Critical thinking is just deliberately and systematically processing information so you can make better decisions and generally understand things better, at work and in life. It’s making connections between ideas and evaluating information critically instead of automatically.
Why Is Critical Thinking Important?
Critical thinkers are in high demand at Missouri State University because departments always need better, more informed solutions. More specifically, critical thinking at work helps you:
- Improve decision-making, evaluate an argument’s validity and its potential impact
- Form your own opinions on a topic, develop your personal ethics and confidence
- Engage on a deeper, more intellectual level with your coworkers and supervisors to form stronger working relationships
- Evaluate your own work to determine ways to improve quality and efficiency
- Develop better comprehension skills, both in conversation and reading
3 Habits to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills
Improve your critical thinking skills today by practicing the habits below:
- Ask basic questions. Especially when the stakes are high, get specific about the questions you are asking. When approaching any problem, start with: What do I already know? How do I know that? What am I trying to prove, disprove, demonstrate, critique, etc.? What am I overlooking? Some of the most succinct solutions to problems are astounding not because of their complexity, but because of their elegant simplicity. Seek the simple solution first.
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Gather and organize information. Find several sources that present different perspectives and points of view. This will ensure that you are not creating bias by only presenting data that supports your initial view.
- Analyze the data and sources. Evaluate the credibility and reliability of your sources of information. Look for bias in your methods of gathering data.
BONUS: To truly master critical thinking skills, it’s crucial to get outside your personal bubble. Start small. If you work in accounting, make friends with people in marketing. If you always go to lunch with senior staff, go to a networking event with your junior colleagues. Training yourself this way will help you escape your usual thinking and gain richer insights. Everyone has knowledge and a point of view to offer that might just help you connect the dots.
Level Up with Our Free Course
The practices above will help you get started, but there’s so much more to critical thinking. Interested in really diving into professional development in this area? Join us for our free course, Critical Thinking Tools, on March 31st, facilitated by Dale McCoy. Open to all faculty and staff!
If you have any questions on how to register for a professional development course, feel free to email our team at HRLearning@missouristate.edu.