In a previous post, I described critical thinking and emphasized its criticality. In this post, I'd like to enumerate scenarios that should immediately trigger the critical part of your brain. I believe we should always be thinking critically, but here are scenarios you can think about to consciously focus your critical thinking skills.
When Presented with New Data or Information: Any time you receive new information (which for most of us is constantly!), whether it’s feedback, research, reports, or input from others, engaging critical thinking is essential. Information often comes with hidden assumptions or biases, so it’s important to assess its credibility, relevance, and context. Before reacting, take time to evaluate the source, consider alternative perspectives, and reflect on how it aligns with existing knowledge.
What assumptions or biases might be present in this information?
How credible and reliable is the source of this data?
How does this information align with or challenge what I already know?
When Evaluating Decisions: When faced with decisions, critical thinking allows you to carefully examine the evidence and assumptions behind them. By questioning the validity of data, considering various perspectives, and evaluating potential consequences, you ensure that your decisions are thoughtful and well-informed, rather than based on incomplete or biased information. When reflecting on past actions or outcomes, critical thinking is valuable in evaluating what worked and what didn’t. By analyzing the reasoning behind previous decisions and identifying any biases or assumptions that may have impacted the results, you can learn from the experience and improve future decision-making processes.
What evidence supports this decision, and is it sufficient?
What alternative perspectives or options should I consider?
What are the potential consequences, both immediate and long-term, of this decision?
When Faced with Ambiguity or Uncertainty: In situations that make you feel a bit uncertain or anxious due to ambiguity or conflicting information, critical thinking helps you break down complexity and identify gaps in understanding. By questioning assumptions, seeking clarity, and gathering additional evidence, you can make better decisions even when faced with uncertainty, ensuring that you have considered all relevant factors.
What key information or evidence am I missing to clarify the situation?
What assumptions am I making, and how can I test their validity?
How can I break down this complexity into smaller, more manageable parts?
During Meetings and Collaboration: In discussions, especially when diverse opinions are being shared, applying critical thinking ensures productive and balanced conversations. It allows you to assess the strength of arguments, challenge assumptions, and ensure decisions are based on solid reasoning and evidence, rather than being swayed by biases or groupthink. We sometimes have to consiously give ourselves space to think critically in these situations. This will be an important theme in a future post.
Are the arguments being presented based on evidence or opinion?
What assumptions are others making, and how can we challenge them constructively?
How can we ensure that all perspectives are considered before reaching a decision?
Ideally, thinking critically is a way of life for us. However, all of us can get distracted so developing a reflex to consciously engage the critical part of our brain when we most need it can help us avoid making mistakes in moments of weakness.
Which scenario represents your biggest opportunity to develop a critical thinking reflex?
In my next post on critical thinking, I'll suggest a draft framework I've developed to help you approach this topic methodically. It involves creating SPACE between you and the information before internalizing it.
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