recognizing patterns, analyzing relationships, and drawing conclusions based on evidence. 

By understanding each element, you can approach problems methodically and avoid jumping to assumptions or quick fixes. 

Let’s take a closer look at these components.

1. Deductive Reasoning

Deductive Reasoning or Deduction is a significant component of logical thinking that seeks to reach specific conclusions. The process makes it easier for you to gain a simplified understanding and indulge in rational and logical thought processes.

• Apply Boolean logic and syllogistic structures to validate hypotheses and streamline decision trees in programming and data workflows.
• Use Java if-else constructs and conditional statements in languages like Python or JavaScript to execute rule-based logic in real-world scenarios.
• Strengthen reasoning by solving SQL query optimization problems where filtering and nested conditions demand clear deduction and logic flow.

2. Inductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning or induction enables you to think more logically and rely on generalizations. Your general notions depend on anecdotal experiences, facts, and personal observations of your life that are either true or false.

• Spot patterns in data sets to make informed predictions. For example, noticing that sales rise every December could help forecast holiday demand.
• Build algorithms that learn from examples, like spam filters trained on known spam emails to catch new ones.
• Rely on accumulated experiences and facts to draw cautious conclusions. For example, observe in Python code that when a list comprehension is used, it often leads to cleaner and faster loops, suggesting it as a preferred method for creating lists.

3. Causal Inference

Causal inference involves recognizing the change and evolution in reasoning things to help you think logically. The process enables taking specific actions and making a logical or causal inference to reason your activities.

• When a new software update causes crashes, tracing the problem back to the latest code changes reveals the source.
• See that adding more payment options increases completed transactions, linking convenience to sales growth.
• Realize that cutting ad spend leads to fewer leads, highlighting the impact of marketing management on customer acquisition.

4. Analogy

Analogical reasoning or analogy enables you to find the things between two different perspectives. Analogy helps you know and understand every situation to help you think logically and make rational decisions.

• Compare organizing a project timeline to a relay race, where each team hands off tasks smoothly to keep progress steady.
• Think of round robin CPU scheduling in operating systems like a traffic light controlling flow, deciding which process gets CPU time and for how long.
• Relate managing data flow in a network to traffic control on city roads, balancing load to prevent jams.

Also Read: Logical Reasoning Questions with Answers for All Levels

Now, let’s look at some practical applications of logical thinking in your regular life. 

Practical Application of Logical Thinking

Logical thinking plays a crucial role in practical problem-solving, helping you approach challenges with clarity and structure. Whether it’s managing a project, making data-driven decisions, or conflict management, applying logic ensures that your choices are based on facts and sound reasoning. 

Let’s look at some logical reasoning examples.

1. Logical Thinking When You Are in Disagreement

You and a friend debate who will be the opening batsman in an upcoming cricket match. Instead of relying on personal opinions, you break down the facts, like past performances, team composition, and match conditions, to logically determine who is most likely to open. When new information comes to light, you objectively reconsider your stance and agree with your friend’s prediction.

2. Logical Thinking to Complete Your Work

You’ve planned a weekend getaway with friends, but are caught up in pending work. The logical approach is to prioritize tasks, break your workload into manageable parts, and finish the most important ones first. By staying focused, you complete your tasks in time and enjoy your weekend without the stress of unfinished work.

3. Logical Thinking When Making a Tough Decision

You receive an exciting job offer in another city, but feel torn about leaving your hometown. Instead of letting emotions guide you, you list the long-term benefits: career growth, new opportunities, and a fresh start. By weighing the pros and cons logically, you make a decision that aligns with your personal and professional goals.

4. Logical Thinking When You Do Not Know the Answer

You’re faced with a tough question in your assignment and don’t know the answer. Rather than guessing, you think through the problem, identify the gaps in your knowledge, and reach out to your teacher for clarification. This approach helps you resolve your confusion and learn the correct solution.  

5. Other Logical Thinking Examples

Logical thinking helps you handle everyday challenges. For instance, at work, you use the facts at hand to solve a complex problem, breaking it down into manageable parts and finding the most efficient solution. Similarly, if you fall ill before an important meeting, the logical choice is to attend virtually rather than miss out on crucial discussions, ensuring productivity despite the setback.

Also Read: Leadership in the AI Era: A Comprehensive Guide for Business Leaders

Having explored practical examples of logical thinking, let's now focus on how to showcase these skills on a job application to stand out to employers.

How to Show Logical Thinking Skills on a Job Application?

To highlight your logical thinking on a job application, focus on showcasing examples where you solved problems, made data-driven decisions, or improved processes. 

Use clear, specific stories that demonstrate your ability to analyze situations, draw conclusions, and apply structured reasoning. Mention relevant skills like critical thinking, data analysis, or programming to back up your claims and make your application stand out. 

Here's how to highlight them effectively on your job application:

• Match Job Requirements: Align your experiences with the job description.
• Use Specific Examples: Mention instances where you applied logical thinking, such as solving complex problems or optimizing processes.
• Clear Articulation: Emphasize your ability to think critically and logically in your cover letter.

a. On a Resume

Incorporating logical thinking skills into your resume is essential. Here's a sample snippet:
Rahul Sharma
Mumbai, Maharashtra | +91 98765 43210 | rahul.sharma@email.com
Professional Experience
Project Manager | Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Jan 2020 – Present

• Implemented a project management system that boosted team productivity by 30%.
• Resolved complex challenges, cutting project delays by 20%.
• Conducted workshops to improve the team's logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Education
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) | University of Mumbai | Graduated May 2019

Also Read: How to Build a Resume For Your Dream Job

b. In an Interview

Showcasing your logical thinking skills in an interview involves:

• Specific Situations: Describe a scenario where you used logical reasoning to solve a problem.
• Step-by-Step Process: Outline how you gathered information, analyzed data, and implemented a solution.
• Insightful Questions: Demonstrate your logical thinking by asking thoughtful questions about the role and company.
• Decision-Making Approach: Discuss your approach to making decisions logically and methodically.

Also Read: How to Improve Communication Skills: The Ultimate Guide for Personal and Professional Growth

Now that you have a better understanding of logical thinking skills and how to improve them, let’s wrap it up!

Conclusion

Logical thinking enables you to solve specific career challenges, such as pinpointing project delays, analyzing customer data, or debugging code, with clear and practical solutions. Strengthening this skill means avoiding guesswork and tackling problems step-by-step, whether improving workflows or optimizing processes. Regular practice with real examples sharpens your reasoning, making everyday work challenges easier to handle and your decisions more effective.

Many professionals struggle to showcase their logical thinking on job applications. These additional courses from upGrad can teach you how to effectively highlight your logical thinking abilities on resumes and in interviews. 

• Complete Guide to Problem-Solving Skills
• Time and Productivity Management Techniques
• Effective Business Communication
• Introduction to Design Thinking
• Introduction to Consumer Behaviour

Unsure how to apply logical thinking to advance your career? Get personalized guidance from upGrad’s expert advisors to help you focus on the right skills and courses that align with your career goals. 

You can also visit your nearest upGrad center for in-person insights and clear the path to success with confidence.

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Reference:
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/288371999.pdf