What is critical thinking?

INTRODUCTION

Sometimes, when you think you have solved a problem, you realize that, in the end, you have created a bigger one. Or perhaps, you discover, in the end, that you only cured a symptom and you didn’t fix the root cause. The reason these things happen is that you are not thinking critically.

Critical thinking is both a mindset and, therefore, the application of some fundamental, simple tools. These critical thinking skills are invaluable.

OBJECTIVES

• Understand the concept of critical thinking

• Define the benefits of critical thinking

• Distinguish between causes and consequences in the process of thinking critically

• Explore breaking problems into small ones as a method achieve better solutions

THE IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING

When we are asked to solve a problem, we usually rush and start solving without stopping to think before we do. Facing these demands, we need extensive amounts of information before we can decide.

In a problem-solving process, it is usual to have multiple stakeholders involved. This is something that includes the complexity while trying to find a solution.

When we finally come up with a recommendation, we know that not all stakeholders will be happy with the solution presented. There will be a lot of doubts, it doesn’t matter if you are right or wrong. In this process, there will always be business and also personal and professional implications

Those unforeseen blockages in getting to that answer, multiplied by the number of problems we are facing to solve every day, are collapsing your limited amount of time to get to a solution.

This simple formula shows the importance of thinking critically before rushing off to get a solution, and we aware that the obstacles you might find in the way could be high. Taking your time to think critically is a crucial element that will differentiate the quality of the solution from rushing off without reflecting at all.

BENEFITS OF CRITICAL THINKING

We know that critical thinking helps us make better decisions and to apply information rationally.

While there are some critical benefits of critical thinking:

1. Being more persuasive: Critical thinking will enhance your Persuasiveness, which is the characteristic of influencing others. Critical thinking makes us more convincing because it is a deliberate or thoughtful process, and the more intentional we are, the better we will be in expressing our assumptions or ideas and persuading others.

2. Communicate better: In general, there is a parallelism between the things that we use to improve our persuasiveness and tose we need to become good communicators. For instance, to become a good persuader, you will generally use analogies and metaphors. Those are also tools in general communication techniques. In addition, using language more persuasively also generates a better use of the language and a more explicit message.

3. Being a better problem solver: critical thinking and problem-solving are closely related and mostly intertwined. In fact, problem-solving, logic, and critical thinking use some of the same cognitive processes. To solve logic problems, we use critical thinking, and critical thinkers use problem-solving skills and not just intuition to make decisions.

4. Increase emotional intelligence: emotional intelligence is related to emotions. It is the ability to assess and control the emotions of oneself, others, and even groups. One of the main characteristics of critical thinkers is self-awareness. This trait helps increase emotional intelligence because they know how and when to identify, understand and manage their emotions.

DISTINGUISH CAUSES VS. CONSEQUENCES

As we speak about critical thinking, we must think about causes and consequences.

As we told before, one of the biggest challenges, when we want to solve a problem, is the desire to rush off and search for an answer very quickly. But rushing might make us to solve a symptom or even find out other symptoms but not resolve the problem at all.

In the critical thinking process, consider, first, the causes and second, the consequences.

1. Evaluate the cause: look at the problem and figure out the real reason that is happening from multiple perspectives.

2. Consider the consequences: before giving your final recommendation think critically, looking for other problems or symptoms you can create if you implement this recommendation

The process of problem-solving takes into account all way from causes to consequences. When you want to solve a problem, you must look froward and backward in both directions

Causes ----------------- PROBLEM ---------------- Consequences

Look at the causes, and try to think about what's really causing the problem. Repeat those steps backward until it's clear you're solving a problem and not a symptom.

BREAK BIG PROBLEMS INTO SAMLL ONES

To better solve a big problem, one of the first steps is to break it down into smaller pieces that you can actually solve. It is worth it to think about the components of the problem; in the end, you will save time and improve the quality of your recommendation.

To do this, you can go and take a whiteboard somewhere and try to find the components the big problem is composed of and ask yourself about the smaller issues driving that problem. In the moment you have broken the problem into pieces, break them again. At that moment, you, probably, will see the solution emerge. While doing so, you are moving from the first stage of the problem, the identification stage, to the next step, the problem-solving stage.

The time you invest in dimensionalizing this problem-solving space will help you solve problems more quickly and more effectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Critical Thinking is a toolbox for thinking better and problem-solving.

Before rushing to solve a problem without thinking before we do, it is better to take the time to analyze obstacles, causes, and consequences, etc. That will allow us to solve the problem and not only a symptom.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bowell, T.; Kemp, G. (2002) Critical Thinking, A Concise Guide. Routlege

Browne, M.N.; Keeley, S.M (2007) Asking the right questions. A guide to critical thinking. Pearson. Prentice hall

Courseware (2019) Critical Thinking. Courseware.com

Lovell, S. (2018) Critical Thinking. How to improve your critical thinking skills, problem-solving ability and avoid the 25 cognitive biases in decision-making.