Critical Thinking Skills You Need to Master Now

Critical Thinking Skills You Need to Master Now via Pexels If Im already making you feel nervous, if youre doubting your critical thinking skills, you likely need to spend some time in reflection and maybe even practicing being more present when situations arise that call for critical thinking skills (probably every day). If you know you need to practice your critical thinking skills or you want to assess your current skills, ask yourself these questions: 1. Can I recognize, build, and appraise arguments? We all know what its like to be in conversation with someone who doesnt understand our point of view. We easily become frustrated when we cant get our point across, and were probably equally as frustrated when we dont understand anothers argument. When you find yourself in a situation with a group of people, viciously discussing the latest news article, top story headline, or world issue, do you find that you are able to recognize arguments that other people are making? Can you analyze the information they give you in order to draw your own conclusions about their personality/beliefs/morals? Actively displaying critical thinking skills means you can analyze another persons argument, piecing together the information given to you in order to understand your peers/friends/coworkers/associates. 2. Can I identify inconsistencies/errors in reasoning? Now imagine yourself in a situation where youre out to dinner with your colleagues and your latest  obnoxious  coworker starts talking about one of the more touchy subjects in common times. Theyre explaining their thoughts on the issue, and, before you know it, theyve completely lost you with their logic/reasoning. Do you find yourself stopping to think about the inconsistency of another persons reasoning? Do you actively investigate that discrepancy (whether its in your own head, with that person, or in a respectful conversation with someone else)? When we display critical thinking skills, were actively engaging with people during conversation, following the logic theyve used to create their conclusions. When its not consistent, its important that that inconsistency is explored if only a little! via Pexels 3. Do I approach problems in a systematic way? When youre given a problem at work, do you feel that you approach it in an organized, systematic way? Or do you find yourself scurrying around to find all of your materials once youre amidst the project? When we actively display solid critical thinking skills, we address problems in our lives in a way that makes us both efficient and effective. We use a system (if only in our head!) that takes us from one step to the next. If you find yourself frustrated that your projects never seem to get done reflect on  why  they are left unfinished. Maybe you dont approach them in a way that allows you to be both efficient  and  effective. 4. Can I think about situations from various points of view? Nothing is more frustrating than talking to someone who has no idea what its like to be anyone else. This often happens when we meet people who seem to have been handed  everything and come off as having  never worked a day in their life.   Its frustrating to try and get someone to understand a problem from a different point of view. Are you a person who can put themselves in the shoes of others? If you cant, dedicate time to reading the stories of others and truly try to understand their struggles. 5. When I communicate my ideas, am I easily understood? Do you find that when youre with your friends, youre often misunderstood? If you dont portray your ideas clearly in a group of people, your critical thinking skills might be a bit off track. Infographic by Lorena Roberts 6. Am I open to new ideas or ways of doing things? Open-mindedness is one of the most important critical thinking skills. Those of us lacking in this department rely on the way weve always done things, and dont look for ways to improve their current lifestyle. We call this stagnation and it can really put a damper on any relationship, whether it is romantic or not. Think about your grandparents they probably arent up to speed with technology, and may even resist using a cell phone. The way theyve always done things is to wait for a letter or an in-person visit. Because they arent open to new ways of doing things, theyre missing out on something that can add so much value to our lives. 7. When I work with others, do I contribute an equal amount? Critical thinking skills include the ability to collaborate. If youre the person in the group who tends to stand back thats okay! Its when you feel like you cant contribute at all that you lack critical thinking skills. You let your emotions take over your actions instead of giving (what you are able!) to the group. If you dont think working with others is your strong suit, give yourself ample opportunities to collaborate. The more you practice, the better youll get. Just remember to actively reflect on your experience and assess your involvement in the project. 8. Do I engage in envisioning or imagining a future thats better off? When we tap into our creative side and use it to imagine the world a better place (in whatever facet), we use critical thinking skills to analyze our current situations and improve it within reason. Its because people do this, ultimately, that the world becomes a better place. If we all accepted our own fate, took what the world gave us, and never pushed the limits, we would lack some of the coolest inventions and some of the worlds most important sciences. via Pexels 9. Do I actively spend time reflecting on my own beliefs and ideas? We all know what its like to talk to a recent high school graduate about worldly issues: they simply repeat what theyve heard their parents say without giving a lot of thought to their own ideas about the world. Its easy to lean on the logic of others. But those with solid critical thinking skills have actively analyzed their own beliefs. When we spend time in reflection of our own ideas, we stand on a solid foundation during conversation and we have an easier time understanding the point of view of another person. If you havent spent time thinking about  why  you believe what you believe, build that into your weekly routine.  Continue  to ask yourself where the foundations of your ideas about the world are rooted. Critical thinking skills arent just something we talk about in personal and professional development seminars. Many employers want to see evidence of strong critical thinking skills in their job candidates. When you walk into an interview, you want to display some evidence of  how  you use critical thinking both in your personal and work life. You can show your potential employer that critical thinking is part of who you are by mentioning the things youre doing to sharpen those skills, specifically. If youve found that you have a hard time working in groups, talk about activities youve gotten involved in thats helped you learn the value of collaboration. If youve had to reflect on your own thoughts and ideas and youve found that they have no basis, dig deeper into the topics in which youre interested. Challenge yourself to watch and listen to several different versions of the same news story, from various broadcasters. Arm yourself with  all  the facts and then have a conversation with friends and colleagues who will open up to you about their honest thoughts. Analysis might be one of the hardest areas to practice on your own. You could try actively engaging in analysis when youre out with your friends and family. However, you can also achieve stronger analysis skills if you build in time during your day to read and listen and take in the world around you. Read articles from various websites think about the thoughts of others find the flaws in their logic completely dismantle their argument and then put it back together. Having strong analytical skills will make you a better employee, a better partner, and a better friend (not to mention we need better critical thinkers in the world!). If youve decided your critical thinking needs some work, there are several resources that can help you get yourself to where you want to be. Begin by using this website for some general tips on improving critical thinking skills. If you want to assess your critical thinking skills, use Indeeds assessment at the link here.