We’ve all heard the term “critical thinking,” but what does it mean? It certainly doesn’t mean that you should think critical thoughts about the people around you! If anything, it means thinking objectively about our own mental processes.
Critical thinking is the ability to analyze events, information, and arguments, look at the information from different sides and form rational conclusions. It forces us to separate facts from opinions and thoughts from emotions.
But how do we become better critical thinkers? Let’s explore a few steps you can take to sharpen your skills.
Identify the Key Issue
A business executive once asked me if I could train his team. I asked if they needed help with their writing skills, and he replied, “They know how to write – the problem is that they don’t know what to write about.” No matter how well-worded their responses to customers might have been, they were not good because they didn’t address the key issues.
For example, the executive told me he’d asked a staff member to respond to a customer complaint. The customer was okay with the company’s high price – they were more concerned with whether they could get a particular service. The staff person wrote to the customer offering to cut the price without mentioning the service issue. Naturally, neither the executive nor the customer was satisfied.
Divining the real issue requires experience, common sense, and curiosity. Managers might need to work closely with team members to train them to see what matters and discard what’s irrelevant.
Learn How to Ask Questions
The best way to gain clarity is by asking questions—because it forces us out of our comfort zones and encourages us to think deeply about a problem or issue. Be curious and allow yourself to ask “out of the box” questions.
For example, when considering a strategic move, start by thinking about what questions you need to ask, such as:
- What is the reason to adopt this move? What would be the reasons not to adopt it?
- “What challenges will likely arise in procuring the resources we need to achieve this?”
- “What if we try this and it doesn’t work? Could we recover?”
By asking probing questions, you might uncover crucial factors that were not apparent at first glance.
Evaluate Inputs
We are bombarded with information daily. Some is true, some is slanted, and some is pure garbage. Yet it all looks so tidy on the Internet or the page. How do we determine which “facts” are true? Ask probing questions about where the assertions come from. What is the source of information? If a secondary source is cited, try to go back to the primary source or article and ensure that you are not receiving a biased interpretation. Follow your parents’ advice: Don’t believe everything you read and hear.
Understand Your Biases
To think critically, you must understand your own biases to spot them when they come up in conversations or decision-making processes. It’s hard to see our biases because they are like the water we swim in. If you find yourself thinking, “That won’t work,” before a person has finished speaking, assume that you’ve hit on a bias. Also, develop self-awareness to notice when you might be tempted to discount the contributions of some individuals.
Take a Step Back
Critical thinking requires reflection and effort – making snap judgments is rarely a sign that one is thinking critically. I know the pressure is always on, but the costs of making the wrong decision or jumping to an erroneous conclusion can be enormous. Stop. Reflect. Ask yourself and others questions, and focus on the facts of the situation separately from opinions and feelings. Set aside your biases. Then look for the conclusions that make sense.
Resources
Critical Thinking Roadmap Toolkit
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