Table of Contents
Introduction: What Is Critical Thinking? 1
Understanding its key elements.
Section 1 Get in the Right Mindset
1 Improve Your Critical Thinking at Work 9
How to team this essential skill.
An Interview Helen Lee Bouygues Curt Nickisch
2 Beware the Urgency Trap 17
Allow yourself time to think. Jesse Sostrin
3 Act Like a Scientist 25
Be a knowledgeable skeptic. Stefan Thomke Gary W. Loveman
Section 2 Observe the Situation
4 To Change the Way You Think, Change the Way You See 41
Defamiliarize yourself from what you know. Adam Brandenburger
5 Are You Solving the Right Problems? 47
Reframe them to reveal unexpected solutions. Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg
6 Write a Better Problem Statement 65
Imprecise language can lead to imprecise solutions. Daniel Markovitz
7 Zoom in, Zoom Out 71
Understand when to focus and when to pull back. Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Section 3 Ask Questions
8 Critical Thinking Starts with Careful Questioning 77
Apply rigor to your curiosity. John Coleman
9 Four Types of Questions to Achieve Four Different Goals 85
Reach better conclusions and avoid tedious rework. Tom Pohlmann Neethi Mary Thomas
10 Think Critically About Your Data 91
How was it sourced, how was it analyzed, and what was left out? Eric Haller Greg Satell 91
11 Stop Asking "Why" and Start Asking "How" 97
It will help you focus on the future. Alan H. Palmer
Section 4 Seek Differing Perspectives
12 A New Way to Become More Open-Minded 103
Start by admitting you might be wrong. Shane Snow
13 Disrupt Your Thinking by Involving Other People 109
See past your blind spots. Cheryl Strauss Einhorn
14 Disagreement Doesn't Have to Be Divisive 119
Engage and learn, even when your viewpoints clash. Francesca Gino
15 When Group Discussion Backfires 127
Discuss data; don't predict outcomes. Joshua Becker Douglas Guilbeault Edward "Ned" Smith
16 Three Ways Leaders Can Listen with More Empathy 135
Techniques to help you hear, process, and respond. Christine M. Riordan
Section 5 Analyze the Information
17 Three Ways to Improve Your Decision-Making 143
First, be less certain. Walter Frick
18 How Successful Leaders Think 151
Learn to be an "integrative" thinker. Roger L. Martin
19 Fooled by Experience 161
What you've learned might be wrong. Emre Soyer Robin M. Hogarth
20 How to Stop Overthinking 177
Start trusting your gut. Melody Wilding
21 How to Make Rational Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty 185
A four-step approach to moving past emotional responses. Cheryl Strauss Einhorn
Section 6 Make Critical Thinking a Habit
22 The Power of Self-Reflection 195
Gain insight from surprise, failure, and frustration. James R. Bailey Scheherazade Rehman
23 Train Your Brain to Manage Information 203
Regular practices for a healthy mind. Srini Pillay
24 Apply Critical Thinking to Your Learning 209
Make it part of your day-to-day development. Helen Tupper Sarah Ellis
Index 217
