The Power of Analytical Thinking and Narrative for Leadership
Associate Professor İlkim Büke Okyar:
"Analytical reading and writing is particularly the most crucial skill that needs to be developed for future leaders."
In today's world, while it is easy to access information and gather an audience, research indicates that Generation Z is not particularly interested in assessing the accuracy of information or using it appropriately. Experts stress that analyzing information has become significantly more important today and emphasize that it is a critical skill to be developed, especially for future leaders. Associate Professor and Vice Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Yeditepe University, İlkim Büke Okyar, offered striking suggestions on analytical reading and writing.
Storytelling and Narrative
Particularly in the field of social sciences, Okyar highlighted that analytical reading and writing provide significant advantages for students and researchers on their path to becoming future leaders, focusing on the crucial attributes of storytelling and narrative that make a leader: "Analytical skills encourage leaders to shape the narrative. Narratives, or stories, are important because they have the power to inspire action, excite, and mobilize people. The narrative I refer to here is not just impromptu storytelling. It's a carefully prepared, clear, and consistent strategic narrative shared during team discussions, meetings with analysts, interviews by journalists, municipal meetings, or any discussion about vision and strategy. Leaders must define their vision, clarify the current reality, and describe the path and objectives within this clear and strategic narrative. Leadership is not merely an innate ability. It can be learned and developed. Analytical thinking is a crucial tool in this development process as it aids in correctly structuring the story and accurately identifying goals."
Do Not Just Consume Information, Develop Your Own Perspective
Okyar, who defines analytical reading and writing in social sciences as the ability to critically read and interpret texts and express these analyses in writing, stated, "This not only helps students and researchers consume information but also critique it and develop their perspectives. Analytical reading involves much more than superficially reading a text," continued Associate Professor İlkim Okyar: "In this process, the reader tries to understand what the author is saying, how, and why. They recognize the texts' main ideas, themes, and theories and assess their context. By comparing arguments from different authors, they gain a broader perspective. Analytical writing, on the other hand, is the logical and consistent expression of read and analyzed information. This skill enables students to develop structured and supported arguments. In their written works, they present their critical thoughts, evaluate different perspectives, and present their conclusions."
A Guiding Light
Okyar explained that analytical reading and writing skills not only enhance the academic success of students and researchers but also equip them to understand and solve complex social, political, and cultural problems, guiding future leaders to serve society more effectively.
Analysis: The Beginning of Strategy
"According to Ken'ichi Ōmae, 'Analysis is the critical starting point of strategic thinking,'" said Associate Professor İlkim Büke Okyar, and continued: "Given the prevalence of all types of data in our society today, analytical skills have become more important than ever. Many thought leaders repeatedly emphasize analytical skills, reading, and writing today as the most crucial characteristics to develop, especially for future leaders."
If You Want to Motivate People…
Associate Professor İlkim Büke Okyar listed the characteristics of leaders with strong analytical skills: "Leaders with a strong analytical inclination prefer problems that require definite and logical reasoning and display an ability to solve and understand complex, multifaceted problems in detail. Analytical skills are important for leaders at every level of an organization. Research has shown that when teams employ an analytical approach in their operations, they can analyze competitors better and show more solution-oriented performance. In other words, analytical skills are related to creative strategy and performance. This benefits organizations in general and contributes to individual successes."