The professor in my marketing class finished his lecture for the day. He then described a practical business situation and asked the class to provide solutions. When nobody’s hands shot up, he asked the smartest person in the room, a girl who sat in the back row, to give her answer. She stumbled for a moment and then quoted back a textbook answer without giving a solution.
She knew the textbook material, but she struggled to bring all that information together to deliver a well-structured solution.
During my second interview for my first position at Procter & Gamble, the interviewer asked, “Can you give me an example of a time when you were confronted with a significant problem and had to develop a solution to the problem?”
The professor was asking us to apply critical thinking skills to a problem to see if we could develop a solution.
The P&G interviewer was trying to determine if I had critical thinking skills and if I had put them to use to solve a problem.
Critical Thinking is For Everyone
Critical thinking is a skill that benefits everyone. Whether you are a part-time barista at Starbucks, a pastor, or a CEO you need critical thinking skills. Your role in life doesn’t matter. You need to be capable of thinking critically to solve problems.
The bad news is, no one is born with this skill set. If you don’t believe me just watch a five-year-old boy playing with matches and a can of lighter fluid. The good news is that you can learn and master critical thinking skills.
6 Critical Thinking Skills
Critical thinking is defined as, “the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue to form a judgment.” The six core critical thinking skills include observation, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, and explanation.
#1 Observation
The first important skill is observation. Observation is when we use all our senses to perceive information. You need to see a problem to solve it. We are often in such a hurry that we run right past a problem on our way to deal with something else.
#2 Interpretation
The second skill is interpretation. Interpretation is the ability to understand and explain the observed problem.
#3 Analysis
The third skill is analysis. Analyzing is the ability to break a problem down into parts and understand the relationship between the parts. We need to have the ability to identify similarities and differences between approaches to solving a problem.
#4 Inference
The fourth skill is inference. Inference is the ability to infer or draw conclusions based on the information drawn from the analysis of the problem.
#5 Evaluation
The fifth skill is evaluation. Evaluation is the ability to assess the credibility of the information obtained in the analysis and the inferred conclusions.
#6 Explanation
The sixth skill is explanation. Explanation is the ability to communicate the results of one thinking on the problem coherently.
Nehemiah and the Wall
One of my favorite examples of critical thinking in the Bible is from the story of Nehemiah and his efforts to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem. I encourage you to read the account contained in Nehemiah 1-6.
Besides his strong leadership in a dangerous situation, Nehemiah exhibited exceptional critical thinking skills.
The Observed Problem
First, Nehemiah was made aware of the problem (Nehemiah 1:1-2). The walls of Jerusalem were broken down, and the city gates had been burned with fire.
Next, before he did anything else, Nehemiah went to God in prayer asking God what he should do (Nehemiah 1:4). This step is the most overlooked in critical decision making among Christians. We assume knowing about a problem is all we need, and we forget to consult God.
Interpretation
Nehemiah went to Pharaoh and explained the situation with the wall and the city gates of Jerusalem. He then asked Pharaoh for permission to go and rebuild the city. Additionally, Nehemiah asked Pharaoh to provide all the materials needed for the rebuilding (Nehemiah 2:5, 2:7-9).
Analysis/Evaluation
Nehemiah journeyed to Jerusalem, and the first thing he did was spend time inspecting and evaluating the condition of the city walls and gates. (Nehemiah 2:11-16).
Inference
Once he completed his inspection and evaluated the condition of the walls and gates, Nehemiah determined exactly what needed to be done.
Explanation
Finally, Nehemiah gathered the leaders together. He explained the problem of the city walls and gates in disrepair (Nehemiah 2:17-20. Then, Nehemiah explained how the work was to be completed and who was responsible for the work (Nehemiah 3).
Critical Thinking is NOT Enough
Everyone needs to develop critical thinking skills. However, critical thinking by itself is not enough for a leader.
Under Nehemiah’s leadership, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, and the city gates restored in only 52 days! This project was enormous, and it succeeded because Nehemiah prayed and then he acted!
Remember, the first thing Nehemiah did when he heard about the problem in Jerusalem is that he prayed to God. Then, and only then, did he start thinking about the right solution to solve the problem. You can observe, interpret, analyze, infer, evaluate, and explain all you want but unless you can drive action, you are ineffective as a leader.
So, to be an effective leader we need to go to God in prayer first, then exercise our critical thinking skills, and then we need to act!
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Has your work in an organization been hindered because someone had poor critical thinking skills? How did that affect you/the organization?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of the people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Skills | Decision Making
