It can take time to practice critical thinking, but it’s never too late to start. Practicing the following steps will help you become a critical thinker.
Critical thinkers start by asking questions about whatever is in front of them. They consider cause and effect. If this, then what? If that, then how is the outcome different? They understand that every action has a consequence, and they think about all possible outcomes of decisions before they make them.
Once you have asked every question you can come up with about a matter (it helps to write them down), seek information that will help you answer those questions. Investigate! Do some research. You can learn almost anything on the Internet, but it’s not the only place to do your research. Interview people. Ask the experts around you. Gather information and various opinions you can use to make your own determination. The wider the variety, the better.
You’ve got a pile of information, and now it’s time to analyze it all with an open mind. This is the most challenging part, in my opinion. Try to be as aware as possible of prejudices and turn them off. Question everything during this step. Are you being objective? Are you making guesses? Assuming anything? This is the time to look at every thought as purely as possible. Do you know it to be absolutely true? What are the facts? Have you considered the situation from every different point of view?
Critical thinkers are more interested in solutions than in placing blame, complaining, or gossiping. Once you’ve reached a conclusion through critical thinking, it’s time to communicate and carry out a solution if one is called for. Not everyone involved will have thought the situation through as critically as you have. It’s your job to understand that, and to present solutions in a way that everyone can understand.
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