The Most Important Observation Skills (With Examples)

Observation skills are used in countless situations every single day, From solving puzzles to memorizing equations. After all, whether we’re hearing, smelling, touching, tasting, or seeing something, we’re gaining valuable information about the world around us. You wouldn’t want to eat leftover food if it smelled bad, or touch the hot flame of a gas stove.

This same logic applies to the workplace, as our powers of observation can allow us to make our tasks easier, and notice important details, avoid mistakes, and more.

So, if you’re a job seeker who wants to learn how to hone your observation skills, stay tuned. This article will address multiple reasons why observation is so important, as well as provide tips and tricks for how to improve observation skills.

Key Takeaways:

• Observation is the use of your five senses, particularly sight and hearing, to monitor what is going on around you.

• Well developed observation skills help improve communication, adaptability, and critical thinking in the workplace.

• Observation skills can help you stand out in a job interview when you incorporate your observations into the conversation.

• Avoid inattentional blindness in the workplace by setting up systems of accountability.

• Improve your observation skills by being present, minimize distractions, and self-reflection.

What are observation skills?

A good observation skills definition are skills that allow you to recognize, process, and analyze your environment through the use of your five senses. Not surprisingly the most common senses involved in observation are your sight and hearing.

Observation informs you about your surroundings and requires the use of skills such as critical thinking and mindfulness. These skills can help you succeed in the workplace because they will keep you present with your environment. This makes you more ready and capable at handling whatever comes your way.

Observation can also be formalized. In academia, there are different types of observation, including:

• Controlled Observations

• Overt Observations

• Participant Observations

• Naturalistic Observations

Most people however will use informal observation skills. These skills are the kind that can be used everyday in any situation. They are also transferable, making them a soft skill.

Types of observation skills for the workplace

Observational skills are useful in almost every field, for any level of experience, in any situation. To get an idea of how all-encompassing observational skills are, here’s a list of its benefits:

• Communication. When you use your observational skills to gather information about your boss or coworker’s emotional state, current knowledge, ideas, or habits, you can communicate more efficiently and effectively.

  For example, if you’re working on a project and one of your team members seems angry about their failed idea, your ability to observe their emotions and behavior can help you successfully re-motivate them.

• Adaptability. If you notice an important change in the workplace just before, or right when it starts happening, you’ll be more likely to adapt positively.

  For instance, if you were a barista refilling straws, but you started to notice a rush of customers on their lunch break, your observational skills might inform you to switch your focus to restocking lunch items, so you can more efficiently meet the demands of your current clientele.

• Accurate research. If you’ve ever had a science class, you’d remember how important proper observations are for accurate research. Paying attention to the details of a project allows you to gather the most accurate information you need to make your project successful.

• Safety net. While accidents happen, having adept observational skills can help prevent mistakes and other incidents in the workplace. Imagine something as simple as walking down a hallway and missing the “wet floor” sign.

• Critical thinking. Often, being observant allows us to solve problems we wouldn’t normally have a grasp on.

  For instance, when you’re babysitting a child you notice an empty cookie jar, you might assume that the child did it. However, all it would take is observing the cookie crumbs on the dog’s mouth and bed to come to a more educated conclusion.

• Attention to detail. For any project, task, or assignment, being observant helps you ensure that you’re thorough in your approach. Not only will you come across as a better worker, but you’ll also be producing higher quality work.

Observational skills and interviews

Good observation skills during an interview can give you a valuable edge. In many cases, you can appear more focused and interested in the position, more efficiently answer questions, while also communicating successfully with a hiring manager.

For example, imagine Phil has an interview at a modern art museum, and there are several other potential candidates. Upon entering the museum, he notices a new exhibit, and instead of simply passing by, takes the time to analyze it before he’s officially called into his interview.

Then, once the interview starts, he seizes the opportunity to talk about his observation, mentioning how he loves the vision and direction the new exhibit represents. In this case, just making a simple observation gave Phil that extra edge over his competitors.

While there are countless ways small observations can make a huge difference in interview performance, just taking the time to make one or two is a valuable way to show your professionalism, confidence, and interest.

10 Ways to improve your observation skills

Knowing how to be a better observer is an important part of what can make you more successful in interviews, and in the workplace. With that in mind, here are ten simple ways you can improve your observation skills:

1. Take a moment to pause and look for details. As hectic as the workplace can be, taking the time to stop and examine your surroundings can be an efficient way of observing new information. Instead of noticing the more typical objects you see every day, try to look further and detect something you’ve never seen before.

2. Ground yourself in the present moment. Though we all get lost in an occasional daydream, or can become preoccupied with everyday stressors outside of work, the more we can ground our thoughts in our present task, conversation, or situation, the more our workplace observation skills will improve.

3. Cut out as many distractions as possible. Even if it’s tempting to glance at your phone during a slow day at work, doing so prevents you from observing important details. Therefore, simply deciding to keep distracting objects, people, or anything else out of your workplace can make a huge difference.

4. Make specific observations. Instead of noting that you observed fish in a koi pond, take the time to make your findings more specific. Remembering that there were five orange and black dappled koi fish is a much more useful observation.

5. Take the time to write things down. We’ve all had at least one teacher who was super anal about notetaking, and well, that teacher had a point. When you write down your observations, you’re far more likely to remember them going forward.

6. Play memory games and solve puzzles. If you want to have some fun improving your workplace observation skills, take the time to play a memory or solve a puzzle in your free time.

   This could be as simple as a game where you have 10 seconds to memorize as many details of a picture as possible. Write down your results and record improvements.

7. Get involved with new activities. Trying something can allow you to make new and exciting observations. In particular, you should choose an activity that engages your focus.

8. Be willing to research and learn. The more you know about a particular topic, the more insightful your observations will be. For instance, a home inspector or exterminator will be far more likely to notice signs of a rodent infestation over a tax collector.

9. Be self-aware and reflect. When you’re purposefully trying to improve your observation skills, being willing to reflect on your progress is an important part of making progress. Maybe you had an extremely stressful and distracting day, and being able to reflect on what happened can help you going forward.

10. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. While reflecting on your progress can be useful, you can also improve your observation skills by directly asking others for feedback.

    For example, if a co-worker appears noticeably stressed, you can always politely and professionally ask them how they’re feeling. Doing so will give you valuable observational information going forward.

Observation skills in resume

Observation skills can be more tangible when you can see them on a resume. Luckily, we’ve provided an observation skills resume for you:

1. Observation Resume Example

   Finnegan Bennett

   117 Melrose Ave., Austin, TX, 73301 (662)-280-0092 FinneganBennett@gmail.com

   Focused and communicative bank teller with 5+ years of experience in a detail-orientated enviornment. Possesses a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Austin University. Strong skills in problem-solving and time management.

   Professional Experience

   Wells Fargo, Austin, TX
   Exchange Teller, September 2017 — Present

   • Specialized in Foreign currency transactions

   • Handle customers financial transactions, and issues with services

   • Educated customers about sales and service delivery options and effective communication

   • Stayed current with new bank products and services to promote to clients

   The PNC Financial Services Group, Austin, TX

   Bank Teller, June 2015 — August 2017

   • Handle financial transactions at high-volume branch in downtown business district

   • Have exceptional customer service with a high standard of professionalism

   • Advise clients on how to reach short term and long term financial goals

   • Promote bank products, record all transactions

   • Train new tellers on teller procedures and how to operate the cash drawers

   Skills

   • Foreign Currency

   • Product Knowledge

   • Management Training Program

   • TD

   • Trainee Intern

   • Check Accuracy

   • Successful Business

   • Communication

   • Night Deposits

   • Sales Floor

   Education

   University of Austin, Austin, TX
   B.A. in Accounting, May 2015

   • Graduated with honors

Observation Skills FAQ

1. How do you improve your observation skills?

   You can improve your observation skills by increasing your awareness, improving your memory and engaging your senses. Here are more details on those steps:

   • Increasing your awareness. One way to increase your awareness is by taking time out of each day to stop and observe your surroundings. Pay attention to as many details as you can and make sure you focus on the small details as well as the big ones. Take note of the people, the animals, the trees, and the buildings.

   • Improving your memory. Playing brain games on your phone or computer can help improve your memory. Card matching games are also an easy way to strengthen your observation and memory. Starting at art or a set of objects and then later trying to recall the details are another way to improve your memory.

   • Engaging your senses. One way to engage your senses is by meditating. While meditating, focus on the sensations around you, what you hear, what you feel, what you smell. Slowing down and savoring your food is a great way to engage your sense of taste. Pause for a moment while chewing and take notice of the different flavors and textures

2. What jobs require good observation skills?

   There are many jobs that require good observation skills, from analytical positions to people-orientated ones. Here are some of our top picks for jobs that require observational skills:

   • Bank and other Financial positions

   • Accountant

   • Registered Nurses

   • Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

   • Sociologists

   • Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers

   • Environmental Scientists and Specialists

   • Childcare Workers

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.