THINKING: Sharpen your critical thinking skills

Let me clarify Mary, critical thinking is not thinking in a negative or critical way – it is simply evaluating the data you are receiving so that you can make an informed decision. 

It is more important than ever to evaluate the information you are taking in. As a business owner or simply a human being on the planet – we are bombarded by information – from the 24 hour news cycle, social media platforms and conversations with friends, family, co-workers and clients. 

It is vital that you have a system to filter all the information you are receiving and put it into perspective. 

We use critical thinking everyday – for example, if you are a project manager for a construction firm, you would gather information on what you need on the job site and then order the materials at the best price you can find.  

Another example a little closer to home would be the critical thinking you use when you’ve lost your car keys. You start to search the house room by room, possibly retracing your steps until you find them. That’s a small-scale example, but it gives you an idea of what critical thinking is.

Looking at the pandemic information and the protests with a critical thinking lens can help us understand what each side is saying and why they may be behaving in a certain way.  Knowing these details, will help us to find solutions to move forward.

As you are watching the constantly breaking news – You can start to expand your critical thinking by asking these 3 questions when you are faced with new information. 

• Why…? Why did this take place? Why was this the result? Why did they do that?
• What else…? What else took place, what other results could happen,  what else is possible? What else is behind their motivation?
• What if…? What if they did it this way? What if the results were different? what if I was in their shoes? 

By taking time to ask a few basic questions, you can train your mind to think more critically and form stronger, well informed opinions and beliefs. 

Download a free copy of my report: Creative and Critical Thinking Skills – Your Hidden Superpower