Last Friday’s webinar on How to Be a Thinker, Not a Follower really made me think about how we approach work today. It wasn’t just another talk about performance or leadership. It was a reminder that companies don’t hire people just to take instructions. They hire people to think, question, improve, and bring clarity to problems.
For me, this session was about mindset. It challenged me to look honestly at how I show up at work every day. Am I simply reacting to tasks, or am I thinking about how to make them better? Am I focused on checking boxes, or on shaping results?
1. A follower executes, a thinker transforms
One of the biggest lessons I took away was understanding the difference between being busy and being impactful. Followers execute tasks. Thinkers influence results.
A follower’s mindset sounds like, “What do I need to do today?” while a thinker’s mindset sounds more like, “Why are we doing this, and how can we do it better?”
Followers tend to stay in their lane. They complete what’s assigned and move on. Thinkers, on the other hand, look at the same task and ask deeper questions about its purpose and value.
This made me realize how easy it is to fall into autopilot. Sometimes we get so focused on finishing work that we forget to think about why we’re doing it. A thinker isn’t someone who waits for permission to improve something. They take initiative because they care about outcomes, not just assignments.
2. Thinking is a daily habit, not a one-time action
Another key point that stood out to me is that critical thinking isn’t something you switch on only during major meetings. It’s something you practice every day in the small decisions you make.
For example, if a marketing campaign underperforms, a follower might just note it down and move on. A thinker would ask why. They’d look at timing, audience, and content type, and suggest what can be changed next time.
That habit of curiosity is what builds your thinking muscle. It’s not about overanalyzing everything. It’s about being intentional and noticing patterns. It’s about asking “why” before jumping to “how.”
Dr. Chumo shared ways to build this habit, like reflecting on what worked, identifying bottlenecks, and suggesting improvements instead of waiting for instructions. Thinking isn’t something extra you do when you have time. It’s a way of working.
3. The real value of a thinker is ownership
This was probably my biggest lightbulb moment. Followers complete tasks. Thinkers take ownership of results.
When something goes wrong, followers explain what happened. Thinkers focus on how to fix it. They take responsibility beyond their job description.
That kind of ownership builds trust quickly. Leaders notice people who take initiative without being asked. When you start thinking about the bigger picture, you naturally start becoming someone others depend on.
Dr. Chumo used a relatable example. Imagine a system in your office keeps crashing around midday. A follower would report the issue every day and wait for IT to fix it. A thinker would notice that it crashes during peak activity, analyze usage trends, and suggest a schedule change or server upgrade.
Ownership doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. It means caring enough to see things through and thinking ahead about what could go wrong.
4. Use data, not assumptions
Another key lesson was that thinkers back up their ideas with evidence. It’s easy to have opinions, but data makes your thinking credible.
A follower might say, “Our social media strategy isn’t working.” A thinker would come with facts: engagement trends, feedback from followers, and comparisons with competitor activity. They would also propose new approaches based on that evidence.
Using data to guide your thinking not only strengthens your argument but also helps you see patterns others might miss. It’s what makes your ideas stand out.
5. Anticipate, don’t just react
One phrase that stayed with me was, “Followers react. Thinkers anticipate.”
That mindset shift changes everything. A follower waits for problems to appear before acting. A thinker reads patterns, anticipates challenges, and plans ahead.
In any organization, anticipation is a valuable skill. Whether it’s predicting a client’s needs or preparing for potential delays in a project, thinking ahead keeps you and your team ahead of the curve.
Proactive thinkers make things run smoother. They save time and reduce stress because they plan before problems happen. Over time, that level of foresight makes you indispensable.
6. The transformation starts with mindset
All of these takeaways point back to one thing: being a thinker is a conscious choice. It doesn’t depend on your title, your experience, or how long you’ve been in a company. It depends on how you think about your work.
The shift starts the moment you stop asking, “What am I supposed to do?” and start asking, “How can I make this better?” That one question changes everything.
It turns your job from a routine into an opportunity. You start spotting inefficiencies, proposing smarter approaches, and inspiring others to do the same. The more you think like this, the more your value grows. You stop being just another team member and become someone who helps shape direction.
That’s the kind of professional every organization needs: not someone who just keeps things running, but someone who makes things run better.
7. My personal reflection
Walking away from the webinar, I felt challenged but also inspired. Thinking isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being thoughtful, curious, and intentional.
It’s about showing up with ideas that add value and not settling for “this is how we’ve always done it.” It’s about asking better questions, listening carefully, and being bold enough to propose better ways forward.
The truth is, thinking requires courage. It’s easier to follow a checklist than to question one. But growth comes from curiosity. Every improvement, every innovation, and every meaningful change starts with someone who decided to think differently.
For me, being a thinker means paying attention to the “why” behind the “what.” It means engaging deeply with my work, taking ownership of results, and always looking for smarter, simpler, and more impactful ways to get things done.
That’s what I’m taking with me from this session: a renewed commitment to think more deliberately, to approach my work with purpose, and to remember that progress begins with a single question: How can this be better?