What do you do if you want to enhance critical thinking through temporary and contract work?

1 Choose projects that challenge you

One of the best ways to develop your critical thinking skills is to expose yourself to new and diverse situations, problems, and perspectives. Temporary and contract work can offer you a variety of opportunities to work on different projects, industries, and teams, where you can learn new skills, knowledge, and approaches. When choosing your projects, look for ones that challenge you to think creatively, critically, and independently. For example, you may want to work on a project that requires you to research, analyze, and present data, or one that involves solving a complex or ambiguous problem.

2 Ask questions and seek feedback

Another way to enhance your critical thinking skills is to ask questions and seek feedback from others. Asking questions can help you clarify your understanding, identify gaps in your knowledge, and explore different angles and possibilities. Seeking feedback can help you improve your performance, learn from your mistakes, and gain new insights and perspectives. When working on temporary or contract projects, you may not have a regular supervisor or mentor, so you need to be proactive and seek out opportunities to ask questions and get feedback from your clients, colleagues, or peers. For example, you may want to ask for clarification on the project goals, scope, and expectations, or request feedback on your work deliverables, processes, and outcomes.

3 Reflect and self-evaluate

A third way to enhance your critical thinking skills is to reflect and self-evaluate your work experiences and outcomes. Reflection can help you review your actions, decisions, and results, and identify what worked well, what did not, and why. Self-evaluation can help you assess your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, and set goals and action plans for your future development. When working on temporary or contract projects, you may not have a formal performance review or appraisal, so you need to be self-motivated and self-directed to reflect and self-evaluate your work regularly. For example, you may want to keep a journal or portfolio of your work samples, feedback, and learnings, or use a SWOT analysis or SMART framework to evaluate your work.

4 Learn and apply new tools and methods

A fourth way to enhance your critical thinking skills is to learn and apply new tools and methods that can help you organize, process, and communicate information effectively. There are many tools and methods that can help you enhance your critical thinking skills, such as mind maps, flow charts, diagrams, matrices, frameworks, models, checklists, and templates. When working on temporary or contract projects, you may encounter different tools and methods that are used by your clients, colleagues, or peers, or you may need to use new tools and methods that are relevant to your project. For example, you may want to learn and apply a tool or method that can help you collect, analyze, and visualize data, or one that can help you structure, write, and present your arguments.

5 Collaborate and network with others

A fifth way to enhance your critical thinking skills is to collaborate and network with others who can share their knowledge, skills, and experiences with you. Collaboration can help you leverage the collective intelligence, diversity, and creativity of your team, and learn from different perspectives, opinions, and feedback. Networking can help you expand your professional contacts, access new opportunities, and learn from best practices, trends, and innovations. When working on temporary or contract projects, you may have limited interaction with your clients, colleagues, or peers, so you need to be intentional and strategic to collaborate and network with them effectively. For example, you may want to use online platforms, tools, and communities to communicate, share, and learn with others, or attend events, webinars, or workshops to meet and connect with others.

6 Develop a growth mindset

A sixth way to enhance your critical thinking skills is to develop a growth mindset, which is the belief that you can improve your abilities and learn new things through effort, feedback, and practice. A growth mindset can help you embrace challenges, overcome setbacks, and seek new opportunities to learn and grow. When working on temporary or contract projects, you may face uncertainty, complexity, and change, which can test your confidence, resilience, and adaptability. Developing a growth mindset can help you view these situations as opportunities to enhance your critical thinking skills, rather than threats or failures. For example, you may want to adopt a positive attitude, focus on the process rather than the outcome, and celebrate your progress and achievements.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?