

While you work to become a better observer, develop your deductive ability by keeping an open mind and questioning every piece of information you gather. Along with paying attention to what you see, rely on your sense of smell, taste, sound, and touch to create even richer mental notes.

For example, if you're interested in a certain store at the mall, focus on observing that place rather than watching all the other shoppers walking around. To do this, figure out what aspects of a situation are essential and then observe those down to the smallest details, so you’re focusing on quality not quantity when analyzing something. If you want to think like Sherlock Holmes, the first thing you should do is start practicing your observation skills so you can take in all the details of a place or circumstance.
