What are the most effective ways to assess critical thinking skills in remote employees?

1 Define critical thinking

Before you can assess critical thinking skills, you need to define what they are and what they entail. Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information from various sources and perspectives, and apply it to different situations and contexts. It involves logic, creativity, curiosity, and skepticism, as well as self-awareness and self-regulation. Critical thinking skills can be categorized into four main domains: interpretation, analysis, inference, and evaluation.

2 Use behavioral questions

One of the simplest and most common ways to assess critical thinking skills is to use behavioral questions during interviews or performance reviews. Behavioral questions ask candidates or employees to describe how they handled a specific situation or challenge that required critical thinking. For example, you can ask them to explain how they approached a complex project, how they resolved a conflict with a colleague, or how they adapted to a change in requirements. The answers can reveal their thought process, reasoning, and outcomes, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

3 Assign case studies or scenarios

Another way to assess critical thinking skills is to assign case studies or scenarios that simulate real-life problems or situations that remote employees may encounter in their roles. Case studies or scenarios can be presented in written, audio, or video formats, and require employees to apply their knowledge, skills, and judgment to analyze the problem, generate solutions, and justify their choices. You can evaluate their responses based on criteria such as relevance, accuracy, clarity, consistency, and depth.

4 Use online tools or platforms

There are also online tools or platforms that can help you assess critical thinking skills in remote employees. These tools or platforms can provide standardized tests, quizzes, games, or simulations that measure different aspects of critical thinking, such as logic, reasoning, argumentation, and decision making. Some examples of these tools or platforms are Critical Thinking Insight, Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, and Lateral Thinking Puzzles. You can use these tools or platforms as part of your recruitment, training, or development processes.

5 Provide feedback and coaching

Finally, one of the most effective ways to assess and improve critical thinking skills in remote employees is to provide them with regular feedback and coaching. Feedback and coaching can help employees identify their gaps, strengths, and areas for improvement, as well as provide them with guidance, support, and resources to enhance their skills. You can use various methods to deliver feedback and coaching, such as online surveys, peer reviews, one-on-one sessions, or group discussions.

6 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?