ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC: COGNITIVE SKILLSUNDERSTANDING

PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGES

BY:
THOTA ADITYA VIVEK
108115097
ECE-A

Websters dictionary defines the word cognitive as of,

relating to,

being, or involving conscious intellectual activity (as thinking,

reasoning, or remembering). So cognitive skills basically means the
ability to perceive external input and analyse and utilise as well as
innovate upon the available information, of course with help of the
master organ of the body, the brain. Cognitive skills are deeply related
to the neural networks of the brain itself. Interestingly humans posses
these vital skills inherently since the day they are born. That can be
attributed to the sub-conscious organisation of the brain. How much a
Child develops on this inherent skill as he grows up is what
differentiates the IQ of a person from the other. As we can see,
cognitive skills are directly linked with the IQ of a person. More the
cognitive skill, more would be the IQ.
As it is clearly evident, cognitive abilities are primarily brain-based.
These skills are supported by specific neural networks. For example,
through scientific research, it is now known that memory skills rely
mainly on parts of the temporal lobe and parts of the frontal lobe. On a
scientific basis cognitive skills can be classified into perception,
attention, memory, motor skills, language, visual and spatial
processing and finally executive functions which are primarily essential
in the professional world. Researchers classify these executive
functions under various categories depending on their influence in daily
life. On a whole these include flexibility, insight of thoughts,
anticipation, problem solving, decision making, emotional self
regulation and sequencing of complex events or patterns. Analysis on
these standard parameters was done by innumerable cognitive
scientists. What we need to understand here is that, as it is easily
evident, sharpening these skills simply leads an individual to a better
life. The individual will be able to perceive the surroundings better,
able to appreciate the trivial yet insignificant things with respect to the
masses and also be able to understand other people well and hence
have stronger and healthy relationships within a society.
Now, how do these cognitive abilities help a person to cope up in a
professional environment? As it could be easily guessed that a
professional environment is more like a rat race where the smarter rat
excels better than the faster rat most of the times. Higher level of
cognitive skills help a person to spontaneously react as well as adapt to
instantaneous situations which is very much needed in the corporate
world. Also these skills help a person improve his quality of social
interaction making them interesting and more knowlegable. Innovation
is the key to progress. This ability to think out of the box is what fueled
mankind to leave the caves behind and even reach the surface of moon
and go further beyond.

However these skills do have their limits. As it is rightly said,Too much

of anything is good for nothing. One should clearly have a good picture
about where and how to use these skills and more importantly up to
what extent this thinking process could be carried on. This inturn is a
part of cognitive skills itself. Often over analysis and over thinking
leads a person to misleading pathways. One sided intellutual
conversation can sometimes result in social awkwardness. Complete
awareness of the surrounding atmosphere is needed for effective
execution of ones abilities.
Constant improvement of these skills is essential to meet up with the
current but constantly improvising professional community. As one
grows older, it is only natural that some of these skills die out due to
several reasons one of which being lack of constant usage. However
implementing proper challenging lifestyle can help is retaining as well
as developing these skills over time. Challenging the brain in everyday
activities in one way, like for example solving a sudoku or a crossword
on a daily basis. The next thing to develop is curiosity. There is a well
known quote, Curiosity is the wick of the candle of learning. Indirectly
it also fuels the power of creativity and imagination which can be
considered as two important cognitive skills. Ultimately there is one
thing that fuels our brain itself. This parameter is like a professional
challenge to take on. It is nothing but sleep ! Not many of us get
enough sleep that the brain requires especially with the onset of
industrialisation and development of corporate culture. Ultimately it is
the sleep that re-energises the brains power of cognitive thinking.
Hence once should ensure he/she get enough sleep, a minimum of 8
hours a day.
To conclude with, on careful observation one can notice that these
cognitive skills are what set us, humans apart from other living
organisms. It was an evolutionary advantage we possessed that helped
us to move forward. At the same time it was these very assets that
showed humankind war, hatred, lust and other negative feelings. It is
still questionable to what mankind could do on possessing such
distinguished skills. Nevertheless, the happiness of ones life primarily
depends on the quality of their thoughts, in short their cognitive
abilities.