It is Time to Elevate Critical Thinking
Dr. David Langemo, D.B.A., M.A.
Business Administration and Leadership Professional, Speaker, Consultant, Change Manager, and Culture Expert
It is my professional and educational opinion that, as a society, we are losing the ability to think critically.
I hope I am wrong. Please correct me if I am wrong.
To bring humor to the situation, I saw one of those short videos of Jimmy Kimmel interviewing people on the street. He asked them to do one thing: “Name a book.” They could name any book. One may assume that many individuals were able to do so. Yet, an alarming number, which they showed, could not.
Answering Jimmy’s question would not prove, admittedly, that the individual could think critically. However, it may give us a small basis of how bad society is declining, cognitively.
ChatGPT gave me these thoughts on critical thinking:
“Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating information or arguments in a disciplined and systematic way. It requires questioning assumptions, identifying biases, distinguishing between facts and opinions, and considering alternative perspectives. The goal of critical thinking is to arrive at well-reasoned conclusions and solutions that are based on evidence and logic rather than on emotion or personal preference. It’s a skill that involves curiosity, skepticism, and open-mindedness.”
Please slowly re-read the above paragraph a few times. Let each sentence sink in.
Now, let us bring critical thinking into the workplace.
Janetta Randolph, a leadership development associate and strategist for State Farm, had this comment:
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“Critical thinking is an essential skill to have in the workplace because it allows one to make informed decisions, analyze complex problems, and develop effective solutions. It’s the ability to objectively evaluate information, identify patterns and connections, and consider multiple perspectives.”
Note that Janetta does not use the word leadership within her comment, implying that critical thinking is for all individuals in the organization. Her phrase “identify patterns and connections” is brilliant.
Compare that comment to one provided by Katrice Sisson, the Director of Development for the Minnesota Marine Art Museum:
“Critical thinking is a powerful tool that helps us overcome obstacles and increase innovation and productivity. It also helps us take thoughtful consideration of all elements and angles before making a final decision on something (or someone). It’s one of the most well-rounded and important thought processes a person can utilize.”
Agreeing with Katrice, that critical thinking is “one of the most well-rounded and important thought processes a person can utilize,” why is the art (if you will) of critical thinking seemingly disappearing? One sees this decrease in political, religious, and media opinions daily. Why is it hard to “question assumptions” and research the truth? How can leaders incorporate critical thinking into their decision-making process?
It is time we elevate critical thinking skills, both in business and society.
Leaders: How do you encourage critical thinking in your organization?
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Dr. David Langemo
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Non-Profit Board Executive Administrator | Doctorate in Business Administration | Author
6 个月Very informative
Performance-driven professional with track record of enabling achievement of full business potential by leading supply chain management operations.
7 个月I agree the need to think critically is an important (dare I say, critical) skill and one which all people need to employ on a more regular basis. I would add to this discussion the need to consider that while we are engaged in thinking critically about issues that are important to us and our society we also accept that our points of view are invariably going to differ from others with whom we are interacting. I am far more worried about the inability we seem to have developed in seeing different sides to issues and perhaps keeping an open mind about our discussions. Not agreeing on issues should lead to open discussions and perhaps looking at our personal beliefs from different perspectives. We might even learn something about ourselves and one another by considering the other person’s point of view. There are facts that support different views. If we are unwilling to consider those facts by closing our minds to them then we become ego-centric and narrow-minded. Worse, we create negative attitudes about issues we must be able to openly discuss.
Research Laboratory Manager - Certified Electron Microscopy Technologist - High Resolution Electron Microscopy Facility
7 个月Dr. David Langemo, D.B.A., M.A., it would be nice if people know how to think at all, period!
Business Administration and Leadership Professional, Speaker, Consultant, Change Manager, and Culture Expert
7 个月Thank you to Janetta Randolph and Katrice Sisson for their contributions to this article! You are awesome!