The Art of Critical Thinking: Five Steps to Better Decisions
Employees face a number of big and small decisions in the workplace each day. They could be determining who they should reach out to for assistance on a key project, if they should ask for a promotion or what pens they should buy for the office. It is impossible to make the best choice every time, but there are ways to increase the chances. Employees using critical thinking skills can improve their ability to make informed choices and increase their chances of making the best decision. Here are five critical thinking steps employees can use to improve their choices — both in the workplace and out.
Step 1: Formulate your Goal
- Approach the situation with understanding of what you are trying to accomplish. Having a clear picture of what you want to achieve will allow you to sift through information critically.
Step 2: Gather your Information
- Using your goal, seek out an expert for advice. This could be your manager, a person in another department or an article you find online. Gathering information helps you weigh different options and to make a decision that accomplishes your goal.
Step 3: Apply the Information
- When facing a decision, ask what concepts are at work, what assumptions exists and is your interpretation of the information logically sound.
Step 4: Consider the Implications
- What are the long-term effects
Step 5: Explore other Points of View
- Understand why something may not appeal to you.
- Ask someone to counter your recommendation.
- Make an effort to meet with people who think differently than you. This could be as simple as lunch with someone who works in a different department.
This process will allow you to explore alternatives and make more informed decisions. Critical thinking skills allow us to sort through information and find what we are looking for. These five steps aid in difficult decision making and enable us to increase our chances of making the best choice.
Source: https://youtu.be/dltUGF8GdTw