How to Develop the 7 Skills of Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking is a cognitive competence, resulting from the combination of cognitive skills and dispositions. It is defined by the ability to analyze and evaluate existing info on a given subject, trying to clarify the veracity of the information and arrive at a justified idea about it, ignoring possible external biases.

With this, we seek the justified idea of reality and not blindly accept what others tell us.

It implies having the ability to make complex choices & solve problems in innovative ways, integrating existing thinking with new knowledge & applying it in different contexts.

• Curiosity;
• Ability to look at a problem through different prisms.
• Ability to argue;
• Open mind; Flexibility;
• Impartiality;
• Logical and factual and systematic analysis
• make inferences

The History of Critical Thinking

Common sense tends to combine being skeptical with being indecisive, indifferent, hesitant, insecure, irresolute. In fact, skepticism is the foundation of Critical Thinking and can become a valuable tool for developing this skill.

As Descartes stated in the “Discourse on Method” (1637), methodical doubt is the means to reason. It was in Ancient Greece that this concept was born, underlying the study of philosophy. Even without knowing it at the time, Socrates would come to be considered the Founder of Critical Thought, as this concept was only coined as such in the 20th century.

Socrates left the Socratic Questioning present - a form of disciplined and systematic questioning that allows to elevate logical thinking, exposing the logic behind someone's thinking. It consists of a discussion carried out by a person who does nothing but ask questions, and where each question is based on the answer given to the previous question.

Due to its antiquity, the concept has evolved in theoretical and practical terms, molding itself to multiple contexts. 

Initially, the philosophical approach conceptualized a hypothetical and idealized critical thinker, enumerating qualities and characteristics of this profile rather than specific behaviors.

Later, Cognitive Psychology characterizes the critical thinker through measurable skills, reinforcing that this is a skill that can be learned and improved.

Advantages of Critical Thinking

The development of the ability to think critically allows for effective reflection and a more objective view. These capabilities are what distinguishes us from machines, and therefore, the “gold mine” that must be invested in to gain a competitive advantage in the market.

Having a good Critical Thinking ability also helps to avoid conformism and to move forward as human beings.

The practical effects of developing Critical Thinking:

• Helps make decisions that are likely to yield better results
• Help to take perspective of your knowledge and strengths, as well as what you don't know or are less good at
• Leaders with Critical Thinking tend not to be afraid of having a team with as much or more knowledge than they do, as they want to be surrounded by the best
• Promotes creativity and innovation. Critical Thinking is linked to creativity as it translates into the ability to look at a problem from different perspectives.
• Promotes the ability to argue

The University of Manchester created for a short version of the Critical Thinking Self-Assessment. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is “Never” and 5 is “Always”, answer each statement. If you answer “Always” most of the time, we can say who is a born critical thinker. If you answered “No” or “Not always”, don't worry, there is always room for improvement and in this article we show you how with practical tips.

The questions are as follow:

1. I look for evidence before I believe claims;
2. I look at problems from different perspectives;
3. I feel confident to present my own arguments, even when they challenge the views of others;
4. I actively look for evidence that might contradict what I already know;
5. My opinions are influenced by evidence, not just personal experience and emotion

6.If I'm not sure about something, I'll search to find out more;

7. I know how to look for reliable information to develop my knowledge of a topic;

8.Based on the information I can draw logical conclusions;

9.I can solve problems in a systematic way (define the problem, identify the causes, prioritize, etc.), that is, without making decisions only by intuition.

If you answered no or “not always” to more than half of the statements in the self-diagnosis, then it means that you have a large learning window and, consequently, a great potential for improvement.

To be good at Critical Thinking, you have to develop the 7 skills that underlie it

1. Curiosity;
2. Ability to look at a problem through different prisms.
3. Ability to argue;
4. Open mind; Flexibility;
5. Impartiality;
6. Logical and factual and systematic analysis
7. make inferences

Focus on goals , not obstacles - Focusing on goals will help you focus on solutions and alternatives.

Train empathy - Being able to put yourself in someone else's shoes makes it easier to understand how they came to the conclusions they did. Even if you don't understand the other's point of view, try to understand why he thinks the way he does and always respect individuality.

Actively participate in debates and prepare yourself by researching and comparing arguments. Always look for (reliable) foundations that deny or corroborate your arguments. Be open to looking for information that goes against your ideas.

4. To develop open-mindedness and flexibility…

By keeping an open mind, you are maintaining flexible thinking, which means that you are able to change or adapt it if better additions or suggestions arise. You can develop this by having friendly debates with people you know have a different opinion than you do. Try to be open to their arguments and points of view and not judge.

Question stereotypes. Ask yourself where they come from and why you have them. Great Stereotypes are often nothing more than an exacerbated generalization, and these are blinders for our eyes.

Practice balanced thinking. This thought implies overcoming impulsiveness and automatic reactions, taking a few moments to reflect before taking action. Look before you leap. Practice knowing yourself and others. Learn to understand and master your emotions, observe and analyze your own behavior, find more “healthy” and appropriate ways to react. To not get carried away by emotions.

If you're stuck making a decision, don't artificially limit your options. We usually think of decisions as if they were binary. By thinking of decisions as binary – black or white – you are missing out on a range of alternatives. Put all options on the table, even those that seem absurd. Take a closer look at the various options to find the best solution.

Create a series of experiments to validate whether the result is desirable. In many situations, it's best to "put your foot in the water" before fully committing. This is a validation process, where you test ideas on a small scale before committing 100% to any decision.

To get some perspective, focus on the future. Take some emotional distance, imagining the potential implications and consequences the decision will have in the future, outlining all the possibilities

7. To make inferences…

Try to listen to your intuition. Sometimes our mind acts in a concrete way that we cannot rationally explain. Intuition is often conceptualized as the result of unconscious processing of information, that is, as performing an internal analysis of information that we do not have processed at an unconscious level. You can listen to your intuition by paying attention to the thoughts that come to your mind and writing them down in a notebook.