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6 Critical Thinking Skills
Critical thinking skills areextremely important in developing a successful career.
Have you heard that before? Chances are you’ve heard it many times, such as when you began applyingfor your first
job or maybe when you were passed over for a promotion. Whenever it was,there is usually oneproblem.
They never tell you what critical skills are,why you need them or how to get them!
College students and young professionalsalikeareflooded with adviceon why they need to devel op these skills.And
yet, when you ask them to explain exactly whatthese critical thinkingskillsareand how you can develop them, it’s
likewatchingthe movie Inception – itdoesn’t make sense!
In an effort to help you make sense of itall and finally getsome answers,I broke down the six corecritical thinking
skills you need for your career to help you both understand why you need them and how you can develop them.
Finally…a List of Actionable Critical ThinkingSkills
Identifyinga listof skillscritical to your professional career is notas easy as itmay seem. If you were to Google
"critical thinkingskills"you would see more than 21 million results.So in an effort to help you stop listening to the so-
called “advice”that doesn’t help you at all,hereare the six critical thinkingskills,accordingto Dr. Peter A. Facione. I’ll
explain whatthey mean (in layman’s terms) and how they may be used in a professional career.And
because employers are looking to hire individuals with critical thinkingskills,I haveincluded six exercises for you to
complete to help you master these skillsnow.
Skill #1: Interpretation
What it Means: Havingthe ability to understand the information you are being presented with and being ableto
communicate the meaning of that information to others.
Throughout your career you will be presented with a variety of information in many different types of situations.
Imagineyou arelookingat demographic information,hopingto target a different group of customers for a new
product. Interpretation skillswill enableyou to better decode the information and add clarity to what you have
discovered - which in turn will help you better understand any potential new customer opportunities for your
company.
Application Exercise:Write down 10 emotions you feel can be paired with facial expressions,e.g. smilingequals
happiness.Then give your listto a friend and ask them to randomly recreate each facial expression asyou attempt to
interpret the correctemotion simply by lookingattheir face. You will learn how to identify thekey bits of
information you need in order to connect the dots. How many can you correctly identify?
Skill #2: Analysis
What it Means: Havingthe ability to connect pieces of information together in order to determine what the intended
meaning of the information was meant to represent.
Imagineyou arereadinga companywide memo that is discussingmakingchanges in order to address recent
movement within the business landscape.Havingthis skill will better provideyou with the ability to “read between
the lines”and help you understand how this will impactthe overall strategy you have in your position.
Application Exercise:To practicethis skill,try to determine the meaning behind this Chinese Proverb: “Be the firstto
the field and the lastto the couch.” Are you ableto identify the intended meaning behind this statement? Whilewe all
analyzeinformation a littledifferently, you should havebeen ableto determine that this proverb is referencing having
a hard work ethic. Go here to practicesome more in order to further develop this skill.
Skill #3: Inference
What it Means: Havingthe ability to understand and recognize what elements you will need in order to determine an
accurateconclusion or hypothesis fromthe information you have at your disposal.
Pictureyourself as a business manager;you are lookingatthe latest sales forecastand you see sales havedecreased.
It’s important for you to be ableto understand what additional information you may need in order to determine why
that happened, includingidentifyinginternal issues,external competition or even economic conditions.The ability to
understand the information you already haveand determine what you may still need to find the best solution is an
important skill for you to have no matter what career field you are in.
Application Exercise: Try watching an episode of a weekly crime show. Focus on absorbingthe clues in an effort to
determine the mystery of who completed the crimeduringthe episode. These shows do a fantastic job of dropping
clues and bits of information alongthe way that can help you make an educated guess prior to the end of the episode.
Were you ableto identify itcorrectly?
Skill #4: Evaluation
What it Means: Being ableto evaluate the credibility of statements or descriptions of a person’s experience, judgment
or opinion in order to measure the validity of the information being presented.
Imagineyou areleadinga focus group at work to determine how your customers view the organization’s products.
You ask the group a few questions that uncover several negative opinions aboutcertain items you sell.You will need
to usethis skill to evaluatethose responses,so you can determine if the information you received is valid and whether
or not it needs to be further looked into.
Application Exercise:With the invention of the Internet this is a skill you can honeanytime you begin a search online.
For practice,run a search on how to be a leader at work to test your evaluation skills.Areyou able to identify whether
the information you find is reliableand valid? Beingawareof additional information you may need to make this
assessmentis essential.(Hint:In this example, you may need to evaluate the website’s URL, the author’s bio and
potentially many other pieces of information.)
Skill #5: Explanation
What it Means: Havingthe ability to not only restate information,but add clarity and perspectiveto the information,
so it can be fully understood by anyone you are sharingitwith.
Imagineyou aregivingtwo presentations for new product ideas;one to the CEO of the company, and the other to
product engineers. You know both groups are extremely interested in hearing what you have to say,but you will need
to be ableto explain these ideas in two very different ways. The CEO may only need to hear high level ideas aboutthe
products whilethe engineers will need more specific productdetails.Your ability to clearly explain your ideas while
keeping in mind who you are presenting to is important for making surethe information is understood and well
received.
Application Exercise:It’s importantto remember not everyone has or needs the knowledge or information you have.
Practicethis skill by explainingsomethingcomplex that you have knowledge about to two different types of people.
Use your kids and your spousesincethey typically will nothave the same level of knowledge of certain subjects.For
example, explain to your kids and your spouseseparately how a cell phone works. The explanation should bedifferent
sincethey have two different levels of knowledge yet both of them should receive a similarunderstandingof the
subject.
Skill #6: Self-Regulation
What it Means: Havingthe awareness of your own thinkingabilities and theelements that you are usingto find
results.
Imagineyou areon the phone with a customer attempting to work through a problem they are havingwith your
company’s software, and it’s your firstweek on the job.The problem they arehavingis complex,and yet, you still
want to assistthem in order to make a good impression atwork. Your ability to understand that perhaps transferring
them to a coworker with more knowledge on the subjectis the best way to providethe customer with a positive
result.
Application Exercise:It’s importantto be ableto separate your own personal biases or self-interests when making
decisions atwork.Let’s imagineyour manager asks you to write down 10 reasons why you deserve a raiseprior to an
annual review. After you complete your reasons,read through each and focus on identifying your own potential
biases that may impactyour argument. Awareness of these biases will help you generate a much stronger casefor
getting a raise.
So the next time someone starts talkingto you about developingcritical thinkingskillsfor your career, hopefully now
you will beable to tell them you know what they are, how they are used in the workplaceand how to go about
continually developingthem for the future.
Four Types Of Thinking Style
Not only do we have preferred learning styles; we also have favourite thinking styles. Anthony Gregorc,
professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Connecticut, has divided these into four separate
groups:14
* Concrete sequential.
* Concrete random.
* Abstract random.
* Abstract sequential.
We're indebted to SuperCamp consultant John LeTellier for adapting the Gregorc model and providing
the checklist on the next three pages.15
We stress, however, that no thinking style is superior; they are simply different. Each style can be
effective in its own way. The important thing is that you become more aware of which learning style and
thinking style works best for you. Once you know your own style, you can then analyse the others. This will
help you understand other people better. It will make you more flexible. And perhaps we can all pick up tips
from each other on how to be more effective.
Once you've made a graph for yourself on page 358, consider these explanations to improve your own
ability to learn, think, study, work and enjoy life:
Concrete sequential thinkers are based in reality, according to SuperCamp co-founder and president
Bobbi DePorter. They process information in an ordered, sequential, linear way. To them, "reality consists of
what they can detect through their physical sense of sight, touch, sound, taste and smell. They notice and
recall details easily and remember facts specific information, formulas and rules with ease. 'Hands on' is a
good way for these people to learn." If you're concrete sequential—a CS—build on your organisational
strengths. Provide yourself with details. Break your projects down into specific steps. Set up quiet work
environments.
Concrete random thinkers are experimenters. says DePorter: "Like concrete sequential, they're based in
reality, but are willing to take more of a trial-and-error approach. Because of this, they often make the
intuitive leaps necessary for true creative thought. They have a strong need to find alternatives and do things
in their own way." If you're a CR, use your divergent thinking ability. Believe that it's good to see things from
more than one viewpoint. Put yourself in a position to solve problems. But give yourself deadlines. Accept
your need for change. Try and work with people who value divergent thinking.
Abstract random thinkers organise information through reflection, and thrive in unstructured,
people-oriented environments. Says DePorter: "The 'real' world for abstract random learners is the world of
feelings and emotions. The AR's mind absorbs ideas, information and impressions and organises them
through reflection. They remember best if information is personalised. They feel constricted when they're
subjected to a very structured environment." If you're an AR, use your natural ability to work with others.
Recognise how strongly emotions influence your concentration. Build on your strength of learning by
association. Look at the big picture first. Be careful to allow enough time to finish the job. Remind yourself to
do things through plenty of visual clues, such as coloured stickers pasted up where you'll see them.
Abstract sequential thinkers love the world of theory and abstract thought. They like to think in concepts
and analyse information. They make great philosophers and research scientists. DePorter again: "It's easy
for them to zoom in on what's important processes are logical, rational and intellectual. A favourite activity for
abstract sequentials is reading, and when a project needs to be researched they are very thorough at it.
Generally they prefer to work alone rather than in groups." If you're an AS, give yourself exercises in logic.
Feed your intellect. Steer yourself toward highly structured
situations.
TestYour Own Thinking Style:
The Learning Revolution
To test your own thinking style
Read each set of words and mark
The two that bestdescribe you
1. a. imaginative
b. investigative
c. realistic
d. analytical
2. a. organised
b. adaptable
c. critical
d. inquisitive
3. a. debating
b. getting to the point
c. creating
d. relating
4. a. personal
b. practical
c. academic
d. adventurous
5. a. precise
b. flexible
c. systematic
d. inventive
6. a. sharing
b. orderly
c. sensible
d. independent
7. a. competitive
b. perfectionist
c. cooperative
d. logical
8. a. intellectual
b. sensitive
c. hardworking
d. risk-taking
9. a. reader
b. people person
c. problem solver
d. planner
10. a. memorise
b. associate
c. think-through
d originate
11. a. changer
b. judger
c. spontaneous
d. wants direction
12. a. communicating
b. discovering
c. cautious
d. reasoning
13. a. challenging
b. practising
c. caring
d. examining
14. a. completing work
b. seeing possibilities
c. gaining ideas
d. interpreting
15. a. doing
b. feeling
c. thinking
d. experimenting
After completing the test on the previous page:
In the columns below, circle the letters of the words you chose for each number.
Add your totals for columns I, ll, Ill and IV. Multiply the total of each column by 4.
The box with the highest number describes how you most often process
information.
I II III IV
1. C D A B
2. A C B D
3. B A C D
4. B C A D
5. A C B D
6. B C A D
7. B D C A
8. C A B D
9. D A B C
10. A C B D
11. D B C A
12. C D A B
13. B D C A
14. A C D B
15. A C B D
TOTAL:
I x 4 = Concrete Sequential (CS)
II x 4 = Abstract Sequential (AS)
III x 4 = Abstract Random (AR)
IV x 4 = Concrete Random (CR)
6 critical thinking skills

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6 critical thinking skills

  • 1. 6 Critical Thinking Skills Critical thinking skills areextremely important in developing a successful career. Have you heard that before? Chances are you’ve heard it many times, such as when you began applyingfor your first job or maybe when you were passed over for a promotion. Whenever it was,there is usually oneproblem. They never tell you what critical skills are,why you need them or how to get them! College students and young professionalsalikeareflooded with adviceon why they need to devel op these skills.And yet, when you ask them to explain exactly whatthese critical thinkingskillsareand how you can develop them, it’s likewatchingthe movie Inception – itdoesn’t make sense! In an effort to help you make sense of itall and finally getsome answers,I broke down the six corecritical thinking skills you need for your career to help you both understand why you need them and how you can develop them. Finally…a List of Actionable Critical ThinkingSkills Identifyinga listof skillscritical to your professional career is notas easy as itmay seem. If you were to Google "critical thinkingskills"you would see more than 21 million results.So in an effort to help you stop listening to the so- called “advice”that doesn’t help you at all,hereare the six critical thinkingskills,accordingto Dr. Peter A. Facione. I’ll explain whatthey mean (in layman’s terms) and how they may be used in a professional career.And because employers are looking to hire individuals with critical thinkingskills,I haveincluded six exercises for you to complete to help you master these skillsnow. Skill #1: Interpretation What it Means: Havingthe ability to understand the information you are being presented with and being ableto communicate the meaning of that information to others. Throughout your career you will be presented with a variety of information in many different types of situations. Imagineyou arelookingat demographic information,hopingto target a different group of customers for a new product. Interpretation skillswill enableyou to better decode the information and add clarity to what you have discovered - which in turn will help you better understand any potential new customer opportunities for your company. Application Exercise:Write down 10 emotions you feel can be paired with facial expressions,e.g. smilingequals happiness.Then give your listto a friend and ask them to randomly recreate each facial expression asyou attempt to interpret the correctemotion simply by lookingattheir face. You will learn how to identify thekey bits of information you need in order to connect the dots. How many can you correctly identify? Skill #2: Analysis What it Means: Havingthe ability to connect pieces of information together in order to determine what the intended meaning of the information was meant to represent. Imagineyou arereadinga companywide memo that is discussingmakingchanges in order to address recent movement within the business landscape.Havingthis skill will better provideyou with the ability to “read between the lines”and help you understand how this will impactthe overall strategy you have in your position. Application Exercise:To practicethis skill,try to determine the meaning behind this Chinese Proverb: “Be the firstto the field and the lastto the couch.” Are you ableto identify the intended meaning behind this statement? Whilewe all analyzeinformation a littledifferently, you should havebeen ableto determine that this proverb is referencing having a hard work ethic. Go here to practicesome more in order to further develop this skill. Skill #3: Inference What it Means: Havingthe ability to understand and recognize what elements you will need in order to determine an accurateconclusion or hypothesis fromthe information you have at your disposal. Pictureyourself as a business manager;you are lookingatthe latest sales forecastand you see sales havedecreased. It’s important for you to be ableto understand what additional information you may need in order to determine why that happened, includingidentifyinginternal issues,external competition or even economic conditions.The ability to understand the information you already haveand determine what you may still need to find the best solution is an important skill for you to have no matter what career field you are in.
  • 2. Application Exercise: Try watching an episode of a weekly crime show. Focus on absorbingthe clues in an effort to determine the mystery of who completed the crimeduringthe episode. These shows do a fantastic job of dropping clues and bits of information alongthe way that can help you make an educated guess prior to the end of the episode. Were you ableto identify itcorrectly? Skill #4: Evaluation What it Means: Being ableto evaluate the credibility of statements or descriptions of a person’s experience, judgment or opinion in order to measure the validity of the information being presented. Imagineyou areleadinga focus group at work to determine how your customers view the organization’s products. You ask the group a few questions that uncover several negative opinions aboutcertain items you sell.You will need to usethis skill to evaluatethose responses,so you can determine if the information you received is valid and whether or not it needs to be further looked into. Application Exercise:With the invention of the Internet this is a skill you can honeanytime you begin a search online. For practice,run a search on how to be a leader at work to test your evaluation skills.Areyou able to identify whether the information you find is reliableand valid? Beingawareof additional information you may need to make this assessmentis essential.(Hint:In this example, you may need to evaluate the website’s URL, the author’s bio and potentially many other pieces of information.) Skill #5: Explanation What it Means: Havingthe ability to not only restate information,but add clarity and perspectiveto the information, so it can be fully understood by anyone you are sharingitwith. Imagineyou aregivingtwo presentations for new product ideas;one to the CEO of the company, and the other to product engineers. You know both groups are extremely interested in hearing what you have to say,but you will need to be ableto explain these ideas in two very different ways. The CEO may only need to hear high level ideas aboutthe products whilethe engineers will need more specific productdetails.Your ability to clearly explain your ideas while keeping in mind who you are presenting to is important for making surethe information is understood and well received. Application Exercise:It’s importantto remember not everyone has or needs the knowledge or information you have. Practicethis skill by explainingsomethingcomplex that you have knowledge about to two different types of people. Use your kids and your spousesincethey typically will nothave the same level of knowledge of certain subjects.For example, explain to your kids and your spouseseparately how a cell phone works. The explanation should bedifferent sincethey have two different levels of knowledge yet both of them should receive a similarunderstandingof the subject. Skill #6: Self-Regulation What it Means: Havingthe awareness of your own thinkingabilities and theelements that you are usingto find results. Imagineyou areon the phone with a customer attempting to work through a problem they are havingwith your company’s software, and it’s your firstweek on the job.The problem they arehavingis complex,and yet, you still want to assistthem in order to make a good impression atwork. Your ability to understand that perhaps transferring them to a coworker with more knowledge on the subjectis the best way to providethe customer with a positive result. Application Exercise:It’s importantto be ableto separate your own personal biases or self-interests when making decisions atwork.Let’s imagineyour manager asks you to write down 10 reasons why you deserve a raiseprior to an annual review. After you complete your reasons,read through each and focus on identifying your own potential biases that may impactyour argument. Awareness of these biases will help you generate a much stronger casefor getting a raise. So the next time someone starts talkingto you about developingcritical thinkingskillsfor your career, hopefully now you will beable to tell them you know what they are, how they are used in the workplaceand how to go about continually developingthem for the future.
  • 3. Four Types Of Thinking Style Not only do we have preferred learning styles; we also have favourite thinking styles. Anthony Gregorc, professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Connecticut, has divided these into four separate groups:14 * Concrete sequential. * Concrete random. * Abstract random. * Abstract sequential. We're indebted to SuperCamp consultant John LeTellier for adapting the Gregorc model and providing the checklist on the next three pages.15 We stress, however, that no thinking style is superior; they are simply different. Each style can be effective in its own way. The important thing is that you become more aware of which learning style and thinking style works best for you. Once you know your own style, you can then analyse the others. This will help you understand other people better. It will make you more flexible. And perhaps we can all pick up tips from each other on how to be more effective. Once you've made a graph for yourself on page 358, consider these explanations to improve your own ability to learn, think, study, work and enjoy life: Concrete sequential thinkers are based in reality, according to SuperCamp co-founder and president Bobbi DePorter. They process information in an ordered, sequential, linear way. To them, "reality consists of what they can detect through their physical sense of sight, touch, sound, taste and smell. They notice and recall details easily and remember facts specific information, formulas and rules with ease. 'Hands on' is a good way for these people to learn." If you're concrete sequential—a CS—build on your organisational strengths. Provide yourself with details. Break your projects down into specific steps. Set up quiet work environments. Concrete random thinkers are experimenters. says DePorter: "Like concrete sequential, they're based in reality, but are willing to take more of a trial-and-error approach. Because of this, they often make the intuitive leaps necessary for true creative thought. They have a strong need to find alternatives and do things in their own way." If you're a CR, use your divergent thinking ability. Believe that it's good to see things from more than one viewpoint. Put yourself in a position to solve problems. But give yourself deadlines. Accept your need for change. Try and work with people who value divergent thinking. Abstract random thinkers organise information through reflection, and thrive in unstructured, people-oriented environments. Says DePorter: "The 'real' world for abstract random learners is the world of feelings and emotions. The AR's mind absorbs ideas, information and impressions and organises them through reflection. They remember best if information is personalised. They feel constricted when they're subjected to a very structured environment." If you're an AR, use your natural ability to work with others. Recognise how strongly emotions influence your concentration. Build on your strength of learning by association. Look at the big picture first. Be careful to allow enough time to finish the job. Remind yourself to do things through plenty of visual clues, such as coloured stickers pasted up where you'll see them. Abstract sequential thinkers love the world of theory and abstract thought. They like to think in concepts and analyse information. They make great philosophers and research scientists. DePorter again: "It's easy for them to zoom in on what's important processes are logical, rational and intellectual. A favourite activity for abstract sequentials is reading, and when a project needs to be researched they are very thorough at it. Generally they prefer to work alone rather than in groups." If you're an AS, give yourself exercises in logic. Feed your intellect. Steer yourself toward highly structured situations.
  • 4. TestYour Own Thinking Style: The Learning Revolution To test your own thinking style Read each set of words and mark The two that bestdescribe you 1. a. imaginative b. investigative c. realistic d. analytical 2. a. organised b. adaptable c. critical d. inquisitive 3. a. debating b. getting to the point c. creating d. relating 4. a. personal b. practical c. academic d. adventurous 5. a. precise b. flexible c. systematic d. inventive 6. a. sharing b. orderly c. sensible d. independent 7. a. competitive b. perfectionist c. cooperative d. logical 8. a. intellectual b. sensitive c. hardworking d. risk-taking 9. a. reader b. people person c. problem solver d. planner 10. a. memorise b. associate c. think-through d originate 11. a. changer b. judger c. spontaneous d. wants direction 12. a. communicating b. discovering c. cautious d. reasoning 13. a. challenging b. practising c. caring d. examining 14. a. completing work b. seeing possibilities c. gaining ideas d. interpreting 15. a. doing b. feeling c. thinking d. experimenting
  • 5. After completing the test on the previous page: In the columns below, circle the letters of the words you chose for each number. Add your totals for columns I, ll, Ill and IV. Multiply the total of each column by 4. The box with the highest number describes how you most often process information. I II III IV 1. C D A B 2. A C B D 3. B A C D 4. B C A D 5. A C B D 6. B C A D 7. B D C A 8. C A B D 9. D A B C 10. A C B D 11. D B C A 12. C D A B 13. B D C A 14. A C D B 15. A C B D TOTAL: I x 4 = Concrete Sequential (CS) II x 4 = Abstract Sequential (AS) III x 4 = Abstract Random (AR) IV x 4 = Concrete Random (CR)