We live in the Information age—barraged by news and other content, and surrounded by information sources such as online archives, ebooks, webinars, blogs and more.
But how much of that information is accurate? And when we solve a problem or face a choice, how do we know what is relevant and useful? That’s why critical thinking is so important. It allows us to evaluate information in order to make an informed judgment, which will guide our actions and beliefs.
In this article, we will look at how to demonstrate critical thinking in all areas of our lives, including:
- Job interviews. Show employers that you can be trusted with important roles, including leadership positions, and deep creative or analytical work.
- At work. Solve problems and conflicts in a fast, accurate and fair way. Increase innovation and insight by being able to connect ideas in new, relevant ways.
- In writing. Develop and express ideas clearly and logically. Build a persuasive argument that is based on facts.
What is critical thinking?
There are three barriers to critical thinking: biases and prejudices, false information, and close-mindedness or the belief that “I am always right.”
It’s impossible to escape all our biases, since many of these are subconscious or firmly ingrained in our culture or value system. However, a critical thinker is aware of the bias, and thus strives to overcome them by gathering as many facts as possible and listening to different sides.
Socrates, the Father of Philosophy, said that the wisest man is someone who “knows that he does not know.” Critical thought must begin with intellectual humility and the desire to continuously learn.
But what do we need to develop our journey on how to demonstrate critical thinking? According to The Foundation of Critical Thinking, there are two components:
- Intellectual skills of gathering accurate information from reputable sources, analyzing and synthesizing it, comparing different (and sometimes conflicting) perspectives, and identifying logical loopholes
- Intellectual commitment and values, such as open-mindedness, fairness, precision, consistency, and curiosity.
Habits of critical thinkers
Critical thinking isn’t a function of IQ or education. It lies in our thinking habits, or the kind of process we use when we’re faced with information. Here are same ways how to demonstrate critical thinking:
- I raise important questions and problems. I don’t assume something is right because everyone thinks so, or it has always been this way.
- I gather information, and test these against relevant criteria. For example, I check if the news is accurate and from a credible source, or if the person providing it to me has motives or biases that can color it.
- I don’t take things at “face value.” I look at the assumptions, implications and consequences of each idea. Sometimes, I will see recurring patterns that lead to problems, and think: “Is there another way of approaching it?”
- I am open-minded. I listen fairly to other opinions, and learn from other cultures. In fact, I seek and enjoy different perspectives because it helps me broaden my views.
- I am aware of my biases and the limitations of my sources. This includes cultural biases, algorithms that can affect my social media and news feeds, or lack of knowledge in an area. That is why I always look at multiple sources of information.
- I am collaborative. I know I do not have all the answers, so I invite others to help me figure out solutions to difficult problems.
- I am humble. I admit when I make mistakes, and see this as an opportunity to learn.
How to demonstrate critical thinking at job interviews
Companies will usually test the critical thinking skills of job candidates by asking for examples when they showed observation and analysis, problem solving, creativity, and communication or conflict resolution.
They may ask it directly (ex. “Tell me about a problem you solved in your last job”) or provide a scenario (ex. “What would you do if you had to deal with the complaint of a very angry client?”).
You can also be proactive, and describe your past work experience in a way that showcases your critical thinking skills.
- Talk about a problem you solved, despite having limited resources or information. Or, show how you anticipated a problem, and how your early action helped save time and money.
- Describe the process where you came up with a new idea, and implemented it with your team. Name a few problems you met, and how you resolved it with proper planning and communication.
- Show how you managed a conflict, and was able to consider different perspectives, negotiate with others, and come up with a solution that benefited both parties.
- Talk about a difficult decision or challenge, and what you learned from it.
How to demonstrate critical thinking at work
Workplace stress is often caused by conflict and lack of resources, or unexpected problems that can cause delays or increase costs. Critical thinking can help you deal with these issues in a positive, productive way.
Ask useful questions at meetings
“Useless” meetings occur when you don’t get the information you need to act. To jumpstart brainstorming and collaboration, learn to ask the right questions.
You can ask open-ended questions to help others elaborate on their answer, or hypothetical outcome based questions: “What would happen if…” Structural questions that ask what/how/when/who can also help you understand processes, causes, factors and consequences.
Promote the teamwork approach to problem-solving
Getting multiple perspectives will drive insight and innovation. It also gets everyone’s buy-in, because they feel they were part of the process.
To improve teamwork and a culture of collaboration, encourage people to share ideas. Know everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, and assign tasks accordingly—they will feel valued, motivated, and confident to step up and share their views and skills.
Drop the silos or divisiveness between different departments. You need to get the big picture, and that can only occur if collaborate with other people in the company. For example, if you’re in marketing, it helps to get feedback from customer service and logistics to understand what customers need, and the problems that can occur while implementing a campaign.
Embrace learning
Grab every opportunity to learn from experience, and from others. Take on challenging roles, especially if it gives you the chance to develop a skill, or work with someone you respect.
See mistakes or problems as on-the-job training. Ask: “What led me to make this decision, what ways can I improve?” Actively ask for feedback from others.
Read books, sign up for webinars, or attend conferences where you can meet people from the industry. This expands your perspective, and can help you “think out of the box.”
How to demonstrate critical thinking in your writing
Whether you’re writing your MBA thesis, a project report, or a sales presentation, you need to be able to present your ideas in a clear, convincing way.
- Clearly state your problem or hypothesis. What point are you trying to make, or what goal do you want to achieve? This will help you choose which information is relevant.
- Gather reliable data. This can include reference materials, industry data, case studies, testimonials, expert interviews, or graphs and charts that show historical performances and projections.
- Anticipate questions and objections. What are the motives, biases and needs of your audience? Prepare facts and recommendations that will help allay their fears and see the benefits.
- Keep it short and precise. Focus on a few important, well-supported points. Too much information can be boring or overwhelming.
Critical thinking is like a muscle: the more you do it, the better you will be at it. Practice critical thinking in all areas of your life: work, writing, personal matters like conflicts with loved ones, and the content you consume that shapes your ideas and values.
References
https://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-critical-thinking/766
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/critical-thinking-examples
