Critical Thinking

A leader’s ability to make sound decisions, problem-solve, plan and implement, and execute sound strategic thinking, are all based on superior critical thinking.

Recognizing assumptions: Assumptions are statements that are implied to be true in the absence of proof. Identifying assumptions helps in discovery of information gaps and enriches views of issues. Assumptions can be unstated or directly stated. The ability to recognize assumptions in presentations, strategies, plans, and ideas is a key element in critical thinking.

Evaluating arguments: Arguments are assertions that are intended to persuade someone to believe or act in a certain way. Evaluating arguments is the ability to analyze such assertions objectively and accurately. Analyzing arguments helps in determining a confirmation-bias — the tendency to look for and agree with information that confirms prior beliefs. Emotion plays a key role in evaluating arguments, as high emotion clouds objectivity.

Draw conclusions: This involves arriving at conclusions that logically follow from the available evidence. It involves evaluating all relevant information before drawing a conclusion, judging the plausibility of different conclusions, selecting the most appropriate conclusion, and avoiding overgeneralizing beyond the evidence.

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