You’ve probably heard that critical thinking skills may be lacking in many of today’s workplaces, and even among students seeking higher education. In fact, a recent Payscale survey found that 60% of managers say critical thinking and problem solving skills are the most lacking among recent college grads.
Critical thinking skills help us solve problems, navigate personal dynamics, and interpret data. Weak critical thinking skills can often lead to bias, poor communication and judgement, and negatively affect one’s ability to be productive and make good decisions.
If you’re wondering how you can improve your own critical thinking skills, you’re not alone. Whether you’re focused on becoming a better critical thinker to improve your professional or personal life, there are several ways to develop these important skills.
What are Critical Thinking Skills?
Critical thinking affects the way we analyze, evaluate, and process information. It can help guide our behavior in many situations. For example, when faced with conflict, someone with strong critical thinking skills will use logic and rationality to guide their actions instead of reacting purely with emotion.
The ability to think critically is valuable because it means that you do more than just memorize information – you can actually apply it and be strategic with your actions.
A well-cultivated critical thinker:
- Raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely;
- Gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively;
- Comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards;
- Thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and
- Communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.
Why Are Critical Thinking Skills Important?
Strong critical thinking skills can benefit us in our daily lives–whether it’s at school, on the job, when dealing with conflict, or consuming media. Critical thinking skills can help us identify misinformation/disinformation, navigate challenges, and much more.
Employers value individuals with strong critical thinking skills because they “tend to be reflective, independent, and competent. When practicing critical thinking, individuals can connect ideas logically, evaluate arguments, identify errors, solve complex problems, and reflect on outcomes,” according to Indeed.
In fact, critical thinking is among the top five skills working professionals will need to excel on the job, according to Forbes–especially as AI use becomes more prevalent.
“While AI can recognize patterns and automate tasks, the human mind excels at critical thinking and problem-solving,” Forbes notes. “Moving forward, organizations will still need people to define goals, make strategic decisions and assess risks. This highly-valued soft skill involves the ability to analyze and interpret information in a logical way. Critical thinking allows individuals to make educated decisions based on hard data rather than emotion. Employees with strong critical thinking skills also tend to be good problem solvers and communicators.”
Critical Thinking Skills in the Age of AI
As more people use AI, educators and employers alike are sharing concerns about AI’s effect on critical thinking. Though many organizations are embracing AI to automate tasks and work more efficiently with fewer resources and employees, some feel repeated AI use can diminish their staff’s critical thinking skills.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft recently surveyed over 300 employers to see if generative AI was having a negative impact on their staff. Based on concerns they unearthed in the survey, they worry that AI users will have impaired cognitive abilities.
“Surprisingly, while AI can improve efficiency, it may also reduce critical engagement, particularly in routine or lower-stakes tasks in which users simply rely on AI, raising concerns about long-term reliance and diminished independent problem-solving,” researchers said.
How Can You Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills?
While critical thinking skills are often considered a soft or durable skill, they are something that can be developed over time. If you’re concerned your skills could use some work, you can try using the following process:
- Evaluate the information at hand. When faced with a problem or situation, analyze potential challenges or solutions to make better decisions.
- Look at the source of information. Every piece of information has motivation behind it – whether it’s an advertisement created to sell a product to fulfill a strategy, or a research paper meant to discuss the findings of a study – critical thinkers will look at any potential bias in the sources they consume. This helps determine how reliable a source might be.
- Ask questions. Instead of just taking everything at face value, come up with a list of questions to answer before acting, such as “What alternative information sources exist? What kind of research has been done on this topic?”
- Research. When researching, ensure that your sources are reputable. Educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, encyclopedias, or a reputable news source are good places to begin.
- Make an informed decision. Once you’ve done your research and analyzed the problem from multiple perspectives, you can be more confident that the opinion you have will be informed because you can back it up with research and a thorough analysis.
Get the Education You Need to Build Critical Thinking Skills
If you’re interested in building your critical thinking skills, especially to thrive in the workplace, continuing education can be a great place to start. UW Online Collaboratives and UW Flexible Option offer courses that focus on developing critical thinking skills in our online degree and certificate programs. Students enrolled in these programs also have access to durable skills courses in which critical thinking is a main component.