Elevate Critical Thinking Inside Your Organization
Employers depend on their leaders and staff to make informed decisions to help them work effectively and move their organizations forward. Yet, the Association of Talent Development reported that critical thinking and problem-solving were among employees’ top three most common skills gaps.
Boosting these capacities is essential to individual and collective performance. When personnel can keep an open mind and consider a situation with curiosity and objectivity, they will be better equipped to analyze the matter at hand and arrive at a reasonable conclusion. It’s important to remember that critical thinking involves more than simply studying the data. It embraces a holistic approach and includes consideration of the potential consequences and possibilities as well as the people and context involved.
By practicing critical thinking, leaders and employees will be better equipped to navigate complex circumstances, anticipate challenges and devise innovative solutions. To cultivate mindsets that examine multiple perspectives, question assumptions and form rational decisions, begin by understanding the common biases that can inhibit thoughtful evaluation.
What Predispositions Impact Decision-Making?
There are many cognitive biases that can affect a person’s ability to objectively assess a situation. I’ve compiled a few of the most common below, and for more insight, I invite you to reference this article.
Confirmation Bias
Often, people seek out data points or use cases that affirm what they already believe to be true. This mindset can make it difficult to hear new viewpoints or trust inputs that counter one’s own beliefs.
Anchoring Bias
Individuals may tend to put extra weight on the information they receive first. In doing so, they are more likely to ignore or discount other evidence that is available later in the process.
Affinity Bias
This predisposition reflects a person’s tendency to favor people who remind them of themselves. The downside of this behavior is that it may lead to group think or cause staff to miss out on valuable experiences and perspectives that are distinct from their own.
Proximity Bias
People may innately place more value on things that they are more familiar with and are nearer to. This bias can be particularly challenging in distributed work environments where employees may not communicate with one another regularly.
Loss-Aversion Bias
This predisposition explains the situation where individuals may choose to continue in a direction after a decision has been and action has been taken, even if new information suggests they should reverse course.
How Can Leaders Build Skill in Critical Thinking?
Using the three tips below, executives and managers can increase their own problem-solving capacities and begin closing any gaps in their abilities.
Analyze Assumptions
If we had to mindfully evaluate every choice in our lives, it would be completely overwhelming. That’s why the brain has biases and heuristics that it follows. The difference is that – when judgment matters – it’s essential to be aware of any predispositions to make reasonable assessments. When faced with a significant decision, reflect on one’s own inclinations as well as what elements are facts, opinions and feelings. Each of these factors can play a role in the process, and identifying the distinctions will enable individuals to explore their options more clearly.
Suspend Judgment
Often, leaders are looked to for important choices, and it’s common to fall into the trap of quick decisions. While this practice is sometimes necessary and effective, it does increase the likelihood that a person may default to their cognitive biases. Get in the habit of waiting to assign positive or negative judgments to various alternatives. Weigh options with curiosity and assess the possibilities and potential consequences of multiple actions.
Practice Taking the Opposite Position
When approaching any situation, try to see the benefits that would come from taking a path that is different from what you might normally recommend. Reflect on the opportunities that could arise from this methodology and the potential drawbacks of any initial inclinations. Analyzing these distinct viewpoints can unlock new ways of seeing the same circumstance. Keep in mind: leaders can always ask for help. Seek out coworkers with varied backgrounds, ages or thinking and behavioral preferences to get in the habit of understanding and appreciating a different point of view.
How Can Leaders Inspire Others to Build Critical Thinking Capabilities?
Begin closing existing skill gaps using these practices:
- Prioritize Questioning: Encourage employees to proactively ask for feedback from others as well as show appreciation for concerns or alternatives that are raised. By getting others’ perspectives, staff can better identify opportunities for improvement, reveal roadblocks before they occur and promote better problem-solving.
- Employ Active Listening: Cultivate an environment where employees are committed to understanding their colleagues before being understood by them. Start by reducing distractions in meetings so attendees can stay present and invite colleagues to ask open-ended questions to learn more about differences in opinion when they arise.
- Celebrate Cognitive Diversity: Teams that have distinct perspectives tend to solve challenges faster and more effectively. Be mindful to recognize and honor the gifts that come from distinct decision-making methods as well as utilize personality assessments and tools to raise awareness and appreciation of different work styles.
Critical thinking has the potential to elevate performance, unlock creativity and engage the workforce in new ways. It all starts with investing in employees to ensure that they have the skillsets to understand their own tendencies and embrace the perspectives of others.
Ready to build a climate that values and channels cognitive diversity toward productive outcomes? Discover how you can get started here or fill out the form below to speak with one of our staff members today!
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