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Learning the Art of Critical Thinking

By: Richard Paul, Linda Elder

No matter what your circumstances or goals, the authors assure us of one thing: we will be better off if we are skilled thinkers. Critical thinking, they say, is the disciplined art of ensuring that…

• Length: 5 page(s)
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Discipline: Strategy
• Product #: ROT221-PDF-ENG

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No matter what your circumstances or goals, the authors assure us of one thing: we will be better off if we are skilled thinkers. Critical thinking, they say, is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances; but to maximize the quality of your thinking, you have to make learning about thinking a priority. They present four recommendations which, when applied, result in a mind practicing skilled thinking. These include 'clarify your thinking' and 'question questions'. In the end, they say the best thinkers are those who understand the development of thinking as a process occurring throughout many years of practice.

Jan 1, 2014

Discipline:

Rotman Management Magazine

ROT221-PDF-ENG

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HBR Guide to Critical Thinking Paperback – January 31, 2023

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Tackle complex situations with critical thinking.

You're facing a problem at work. There are many ways you can approach the situation, but each comes with its own pros and cons. How do you sort through all the information so that you know you're taking the right path?

The answer is in how you think. The HBR Guide to Critical Thinking will help you navigate your most challenging issues, from difficult problems to tough decisions to complex scenarios. By carefully observing the situation, gathering information, inviting other perspectives, and analyzing what's in front of you, you can move forward with confidence while building this crucial leadership skill.

You'll learn how to:

• Question your assumptions
• Keep an open mind to opposing viewpoints
• Sidestep cognitive biases
• Use data—when appropriate
• Grow comfortable with ambiguity
• Find innovative and creative solutions

Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.

• Print length 256 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Harvard Business Review Press
• Publication date January 31, 2023
• Dimensions 5 x 0.75 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 164782446X
• ISBN-13 978-1647824464
• See all details

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You can find HBR at: hbr.org Twitter: @HarvardBiz LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review Facebook: @HBR Instagram: @harvard_business_review YouTube: youtube.com/user/harvardbusinessreview

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harvard Business Review Press (January 31, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 164782446X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1647824464
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.75 x 9 inches
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To Improve Critical Thinking, Don’t Fall into the Urgency Trap

Too often at work, people rely on expertise and past experiences to jump to a conclusion. Yet research consistently shows that when we rush decisions, we often regret them—even if they end up being correct. [i]

Why we hasten decision making is quite clear. We’re inundated with incessant distractions that compete for our attention, and, at the same time, we’re facing profound pressure to go faster and drive our businesses forward, even when the path ahead is unclear.

In the aftermath of information overwhelm, evolving technology, and rapidly changing business environments, people often unconsciously fall into a pernicious paradox called the “urgency trap.”

The Urgency Trap

The urgency trap, which can be defined as the habitual, unbridled, and counterproductive tendencies to rush through decision making when under the pressure of too many demands, is a paradox because it limits the very thing that could help us be more innovative, efficient, and effective: Our critical thinking.

The ability to analyze and effectively break down an issue to make a decision or solve a problem in novel ways is sorely lacking in today’s workforce, with most employers reporting that their employees’ critical thinking skills are average at best. [ii]

The good news? Critical thinking is a teachable skill, and one that any person can learn to make time for when making decisions. To improve and devote time for critical thinking at work, consider the following best practices.

1. Question assumptions and biases

Consider this common scenario: A team is discussing a decision that they must make quickly. The team’s options—and the arguments for and against them—have been assembled, but no clear evidence supports a particular course of action. Under pressure to move fast, the team relies on their expertise and past experiences to rapidly provide a solution. Yet, in the months following their decision, the issues that prompted the original discussion persist, and the team wonders why.

The issue here may be that the team failed to question their own assumptions and biases. Indeed, when we view situations solely based on our own personal experiences and beliefs, we limit our options and provide solutions that are often short-sighted or superficial. [iii] To improve critical thinking skills, we must step back and ask ourselves,

• “Am I seeking out information that confirms my pre-conceived idea?”
• “Am I perceiving a past experience as more predictable than it actually was?”
• “Am I overemphasizing information that comes to mind quickly, instead of calculating other probabilities?”

2. Reason through logic

When presented with an argument, it is important to analyze it logically in order to determine whether or not it is valid. This means looking at the evidence that is being used to support the argument and determining whether or not it actually does support the conclusion that is being drawn.

Additionally, consider the source of the information. Is it credible? Trustworthy? Finally, be aware of common logical fallacies people tend to use when trying to speed up decision making, such as false dilemma (erroneously limiting available options) and hasty generalizations (making a claim based on a few examples rather than substantial proof).

3. Listen actively and openly

When we’re in a rush to make a decision, we often focus more on how we want to respond rather than what the speaker is saying. Active listening, on the other hand, is a critical thinking skill that involves paying close attention to what someone else is saying with the intent to learn, and then asking questions to clarify and deepen understanding.

When engaging in active listening, it’s important to avoid interrupting and instead allow the other person to fully express their thoughts. Additionally, resist the urge to judge or criticize what the other person is saying. Rather, focus on truly understanding their perspective. This may mean practicing open-mindedness by considering new ideas, even if they challenge existing beliefs. By keeping an open mind, this ensures that all sides of an issue are considered before coming to a conclusion.

4. Ask better questions

In an article for Harvard Business Review, John Coleman, author of the HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose , writes, “At the heart of critical thinking is the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions.” [iv]

To ask better questions, first consider the audience for the question (who is hearing the question and who might respond?) and the purpose (what is the goal of asking this question?). Then, approach queries with rigor and curiosity by asking questions that:

• Are open-ended yet short and direct (e.g., “How might you help me think about this differently?”)
• Challenge a group’s conventional thinking (e.g., “What if we tried a new approach?”)
• Help others reconsider their first principles or hypotheses (e.g., “As we look at the data, how might we reconsider our initial proposed solution?”)
• Encourage further discussion and analysis (e.g., “How can we deepen our understanding of this issue?”)
• Thoughtfully follow up on the solution (e.g., “How do we feel about the progress so far?”)

5. Create space for deliberation

The recommendations outlined thus far are behaviors and capabilities people can use in the moment, but sometimes, the best solutions are formulated after consideration. In fact, research shows that a deliberate process often leads to better conclusions. [v] And sleep has even been proven to help the brain assimilate a problem and see it more clearly. [vi]

When issues are complex, it’s important to find ways to resist unnecessary urgency. Start by mapping out a process that allows several days or longer to sit with a problem. Then, create space in the day to formulate in quiet reflection, whether that’s replacing your first thirty minutes in the morning with thinking instead of checking email, or going on a walk midday, or simply journaling for a few moments before bed.

Critical Thinking Cannot Be Overlooked

In the face of rapidly-evolving business environments, the ability to make smart decisions quickly is one of a company’s greatest assets—but to move fast, people must first slow down to reason through pressing issues, ask thoughtful questions, and evaluate a topic from multiple angles.

To learn more about how organizations can enhance their critical thinking and decision-making skills, download the full paper: Who Is Really Making the Decisions in Your Organization — and How?

[i] Grant Halvorson, Heidi, “Quick Decisions Create Regret, Even When They Are Good Decisions,” Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/1758386/quick-decisions-create-regret-even-when-they-are-good-decisions .

[ii] Plummer, Matt, “A Short Guide to Building Your Team’s Critical Thinking Skills,” Harvard Business Review, October 2019. https://hbr.org/2019/10/a-short-guide-to-building-your-teams-critical-thinking-skills .

[iii] Benjamin Enke, Uri Gneezy, Brian Hall, David Martin, Vadim Nelidov, Theo Offerman, and Jeroen van de Ve, “Cognitive Biases: Mistakes or Missing Stakes?” Harvard Business School, 2021. https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/21-102_1ed838f2-8ef3-4eec-b543-d00eb1efbe10.pdf

[iv] Coleman, John, “Critical Thinking Is About Asking Better Questions,” Harvard Business Review, April 2022. https://hbr.org/2022/04/critical-thinking-is-about-asking-better-questions .

[v] Markovitz, Daniel, “How to Avoid Rushing to Solutions When Problem-Solving,” Harvard Business Review, November 2020. https://hbr.org/2020/11/how-to-avoid-rushing-to-solutions-when-problem-solving .

[vi] Miller, Jared, “Does ‘Sleeping On It’ Really Work?” WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/does-sleeping-on-it-really-work .

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HBR Guide to Critical Thinking Toolkit

HBR Guide to Critical Thinking Toolkit ^ 10677

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Product Description

Publication Date: April 19, 2023

You're facing a problem at work. There are many ways you can approach it, but each comes with its own pros and cons. How do you sort through all the information and tackle this complex situation so you know you're taking the right path? The answer lies in how you think. The HBR Guide to Critical Thinking Toolkit provides actionable exercises and strategies to help you navigate your most challenging issues, from difficult problems to tough decisions to complex scenarios.

The HBR Guide to Critical Thinking Toolkit is a digital product intended for individual use only. To download this product after your purchase, simply sign in to hbr.org and visit the “Orders” section of your account. If you’d like to purchase multiple copies of this Ebook and its accompanying tools to share with your team or learn more about volume discounts for organizations, please contact [email protected].

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HBR Guide to Critical Thinking

Description.

Tackle complex situations with critical thinking.

You're facing a problem at work. There are many ways you can approach the situation, but each comes with its own pros and cons. How do you sort through all the information so that you know you're taking the right path?

The answer is in how you think. The HBR Guide to Critical Thinking will help you navigate your most challenging issues, from difficult problems to tough decisions to complex scenarios. By carefully observing the situation, gathering information, inviting other perspectives, and analyzing what's in front of you, you can move forward with confidence while building this crucial leadership skill.

You'll learn how to:

• Question your assumptions
• Keep an open mind to opposing viewpoints
• Sidestep cognitive biases
• Use data—when appropriate
• Grow comfortable with ambiguity
• Find innovative and creative solutions

Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.

Kindle Book

• Release date: January 31, 2023

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• ISBN: 9781647824471
• File size: 3643 KB

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Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press

Kindle Book Release date: January 31, 2023

OverDrive Read ISBN: 9781647824471 Release date: January 31, 2023

EPUB ebook ISBN: 9781647824471 File size: 3643 KB Release date: January 31, 2023

• Harvard Business Review - Author
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• Languages English

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HBR Guide to Critical Thinking

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HBR Guide to Critical Thinking

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Video description

Tackle complex situations with critical thinking.

You're facing a problem at work. There are many ways you can approach the situation, but each comes with its own pros and cons. How do you sort through all the information so that you know you're taking the right path?

The answer is in how you think. The HBR Guide to Critical Thinking will help you navigate your most challenging issues, from difficult problems to tough decisions to complex scenarios. By carefully observing the situation, gathering information, inviting other perspectives, and analyzing what's in front of you, you can move forward with confidence while building this crucial leadership skill. You'll learn how to: question your assumptions; keep an open mind to opposing viewpoints; sidestep cognitive biases; use data-when appropriate; grow comfortable with ambiguity; and find innovative and creative solutions.

Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.

Table of contents

Product information.

• Title: HBR Guide to Critical Thinking
• Author(s): Harvard Business Review, Karen Ruth Johnston, Brandon Pollock
• Release date: April 2023
• Publisher(s): Ascent Audio
• ISBN: 9781663722614

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