Writing, thinking, deciding

Writing is on the decline. Thoughtful, precise writing has been replaced by emails, tweets, FaceBook posts and briefings filled with incomplete thinking. This decline of writing skills is causing a corresponding decline in thinking skills (or is it the other way around?). Writing is most valuable as a powerful way of thinking. Writing helps us express our thoughts in a logical and coherent way. It forces us to critically examine our own thinking, which ultimately leads to better thinking, better problem solving, and - more than likely - better decision making. If we want better thinkers and decision makers, we should start by educating better writers. 

Many people talk about thinking "outside the box" - sometimes, thinking is enough on its own.