What is critical thinking?
Critical thinking is the ability to step back and objectively analyze information, question assumptions (including your own) and base conclusions on solid evidence rather than feeling or habit. It’s disciplined, self-correcting thinking: You check the logic of your ideas and how clearly you’re communicating them.
Good critical thinkers tend to stay open to new evidence and other perspectives, helping them make sound decisions.
Why critical thinking is important to your business team
Critical thinking can directly impact the bottom line of your business. People who think critically may:
- make better, faster decisions with less risk of costly mistakes
- spot what’s relevant in data and cut through any excess
- solve problems creatively instead of repeating old fixes
- communicate goals clearly and get teams aligned and moving
- avoid wasted time and resources by catching issues early
A team of strong critical thinkers has the potential to get more done, spend less and deliver higher-quality results. Managers might spend less time fixing errors and more time on strategy, for example. When you’re hiring or developing talent, critical thinking can be one of the highest-ROI (return-on-investment) skills to prioritize.
Key critical-thinking skills to look for
When hiring or assessing your team, consider focusing on these core skills that strong critical thinkers typically have:
- Observation: They notice details others miss, whether they’re small changes in team dynamics, early warning signs in a project or patterns in data. This lets them notice problems before they escalate.
- Analytical thinking: They quickly sort reliable facts from noise, verify sources and connect various kinds of information. They typically won’t act until they’re confident they have all of the details.
- Open-mindedness: They actively consider other viewpoints without getting defensive. This can make them excellent collaborators who strengthen team decisions rather than staying stuck with other viewpoints.
- Problem-solving drive: They see problems as challenges. Faced with an issue, they might immediately start generating options, asking smart questions and testing solutions.
- Clear communication: They may explain complex ideas simply, give reasoned arguments and listen well. This helps reduce misunderstandings, keep projects on track and ensure everyone is aligned.
Employees who consistently show these five skills tend to deliver targeted results, waste less time and make the team more efficient.
How to build stronger critical thinking (for you and your team)
You can improve critical thinking with deliberate daily practice. Here are some effective habits:
- Question assumptions. Start every problem by asking, “What am I taking for granted here?” Don’t assume the obvious explanation is the right one.
- Seek out opposing views. When you disagree with someone, consider arguing their side as convincingly as you can. It may reveal biases fast.
- Know your biases. Regularly ask, “Why do I believe this?” and “What would change my mind?” Awareness is typically the first step to overriding automatic thinking.
- Flip your approach. If you always tackle tasks the same way, deliberately do the opposite once in a while. It can help break old patterns and spark fresh ideas.
- Check the evidence. Before deciding, ask: “Where did this information come from? Is it current, complete and credible?” A two-minute source check can prevent hours of rework.
Critical thinking can help empower teams to make better decisions, solve problems efficiently and deliver higher-quality work with fewer mistakes. By recognizing key skills like observation, analysis and open-mindedness (and building daily habits to strengthen them), you may boost performance, cut costs and create a sharper, more innovative workplace.
