Here's how you can identify Thought Leaders who excel in logical reasoning.

A thought leader should be able to decompose a problem into logical chunks, should be able to connect the dots. A story : 3 friends, say Person A, B & C, felt hungry at night. So, they went onkingut for hotel ,which is open. After lot of search, they got food at hotel 'XYZ'. 'A', made the conclusion that hotel XYZ remains open late in night, so next time, he can directly come to hotel XYZ. B, saw that hotel XYZ was near a bus stand. So, he concluded that, in case he went to other city, hotels near bus-stand remain open. C, observed that bus-stand is a transportation hub.So,hotels,near transportation hub remain open. In other city, he can go to railway-station,airport etc. & can get food. C has better critical thinking & will help him.

For rational debate, follow 'Strong opinions, weakly held' principal. That is, you encourage everyone to back their reasoning with data. If data suggest a certain action, go for that. But if someone shows new data point, be humble enough to accept that & change the course of action. Also, make sure everyone stands that today's decision is based on data, which is available today. So,everyone should surely have data, which is available today. No laziness there. At the same time,let everyone know that no one knows about the future & hence, if things turns out in other way, there will not be any witch hunting. In hindsight, many things may look wrong but that's in hindsight only. No one should be allowed to quote that to prove their point.

Eating dinner at the cool kids' table isn't a guarantee of being cool, but it certainly makes you look cool. It's better to be best known than best kept secret, which is why the same thought leaders often speak at events, appear on podcasts, and feature in media together. Identifying the circle of influence is a sure-fire way to find those with the traits you seek. Look for individuals consistently cited by peers and invited to contribute to discussions; their visibility and endorsements signal their intellectual contributions and analytical acumen. Pay close attention to who is speaking at top industry events. I like to start with people that I respect and look at their circle of influence.

Recognition and Awards: Check for industry recognition or awards related to innovation, research, or problem-solving. These accolades often reflect a strong reputation for logical reasoning.