Demystifying Critical Thinking: Of Emotions, Culture, and Problem-Solving Strategies

Honing our critical thinking skills helps us sift through the noise of information overload, discern facts from opinions, and make sound judgments based on evidence and logic. This was the premise of the conversation with team members from Japan, England, Australia, and Costa Rica last week. To my surprise and delight, what followed was an interesting journey into unexpected terrain. We covered a broad range of topics – from unraveling complexity in problem-solving, to how cultural differences might influence critical thinking, and the extent to which critical thinking and emotional intelligence (EI) intersect.

Harnessing Emotions to Enhance Critical Thinking

In simple terms, Emotional Intelligence is our ability to be aware of emotions and emotional patterns, and how we manage them. Emotions are often perceived as subjective, something to ‘control’ when dealing with the decision process, weighing our options, and selecting the best course of action. This is particularly acute in the workplace, which I find ironic because the range of our emotions is so wide - happiness, anxiety, stress, joy, calm, anger, hope, boredom – that if we were to put them in a box and exclude them from our working life, it would be a lackluster, daily grind indeed. What emerged during our session was the suggestion that instead of leaving the ‘emotional box’ outside the office door, we should bring it in and regard it as another valuable set of data that can contributes to inform our thinking.

Just as we rely on facts and data to guide logical conclusions, emotions provide critical insights into our internal states, signaling potential risks, opportunities, and needs that might not be immediately apparent through pure logic. By acknowledging emotional responses as data points, we can integrate them with empirical evidence, leading to more holistic and nuanced decisions that account for both rational analysis and human experience.

Think of journaling. It is a useful way of reflecting on and sorting out our thoughts. A journal also provides personal historical data that can help us to understand our own emotions, recognize how they have influenced our decisions, and, importantly, guide us on how we can best deal with those moments in the future. (See my contribution this collaborative article https://www.dhirubhai.net/advice/3/how-can-you-manage-emotions-interfere-critical?trackingId=b97cbWAAra4ju1fNJxjeqw%3D%3D). That’s when the Emotional Intelligence part comes in. Self-awareness can help us to recognize and set aside biases, to try to avoid them when evaluating an argument, mitigate their influence and approach issues with greater objectivity and clarity. While critical thinking provides a rational framework, emotional intelligence can add a layer of understanding of the values and human factors that influence the decision-making process.

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Global Perspectives: Cultural Influences on Critical Thinking Approaches ?

With such a diverse group in the session, we could not resist exploring critical thinking in relation to cultural contexts. Within any arena, we need an awareness of the cultural differences that can influence how we perceive problems, interpret information, and communicate solutions.

In Italy, for example, relational factors complement logic in our approach to problem solving. We interpret information through a lens that balances rational analysis with an appreciation for nuance and context. We are also quite comfortable in being in the position of the ‘contrarian’ and going against more mainstream views, whether it is among friends, in the workplace, or in front of an online or offline audience.?Finally, (this will not come as a surprise to anybody), we have a predilection for communicating our thoughts with a persuasive and passionate style, reflecting the cultural value placed on expressive communication!

In Japan, different cultural norms that emphasize harmony, respect for hierarchy, and group consensus can affect critical thinking approaches. Problems are considered through a collective lens, prioritizing the impact on the group over the individual perspective; information is shared efficiently, and solutions are communicated in a more indirect way to avoid conflict and preserve that very important social cohesion. To encourage effective critical thinking, I’ve had to recognize my own cultural biases and understand the contexts that shape the points of view of the people around me. For example, it had not occurred to me that joining a small group of colleagues in a session to explore critical thinking, might be a daunting experience, until someone in the group pointed it out. Something else that I have had to accept in my new environment is that questioning established norms can be intimidating. It made me appreciate the importance of creating a safe space and allowing enough time for considering that possibility to begin with. Once that is in place, the next step is to dial up your EI superpowers to help you identify how people are feeling, what those feelings mean, how those emotions impact their behavior and contributions and how to best interact with them. When we practice empathy, we gain an expanded perspective and we reduce the likelihood of jumping to conclusions, enable a more balanced analysis which, in turns, leads to more thoughtful and effective outcomes.

On personal level, my ongoing challenge is reminding myself to hit the pause button, reset my thinking and reevaluate my assumptions. My challenge is not unique, as constant flexing and pivoting is a must if you want to thrive in a variety of contexts, from personal interactions to professional endeavors.

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Unraveling Complexity: Scenario Planning, Agile Methodologies, and Ideation

‘Collect the data, discuss it with a diverse team, come up with a solution, test it, and refine it.’ When considering how critical thinking skills can help with problem solving, we started with this simple and systematic formula. However, our conversation quickly moved to embracing the process of discovery itself and the way in which we could leverage a variety of strategies to arrive at an answer.

Scenario planning, for example, removes some of the unexpressed anxieties by addressing the question, ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’. It allows us to be a bit nimbler, anticipating and preparing for various future possibilities by developing baseline narratives around potential outcomes, enhancing our readiness to adapt to sudden changes. Agile methodologies, with their iterative approach focusing on small increments that constantly add value, promote flexibility and continuous improvement, enabling us to respond quickly and refine solutions through regular feedback loops. Complementing these strategies, ideation fosters a more creative environment. Whiteboarding an idea, enhancing it or streamlining it, means that you can get to richer and more innovative solutions.

The common element to effectively navigating complex problems is the idea of breaking them down into manageable components, which simplifies the process and makes it more engaging. Having a ‘portfolio’ of problem-solving strategies also helps mixed-cultured groups where you might have to try multiple approaches to get the best out of all participants. ??

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When was the last time that you changed your mind and why?

This is how we opened our session. It was supposed to be an icebreaker, but it ended up exemplifying the essence of our conversation for two reasons. The first is that critical thinking is not static, but a journey of changing opinions. It is a practice and a mindset that blends intellectual curiosity, skepticism, and humility, and many factors can shape that, from emotions to cultural differences. The second is that by starting with examples from our personal lives we established early on that critical thinking was not only vital for academic success, but that we also employ it – consciously or otherwise - in real-world situations and every-day decision making, such as evaluating political information, making decisions about our personal safety, buying a new car, or choosing a school for our children.

Regardless of the situations that we referred to, we all followed similar approaches starting with the analysis, forming an opinion, and drawing our conclusions. In this sense, it is about cultivating a deeper understanding of the world and making informed and well-balanced decisions; building our own confidence and knowing that we can approach challenges with clarity, and, have the tools we need to succeed…and the confidence to change our mind if necessary.

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Moving forward with intention:

We followed up our session with some ideas to keep the conversation going as a team and at individual level. Here’s something that you can draw on to play with this topic if you are up for trying something new. Let me know how you get on!

• What are some specific behaviors or actions we can commit to as individuals to incorporate critical thinking in our day-to-day work?
• How can you use critical thinking skills to better approach problem solving?
• Pick one tool/strategy/practice that you have heard of today and use it to improve your critical thinking skills at individual level. Tell 3 people about it + check-in in 3 months!