Critical thinking is defined as the ability of people to find cause-and-effect connections between different phenomena and build a rational strategy based on verifying the authenticity and practicality of ideas. In other words, to reason critically means to subject phenomena of the surrounding reality to a thorough analysis. This type of thinking includes many components; the latter fall into affective strategies, macro-skills, and micro-skills (Moore & Parker, 2020). The first group provides independence of thinking and the ability to analyze the emotions that motivate specific behaviors. The affective component also implies that the critical thinker displays such qualities as conscientiousness, observation, “intellectual persistence,” and open-mindedness during professional or daily activities.
Macro abilities include the ability of the individual to make systems of criteria for evaluating ideas, actions, and decisions; and the tendency to engage in dialogical and dialectical reasoning. Within critical thinking in terms of this group, it is important to note such qualities as determination, tolerance for different views, a broad outlook, and basic research skills. Micro-skills include comparing, predicting, recognizing contradictions, and identifying hidden meanings. Assessment of thinking quality will be based on the affective and cognitive abilities described above. The more individuals exhibit different skills in working with information, the more completely they have mastered critical thinking (Moore & Parker, 2020). The level of mastery of an individual skill is also an important indicator.
An essential component of macro skills is dialectical reasoning, which is used to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of two different judgments. This skill becomes key during litigation and various formal and domestic disputes. When listening to opposing viewpoints, the individual needs to record which of the decisions on both sides will be accepted as valid. This ability allows one to assess how far from objective reality the views of the disputing parties are.
Leadership implies the need to make crucial decisions for the team based on large amounts of information. Consequently, critical thinking becomes a vital attribute of any leader. Leadership requires a developed skill in forecasting and translating theoretical knowledge into practice. Also, those who are reference persons for large groups of people need to be able to analyze other people’s opinions and apply dialogical reasoning properly. For example, making a complex and ambiguous decision requires analysis of how subordinates feel about it; it will allow a more objective picture of what is happening and the opportunity to avoid mistakes.
From a manager’s point of view, critical thinking often boils down to the need to question the decisions of colleagues or management and the ability to argue the invalidity of specific ideas. These skills will ensure that the department or organization functions as effectively as possible. It is also important for a manager to be able to clarify current problems and reduce them to a standard, global cause. This ability prevents tactical errors as well as unforeseen situations from occurring.
An organization is a complex, multifaceted mechanism whose goals are to withstand competition and maintain high-quality work successfully. From the perspective of critical thinking, any enterprise should have an established system of criteria for evaluating the performance of specific employees, departments, and the company as a whole. A set of analytical tools must be in place to adjust market behavior strategies in order to conclude an organization’s weaknesses. In order to work most effectively with competitors, a company should carefully compare other companies’ features and strengths and weaknesses.
Critical thinking is an essential skill for the individual at the domestic or professional level. The main components of this type of mental activity are effective strategies and cognitive macro skills and micro abilities. They include various skills of working with information, one’s own feelings and emotions, and others’ judgments. The fundamentals of critical thinking apply to an individual’s activities and those of entire organizations.
Reference
Moore, B. N., & Parker, R. (2020). Critical thinking (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.