Critical thinking skills can make a big difference in your career. If you can think critically at work, you’re well equipped to solve any problem that comes your way. As such, you can address problems with poise and composure. Plus, you can find solutions to even the toughest problems. The result: you can use your critical thinking skills to become a key contributor in any role.
It can take time to develop and fine-tune your critical thinking skills. Here are four exercises you can use to strengthen these skills.
1. Learn from Proven Leaders
The best leaders are critical thinkers. They understand how to review a problem from multiple angles and look for a wide range of solutions. Meanwhile, you can learn from proven leaders to see how they managed adversity. That way, you can get the insights you need to become a critical thinker.
There are many books that highlight lessons from critical thinkers. These books include:
- “Strategy Rules: Five Timeless Lessons from Bill Gates, Andy Grove, and Steve Jobs” by David B. Yoffie and Michael A. Cusumano
- “The Art of Thinking Clearly” by Rolf Dobelli
- “Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About The World — and Why Things Are Better Than You Think” by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling Rönnlund
Reading about critical thinkers can change your mindset. As you learn from critical thinkers, your critical thinking skills can improve. And, the more you read, the more you may start to think critically about problems.
2. Perform a Competitive Analysis
Take a look at your industry and the leading companies in it. From here, consider why industry leaders stand out from the pack. Look for any traits that the top brands in your industry share. Then, you can brainstorm ways to help your business stand out from its rivals.
A competitive analysis can help you understand the landscape of your industry. The analysis also forces you to think critically about your sector. As a result, it can help you consider creative solutions to ensure your brand rises to the top of your industry.
3. Tackle an Outstanding Problem
Analyze your business and look for any problems that have been outstanding for an extended period of time. Once you identify one of these problems, consider how the issue cropped up in the first place. Next, think critically and come up with solutions on how to resolve the issue once and for all.
Having the ability to look at a long-lasting problem from a new perspective can be beneficial. If you are successful, you can resolve the issue and prevent it from recurring. On top of that, you can show your employer you are capable of thinking critically. This ultimately could make you a great candidate to climb the corporate ladder and grow your career.
4. Make a Journal
Write down details about any challenges you face in a journal. You can produce a new journal entry every day. In doing so, you can track your progress as you try to bolster your critical thinking skills.
A journal can include information about how you resolve problems as well. Furthermore, you can review your journal entries regularly to learn from your experiences. Over time, you can gather insights that you can use to enhance your critical thinking skills.
Want to Land a Job Where You Can Use Your Critical Thinking Skills?
Ascend Staffing can put you in touch with employers in need of workers who possess strong critical thinking skills. To get started, explore our job board today.
