• Things come in levels and layers, and what you see may only be the surface with different layers and dimension behind it. In certain things its obvious, in order to master level 4 you must first master level 3 and 2. Sometimes we just jump into level 10 without addressing the first 9.

We often become focused on quick fixes and never trying to figure out what the underlying chronic condition is. We just want techniques to solve the problem, never strategies of determining what the real problem is and cutting it from the root.

Salah didn’t become fard until 10th year after prophethood. Zakaah, Siyam, Jihad didn’t become fard until after hijrah. Ruling on hijab and alcohol came even later. So what problems of the community were being addressed before that?

Action: Make the problem more encompassing; what is the bigger and deeper problem? Progressively make the problem bigger and bigger until you come to the root of the issue.

• Ask more insightful question. Thinking is a process of asking questions; to become a better thinker, ask more insightful questions. It’s the difference between asking “What new product can our company develop?” and “What product can we develop that people would rave about?”

List out tons of insightful questions that you should ask to address the task at hand. Then … make those questions more insightful.

• Work counter-intuitively. How about doing something that you don’t think will work? Give it a thought and consider those. Just because you think it’s not going to work, is no reason to completely disregard it. Example, You have too much work to do and not enough time. New way of thinking: add more work. It will force you to be more ruthless in managing time and priorities.

• We often do things that we shouldn’t and we don’t do thing that we should. Understand the principle: Just because you could do something, doesn’t mean you should! Figure out what the right course of action is and implement that!

• Get rid of the hierarchies. Positions and titles have weight that tends to often drown critical thinking. Positions and titles have weight that people tend to enjoying pulling around. Positions and titles is a breeding ground for ego and arrogance. People blindly follow positions and titles, and blind following means not thinking on your own. Learn from the past experience of those who have more experience, but keep the playing field flat and leveled.

• Keep the process flexible. Like a balloon. It will grow, but if it’s rigid it will blow.

• Become a CCO.