Critical thinking is more than just the accumulation of facts and knowledge; it’s a way of approaching whatever is presently occupying your mind so that you come to the best possible conclusion. If you’re hoping to reach your full potential and make your mark on the world, cultivate the following 16 characteristics:
Compassion and empathy
Having compassion and empathy may seem like a negative for critical thinkers.
- The point of having compassion is to have concern for others and to value the welfare of other people. Without compassion, we would view all information and situations from the viewpoint of cold, heartless scientific facts and data.
Introspection
This is the art of being aware of your thinking
- Critical thinkers need introspection so they’re aware of their own degree of alertness and attentiveness, as well as their biases
- Introspection is closely related to self-reflection which gives you insight into your emotional and mental state
Effective communicators
Critical thinking is the tool we use to coherently build our thoughts and express them
- An effective critical thinker must be able to relay his or her ideas in a compelling way and then absorb the responses of others
- Think critically, see things from different perspectives, and follow others’ thought processes
Creative Thinking
Reject standardized formats for problem solving
- Think outside the box
- Experiment with different methods and viewpoints
- Creativity is associated with generating ideas, and critical thinking is analyzing and appraising those ideas
- Critical thinking can bring those ideas into clearer focus
Analytical Thinking
Best analytical thinkers are also critical thinkers
Determining relevance
Determine what information is most relevant, meaningful, and important for your consideration.
Observation
One of the earliest critical thinking skills we learn as children
- Our ability to perceive and understand the world around us
- Careful observation includes our ability to document details, and to document data through our senses
- Eventually, our observations will eventually lead to insight and a deeper understanding of the world
Active listeners
Instead of being a passive listener during a conversation or discussion, they actively try to participate
- Ask questions to help them distinguish facts from assumptions
- They gather information and seek to gain insight by asking open-ended questions that probe deeper into the issue
Objectivity
Stay as objective as possible when looking at information or a situation
- Be aware of your bias and remove yourself from the situation to be able to analyze it more thoroughly
- Focus on facts, and on the scientific evaluation of the information at hand
- Don’t let emotions influence your judgment
Humility
This is the willingness to acknowledge one’s shortcomings and see one’s positive attributes in an accurate way.
Challenge the status quo
Critical thinking means questioning long-established business practices and refusing to adhere to traditional methods simply because that’s the way it’s always been done.
Inference
The ability to extrapolate meaning from data and discover potential outcomes when assessing a scenario.
Identifying biases
When looking at information, ask yourself who the information benefits
Open-mindedness
Step back from a situation and not become embroiled
- Want to hear all perspectives
- Don’t jump to conclusions
- Approach a question or situation with an open mind and embrace other opinions and views
- Avoid launching into a frenzied argument or taking sides
Aware of common thinking errors
Common logical fallacies
- Circular reasoning
- Cognitive shortcut bias
- Confusing correlation with causation
- Assigning that when two things happen together, one causes the other cannot be proven without direct evidence
- Sticking to a favored view even when other more effective explanations exist
Curiosity
Curiosity is a core trait of many successful leaders
- Questions why things are the way they are
- Keeps an open mind and propels you to gain deeper knowledge
- Is fundamental to being a lifelong learner
- Leaders are inquisitive and interested in the world