Want to learn how to tinker with your thinker? Critical thinking is the best place to start. This blog post will help you better understand what critical thinking is and how it can be applied in your life. Critical thinking is a soft skill that comes naturally to some, but can be had by all. Hopefully you will have a better understanding of critical thinking and its importance
Thinking Critically about Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is evaluating an issue and coming up with an idea to solve it. For example, solving a puzzle does not happen because you just idly think about it. It can only happen when you evaluate where the pieces are and come up with a plan. That is the essence of critical thinking. It is a soft skill that is learned and perfected through practice. While some may be better at critical thinking than others, most people have the ability to improve. Critical thinking can be used for any problem or situation that needs solving, including academia and the workplace.
Critical Thinking: Why is it important?
Academia
In your academic career, critical thinking is helpful for achieving good grades. In college, professors no longer hold your hand or constantly remind you of deadlines. You are on your own when it comes to most of your work. This independent work schedule requires individuals to use their own brains and look at things from different perspectives. Students succeed academically by using critical thinking which aids in decision making and independence when it comes to school work.
At Work
In the workplace, critical thinking aids in achieving success. For example, it could allow you to come up with a new solution to an old problem. Using your thinking skills to piece together ideas into solutions will impress your boss and make you a better employee. Starting out in the business world, most people are not their own bosses. Because of this, it is important that you are able to impress your boss by using critical thinking. Critical thinking allows you to solve problems quickly on your own, and this independence is part of being a good employee. Completing office tasks without the assistance of others is efficient, and in the workplace efficiency is rewarded.
Learning to Have Critical Thinking
Thinking comes as second nature to us, but thinking critically does not. Critical thinking is something that can be built. Group projects, fast decisions, and multi-step tasks all help someone improve critical thinking. Planning and people interaction both force you to utilize your critical thinking skills. Solo activities that can boost critical thinking are puzzle solving, silently writing, and drawing or reading thought provoking prompts. Critical thinking can be improved by one becoming conscious of what it is and how it can be improved.
Solving The Critical Thinking Crisis
It is up to you to grow this soft skill. Critical thinking can be learned, when you force yourself to think critically. Group projects and computer games can help, but you must capitalize these opportunities to grow the skill. Critical thinking is key to advancing in the workplace by being a reliable employee. You can show your soft skill to other employees through actions, not words. For example, while most people speak about their progress and success in life, a critical thinker will successfully complete assignments with the best results without speaking about it. Get your tasks done by using critical thinking, and you will blow the competition away.
Critical thinking can be learned, can be improved, and will aid in both personal and professional life. It can be tied to inquisitiveness because both skills are needed for internal conversation with yourself. Asking questions is important in the learning process and in using critical thinking. To conclude, critical thinking is vital in helping your professional and personal life because it helps your thinking skills and solves problems.
