Again, some of the stress can be avoided if critical thinking is taught preemptively, not as a last resort. This concept is applicable across many business and organizational structures. "This can save the hard-earned customer relationship you spent a lot of marketing dollars to create.". Teaching critical thinking in the workplace. It's about solving problems in a process-centered way that capitalizes on knowledge and objective evidence – and in the business world, these skills save time and money from top to bottom. Here are some critical thinking examples in different job positions. Fortunately, these skills are not out of reach – they are readily available to employees at all levels. Like the scientific method, critical thinking contains a lot of steps, as Lawrence noted in her definition, but these steps will save a lot of time in the long run if mistakes can be prevented. Many business leaders also come up short. In fact, only 28% of employers rated 4-year graduates as having “Excellent” critical thinking skills. People who are successful in these positions tend to be able to learn quickly, process information accurately, and are able to apply it to decision-making. They often must make them on their own, and quickly. For this reason, employers may look to hire employees who have strong critical thinking skills. With globalization and the increased speed of business, employees at every level are facing an increasingly complex flow of information. Study after study has confirmed that the skills gap is real for both the current leadership pipeline within organizations and for the talent pool accessed by recruiters. A 24-hour news cycle and barrage of unchecked facts overloads our brains in and out of the workplace. Critical thinking is important because it ensures you have the best answer to a problem, with maximum buy-in from all parties involved – an outcome which will ultimately save your business time, money and stress. And the decisions have to be good ones. Download this paper for free. If you read enough blog posts or journal articles in the talent management industry, you may have the overwhelming feeling that the sky is falling. Recognize Assumptions. Additionally, even though in higher education there has been a concerted effort to focus on critical thinking as a measurable outcome, employers are not seeing the results. Critical thinking and reflection can be beneficial in the workplace in the following ways: 1. The art of evaluating arguments entails analyzing information objectively and accurately, questioning the quality of supporting evidence, and understanding how emotion influences the situation. This video illustrates further research. Work settings are changing rapidly, and employees are moving into new roles, often with limited direction. Jen Lawrence, co-author of Engage the Fox: A Business Fable About Thinking Critically and Motivating Your Team, defines critical thinking as "the ability to solve problems effectively by systematically gathering information about an issue, generating further ideas involving a variety of perspectives, evaluating the information using logic, and making sure everyone involved in on board.". Taking it a step further, when we examine assumptions through the eyes of different people (e.g., the viewpoint of different stakeholders), the end result is a richer perspective on a topic. Giving employees this extra time will actually save the company time and money in the long run. Product and service reviews are conducted independently by our editorial team, but we sometimes make money when you click on links. Here's a chart to help you... critical thinking will also enhance other workplace skills. Specifically, when it comes to skills like critical thinking, it is consistently rated by employers as being a skill of increasing importance, and yet a recent study showed 49% of employers rate their employees’ critical thinking skills as only average or below average. Companies that change strategy rapidly, moving from one thing to the next, are likely not engaging in critical thinking, said Lawrence. While the restaurant example conveys critical thinking skills, you should also be aware of the signs of a lack of those skills. Here's how to understand, adopt and implement critical thinking in your workplace. This is the ability to separate fact from opinion. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor has identified critical thinking as the raw material of a number of key workplace skills, such as problem solving, decision making, organizational planning and risk management. David Welton, managing partner at Grove Critical Thinking, says critical thinking is "a teachable skill." Manager Creating a Diversity and Inclusion Training Program, 6 Tips for Writing an Effective Performance Review. And yet too few employees possess these essential skills. The money, time and conflict you will save in the long run is well worth the extra time and patience of implementing critical thinking in your workplace. Good decisions require focusing on the most relevant information, asking the right questions, and separating reliable facts from false assumptions – all elements of critical thinking. Perhaps not surprisingly, independent research has also found that the higher up the ladder a position is, the more essential critical thinking becomes. Many next-generation leaders also lack the ability to create a vision or to understand the total enterprise and how the parts work together – both competencies that are closely tied to critical thinking. We just don’t question it. This is a complex definition for a complex concept. As with many issues in business, what's happening at the top is a good signifier of how present critical thinking is in the rest of the organization. Research conducted in recent years by Pearson, as well as by a variety of independent academics, has shown that people who score well on critical thinking assessment are also rated by their supervisors as having: Because it is often difficult to discern such critical thinking skills through a resume or job interview, many organizations are turning to assessments to help them evaluate candidates. Ask any executive about the importance of critical thinking, and you will hear nothing but support and admiration for this essential skill. Approaching problems with an independent, reflective thought process is one kind of critical thinking. With concentrated practice over time, typically several months, critical thinking skills can be significantly increased. Critical thinking is a key skill in the workplace. If you read enough blog posts or journal articles in the talent management industry, you may have the overwhelming feeling that the sky is falling. Senior executive-development professionals report that the competency that next-generation leaders lack the most is strategic thinking, which hinges on critical thinking skills. CEO Roundtable: How Do You Spur Innovation? Then, you can research what trainings, coaches or curricula might fit your organization best. Fortunately, critical thinking can be taught. Being able to remain objective and sort through the validity of different positions helps people draw more accurate conclusions. What Is Emotional Intelligence, and Why Does It Matter? Not only will it save your business costly resources, but critical thinking will also enhance other workplace skills, such as communication, creativity, analytical competency, emotional intelligence and general problem-solving. Once gained, critical thinking skills last a lifetime, and become a powerful asset for organizations seeking a competitive edge. Evaluate Arguments. Just like critical thinking processes themselves, teaching and implementing critical thinking training and methodology takes time and patience. Teaching employees critical thinking in the workplace allows them to employ the skill as a crisis happens, not after the fact. It is the hope of professionals to pursue careers they are passionate about. Writing a resume can be complicated. So, the burden and expense of training/developing those skills rests on the employers. Critical thinking examples exist in every part of the workplace, from the corporate executive offices to the sales floor. How to Start a Business: A Step-by-Step Guide, 7 Reasons You Should Be a Coach, Not a Boss, How to Rekindle Your Relationship With Work. She has a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology and has experience in recruiting, training, and HR consulting. The Only Resume Cheat Sheet You'll Ever Need. If employers and employees alike don't think critical thinking is teachable, it is easy for it to be left by the wayside. Breanne Harris, Solutions Architect for Pearson TalentLens, Professional Development & Consulting Services, Pearson K-12 Online & Blended Learning Community, Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, Critical Thinking in Business White Paper, Maryville University – Now the 2nd fastest-growing university in the nation, Arming students with the tools for lifelong career success, Direct online tutoring help to students in need, The ability to evaluate the quality of information presented, The potential to move up within the organization. Lawrence said this contributes to a frantic workplace tempo that reinforces hasty thinking and business decisions. Post after post details the impending leadership crisis, the unruliness and lack of loyalty among Millennials, and that’s before we even cross into issues like declining employee engagement, and digital disruptions.

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