Ways to improve your Critical Thinking

Posted by Gilbert G Wall on September 18th, 2019

Are you the one fascinated with the instant decision making of your superheroes in online games and movies? Nice! It’s good to enjoy such stints for entertainment. However in real life, if you engage yourself in impulsive actions or hasty decisions, there are chances of being into problems more often. No matter whether it is your personal life or professional, if you want to enjoy respect and support from the people around, avoid being judgmental and practice critical thinking exercises.

Critical thinking refers to the quality of thinking rationally wherein you look at a problem in an objective and sensible manner without being partial or biased. A critical thinker looks at the situations in a logical way and makes judicious decisions so that no genuine interests get hurt. It’s true that not everyone is a born significant thinker, but the good thing is that one can acquire this wisdom by practicing some critical thinking exercises; it will help you not only in your personal space but also at your workplace. Your colleagues will respect you for your fairness in problem-solving skills and that is really a wonderful feeling!

Never decide hastily: As the proverb goes ‘haste is waste’, allow yourself some time to think before you make a decision. Usually, we tend to look at problems through one perspective only. Take a step back and try to have a broader outlook encompassing another viewpoint as well. This will give you not only the cause but also empower you to look at the possible outcomes. So, never be in a hurry to respond. Ask for the appropriate time. Many times, even a throwback of 5minutes is enough to analyze the pros and cons associated with the situation in demand. When the decision is about you, your work, your performance or your future, never shy away in asking for some time. You deserve it.

Listen actively: Hearing and listening are two similar kinds of activities performed by our ears and we often choose to hear unless what is being told holds a personal interest to us. Break this habit and start listening actively. It will give you a better understanding and a detailed description of the situation. Still, remember that different people have different views about the same thing. Just like a glass half full of water may appear ‘half-filled’ to some and ‘half empty’ to others.

Analyze the facts: Suppose the sale of a specific product has declined. You, as a sales manager, should consider the various aspects involved to ascertain what could have been the possible reason. It may be compromised quality, lack of promotion, higher pricing, inadequate supply, better competitors’ strategies, insufficient incentives and many more. Likewise, investigate the possible reasons behind a given problem or behavior so that you may get a broader perspective.

Be Compassionate: Don’t jump to speculations. Practice compassion. Be kind and sympathetic to others. This quality really helps a lot irrespective of your designation or service industry. Whether you are with your friends, family, customers or colleagues, your empathy displayed towards them will definitely make them feel considerate towards you. If you are in sales, don’t sell your product to someone just for the sake of selling; take a moment to think how it can be useful for the customer and help them understand the same. Be flexible in your thoughts and try to look from the other person’s standpoint.

Spend time with people from different walks of life: Take out some time in listening to and understanding people from different cadres. It will broaden your outlook and surely improve your critical thinking skills.