Critical Thinking

When you lead an organization or are litigating a case, critical thinking is so important to analyzing and effectively breaking down an issue to find the appropriate solution. But, as I have learned, at times the hard way, despite the intellectual capital one may have, effective critical thinking is really about the basic skills of asking the right the questions.

For effective questioning, start by holding your views loosely. Be willing to fundamentally reconsider your initial conclusions and do so without defensiveness. Secondly, a comment that is synonymous with me is "you have two ears and one mouth, use them in that proportion"...simply put, listen more, be really curious and speak less. Third, leave your queries open-ended: "Tell me about that" or "help me understand" or "how did you come to that". By avoiding yes-or-no questions you'll get more of the story and likely get to write a better ending. Fourth, consider being counterintuitive at times. Avoid falling into general consensus or having your people simply agree with you. Finally, take your time. Unless you are on a deadline, ponder it, engage your team and consider all the outcomes. Basic stuff, but often forgotten.

Have a great week and thanks for reading!