Employers consider critical thinking a key skill, especially when it comes to hiring. This ability is essential for problem solving and strategising. This improves productivity at work.
“Successful executives use their critical thinking skills every day to sort through complex and incomplete information, ask the right questions, recognize strong and weak arguments, and assimilate the information to make logical business decisions.”
What is critical thinking?
There are many definitions of critical thinking that can be found in different schools of thought. An excellent definition would be the ability to process and engage in new information analytically. This is achieved by observing and putting together information to create logical connections.
“Critical thinking goes beyond the accumulation of facts and knowledge. It’s a way to approach whatever is currently occupying your mind in order to reach the best conclusion.”
Critical thinkers build on knowledge constantly.
This blog post will share some of the extraordinary habits that Critical Thinkers have.
Habit 1: Learning to observe
Glenn and Gary: “Observation is one the earliest critical thinking skills that we learn as children – It’s our ability perceive and understand the world around us.”
We can improve our observation skills and eventually unpick our complex world. This has allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the world around.
Habit 2: Put your ego aside and embrace humility
Inquisitive people are critical thinkers. They love to learn and are open to new information. To make this happen, it is important not to let your ego get in the way and to accept that you may not know all the answers. “They are open to admitting that they don’t know everything or have made mistakes.”
Habit Three: Identify your bias
“Critical thinkers are challenged to identify the evidence that supports their beliefs and evaluate whether or not these sources are credible.”
We are naturally biased towards our opinions and views based on preconceived notions.
Recognizing our biases helps us to understand how they can impact our decision-making. Ask yourself who benefits from the information when you look at it. Is there an agenda behind the information? Is the source omitting or ignoring information that doesn’t support their claims and beliefs?”
imglip Habit 4: Assumptions are incorrect
Critical thinkers are well aware of the dangers of assuming. To avoid confirmation bias (confirming what they already believe), we prefer to ask open-ended questions. “Don’t assume other people think the way you do. Ask them for their perspective. This will help you find a better solution.
Habit Five: Be honest with yourself and find balance
In the universe, there is a delicate balance between emotion and reason. A critical thinker, or someone who is training to be one, must learn how to balance emotion and reason. A rational mind can control both emotions and reason, so one cannot run on only one.
Habit Six of the memegenerator: Continuous Learning
It is essential for any critical thinker to keep abreast of the latest information and gain new knowledge. Critical thinkers will be able reorient their beliefs and ethical stances by consuming more information.
Read our last post: https://blog.trainocate.com/4-ways-to-navigate-crucial-conversations-well/
6 Habits of Critical Thinkers to Improve Critical Thinking
