Critical thinking skills: 7 steps for the workplace

Critical thinking comes from asking the right questions to reach the best possible conclusion. Strong critical thinkers analyze information from a variety of viewpoints in order to identify the best course of action. Don't worry if you don't think you have strong critical thinking skills. In this article, we'll help you build a foundation for critical thinking so you can absorb, analyze, and make informed decisions.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to objectively analyze information, evaluate evidence, and reach well-reasoned conclusions. This skill applies across virtually every industry and role because it's not subject-specific; it's your capacity to parse through data and details to identify the best solution.

Definitions of critical thinking

Various scholars have provided definitions of critical thinking, each emphasizing different aspects of this cognitive process:

Developing your critical thinking skills improves your problem-solving skills, boosts your data-driven decision-making ability, and gives you a methodology to tackle complex problems. Good critical thinkers are comfortable with ambiguity and willing to challenge their hypotheses to reach the best conclusions.

Why critical thinking matters in the workplace

In a fast-paced work environment, the ability to think critically separates reactive teams from proactive ones. It empowers you to move beyond simply completing tasks and start solving complex problems with confidence.

By developing critical thinking skills, your team can:

• Make better decisions: Evaluate options objectively and choose the best path forward

• Drive innovation: Challenge assumptions and generate creative solutions using approaches like the design thinking process

• Connect work to goals: Align daily tasks with strategic priorities

• Cut through noise: Focus on what truly matters and avoid distractions

8 essential critical thinking skills to develop

Critical thinking is essential for success in everyday life, higher education, and professional settings. The handbook "Foundation for Critical Thinking" defines it as a process of conceptualization, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information.

Here are eight key critical thinking abilities that can help you excel in any situation:

1. Analytical thinking

Analytical thinking involves evaluating data from multiple sources to reach the best conclusions. Analytical thinking enables people to overcome cognitive biases and to gather and analyze intricate subject matter while solving complex problems. Analytical thinkers who thrive at critical thinking can:

• Identify patterns and trends in the data

• Break down complex issues into manageable components

• Recognize cause-and-effect relationships

• Evaluate the strength of arguments and evidence

Example: A data analyst breaks down complex sales figures to identify trends and patterns that inform the company's marketing strategy.

2. Open-mindedness

Open-mindedness is the willingness to consider new ideas, arguments, and information without prejudice. This critical thinking skill helps you analyze and process information to reach an unbiased conclusion. Part of the critical thinking process is letting your personal biases go and forming a conclusion based on multiple points of view.

Open-minded critical thinkers demonstrate:

• Willingness to consider alternative viewpoints

• Ability to suspend judgment until sufficient evidence is gathered

• Receptiveness to constructive criticism and feedback

• Flexibility in updating beliefs based on new information

Example: During a product development meeting, a team leader actively considers unconventional ideas from junior team members, resulting in an innovative solution.

3. Problem-solving

Effective problem solving is a cornerstone of critical thinking. It requires the ability to identify issues, generate possible solutions, evaluate alternatives, and implement the best course of action. This critical thinking skill is particularly valuable in fields like project management and entrepreneurship.

Key aspects of problem-solving include:

• Clearly defining the problem

• Gathering relevant information

• Brainstorming potential solutions

• Evaluating the pros and cons of each option

• Implementing and monitoring the chosen solution

• Reflecting on the outcome and adjusting as necessary

Example: A high school principal uses problem-solving skills to address declining student engagement by surveying learners, consulting with higher education experts, and implementing a new curriculum that balances academic rigor with practical, real-world applications.

4. Reasoned judgment

Reasoned judgment is a key component of higher-order thinking, involving thoughtful decisions based on the logical analysis of evidence and thorough consideration of alternatives. This critical thinking skill is important in both academic and professional settings. Key aspects of reasoned judgment include:

• Objectively gathering and analyzing information

• Evaluating the credibility and relevance of evidence

• Considering multiple perspectives before drawing conclusions

• Making decisions based on logical inference and sound reasoning

Example: A high school science teacher uses reasoned judgment to design an experiment, carefully observing and analyzing results before drawing conclusions about the hypothesis.

Decision-making tools for agile businesses

In this ebook, learn how to equip employees to make better decisions—so your business can pivot, adapt, and tackle challenges more effectively than your competition.

Get the insights

5. Reflective thinking

Reflective thinking is the process of analyzing one's own thought processes, actions, and outcomes to gain deeper understanding and improve future performance. Good critical thinking requires analyzing and synthesizing information to form a coherent understanding of a problem. It's an essential critical thinking skill for continuous learning and improvement.

Key aspects of reflective thinking include:

• Critically examining one's own assumptions and cognitive biases

• Considering diverse viewpoints and perspectives

• Synthesizing information from various experiences and sources

• Applying insights to improve future decision-making and actions

• Continuously evaluating and adjusting one's thinking processes

Example: A community organizer reflects on the outcomes of a recent public event, considering what worked well and what could be improved for future initiatives.

6. Communication

Strong communication skills help critical thinkers articulate ideas clearly and persuasively. Communication in the workplace is crucial for effective teamwork, leadership, and knowledge dissemination. Key aspects of communication in critical thinking include:

• Clearly expressing complex ideas

• Active listening and comprehension

• Adapting communication styles to different audiences

• Constructing and delivering persuasive arguments

Example: A manager effectively explains a new company policy to her team, addressing their concerns and ensuring everyone understands its implications.

7. Research

Critical thinkers with strong research skills gather, evaluate, and synthesize information from various sources of information. This is particularly important in academic settings and in professional fields that require continuous learning. Effective research involves:

• Identifying reliable and relevant sources of information

• Evaluating the credibility and bias of sources

• Synthesizing information from multiple sources

• Recognizing gaps in existing knowledge

Example: A journalist verifies information from multiple credible sources before publishing an article on a controversial topic.

8. Decision-making

Effective decision-making is the culmination of various critical thinking skills that allow an individual to draw logical conclusions and generalizations. It involves weighing options, considering consequences, and choosing the best course of action. Key aspects of decision-making include:

• Defining clear criteria for evaluation

• Gathering and analyzing relevant information

• Considering short-term and long-term consequences

• Managing uncertainty and risk

• Balancing logic and intuition

Example: A homeowner weighs the costs, benefits, and long-term implications before deciding to invest in solar panels for their house.

How to develop critical thinking skills in 7 steps

Critical thinking is a skill that you can build by following these seven steps. The seven steps to critical thinking help you ensure you're approaching a problem from the right angle, considering all alternatives, and reaching an unbiased conclusion.

First things first: When to use the 7-step critical thinking process

There's a lot that goes into the full critical thinking process, and not every decision needs to be this thought out. Sometimes, it's enough to put aside bias and approach a process logically. In more complex cases, the best way to identify the ideal outcome is to follow the entire critical thinking process.

The seven-step critical thinking process is useful for complex decisions in areas you are less familiar with. Alternatively, the seven critical thinking steps can help you look at a problem you're familiar with from a different angle, without any bias.

If you need to make a less complex decision, consider another problem-solving strategy instead. Decision matrices are a great way to identify the best option between different choices. Check out our article on 7 steps to creating a decision matrix.

1. Identify the problem or question

Before you put those critical thinking skills to work, you first need to identify the problem you're solving. A root cause analysis can help with this step, which includes taking a look at the problem from a few different perspectives and asking questions like:

• What's happening?

• Why is this happening?

• What assumptions am I making?

• At first glance, how do I think we can solve this problem?

A big part of developing your critical thinking skills is learning to reach unbiased conclusions. In order to do that, you first need to acknowledge the biases that you currently have. Identifying these details helps you later on in the process.

2. Gather relevant information

At this point, you likely have a general idea of the problem, but to come up with the best solution, you need to dig deeper.

During the research process, collect information related to the problem, including data, statistics, historical project information, team input, and other relevant sources. A study schedule template can also help you organize what you're reviewing, keeping your research consistent and manageable.

Gather information from a variety of sources, especially those that contradict your personal views. If you don't collect enough information, your final decision will be skewed. Critical thinking means doing the research to find the best option, not going with your gut.

3. Analyze and evaluate data

Just as it's important to gather a variety of information, it is also important to determine how relevant each information source is. After all, just because there is data doesn't mean it's relevant.

Once you've gathered all the information, sift through the noise to identify what's relevant and what isn't. Synthesizing all this information and establishing significance helps you weigh different data sources and reach the best conclusion later in the critical thinking process.

To determine data relevance, ask yourself:

• How reliable is this information?

• How significant is this information?

• Is this information outdated? Is it specialized in a specific field?

4. Consider alternative points of view

One of the most useful parts of the critical thinking process is coming to a decision without bias. To do so, you need to step back and challenge your assumptions.

We all have biases, and that isn't necessarily bad. Unconscious biases often serve as mental shortcuts for decision-making, but you must be aware of them in order to set them aside when necessary.

Before coming to a solution, ask yourself:

• Am I making any assumptions about this information?

• Are there additional variables I haven't considered?

• Have I evaluated the information from every perspective?

• Are there any viewpoints I missed?

5. Draw logical conclusions

Finally, you're ready to come to a conclusion. To identify the best solution, draw connections between causes and effects. Use the facts you've gathered to evaluate the most objective conclusion.

Keep in mind that there may be more than one solution. Often, the problems you're facing are complex and intricate. The critical thinking process doesn't necessarily lead to a cut-and-dry solution; instead, it helps you understand the variables at play so you can make an informed decision.

6. Develop and communicate solutions

Communication is a key skill for critical thinkers. It isn't enough to think for yourself; you also need to share your conclusion with other project stakeholders. If there are multiple solutions, present them all.

This process of communicating and sharing ideas is key to promoting critical thinking abilities within a team or organization. By encouraging open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, you foster the development of critical thinking skills in others.

7. Reflect and learn from the process

The seven-step critical thinking process yields a result, and you then need to implement that solution. After you've implemented your decision, evaluate whether or not it was effective. Did it solve the initial problem?

By engaging in this metacognitive reflective thinking process, you're essentially teaching yourself critical thinking skills and refining your methodology with each iteration. This reflective practice is fundamental in developing a more robust and adaptable approach to problem-solving.

Depending on how your team shares information, consider documenting lessons learned in a central source of truth. That way, team members who make similar or related decisions in the future can understand why you made the decision you did and what the outcome was.

Decision-making tools for agile businesses

In this ebook, learn how to equip employees to make better decisions—so your business can pivot, adapt, and tackle challenges more effectively than your competition.

Get the insights

Critical thinking examples in the workplace

Imagine you work in user experience design (UX). Your team is focused on pricing and packaging, and ensuring customers have a clear understanding of the different services your company offers. Here's how to apply the critical thinking process in the workplace in seven steps:

Step 1: Start by identifying the problem

Your current pricing page isn't performing as well as you want. You've heard from customers that your services aren't clear and that the page doesn't answer their questions. This page is really important for your company, since it's where your customers sign up for your service.

Gather information about how the problem started

Part of identifying the problem involves understanding how it started. The pricing and packaging page is important, so when your team initially designed the page, they certainly put a lot of thought into it. Before you begin researching how to improve the page, ask yourself:

• Why did you design the pricing page the way you did?

• Which stakeholders need to be involved in the decision-making process?

• Where are users getting stuck on the page?

• Are any features currently working?

Step 2: Then gather information and research

In addition to understanding the history of the pricing and packaging page, it's important to understand what works well. Part of this research involves looking at your competitors' pricing pages.

Ask yourself:

• How have our competitors set up their pricing pages?

• Are there any best practices for pricing pages?

• How do color, positioning, and animation impact navigation?

• Are there any standard page layouts customers expect to see?

Step 3: Organize and analyze information

You've gathered all of the information you need; now you need to organize and analyze it. What trends, if any, are you noticing? Is there any particularly relevant or important information that you have to consider?

Step 4: Consider alternative viewpoints to reduce bias

In critical thinking, it's important to address and set aside bias as much as possible. Ask yourself:

• What assumptions am I making?

• Is there anything I'm missing?

• Have I connected with the right stakeholders?

• Are there any other viewpoints I should consider?

Step 5: Determine the most logical solution for your team

You now have all of the information you need to design the best pricing page. Depending on the complexity of the design, you may want to design a few options to present to a small group of customers or A/B test on the live website.

Step 6: Communicate your solution to stakeholders

Critical thinking skills can help you in every element of your life, but in the workplace, you must also involve key project stakeholders. Stakeholders help you determine next steps, like whether you'll A/B test the page first. Depending on the issue's complexity, consider hosting a meeting or sharing a status report to get everyone on the same page.

Step 7: Reflect on the results

No process is complete without evaluating the results. Once the new page has been live for some time, evaluate whether it did better than the previous page. What worked? What didn't? This also helps you make better critical decisions later on.

Tools and techniques to improve critical thinking skills

Understanding how to improve critical thinking skills has become a cornerstone of personal and professional growth. Recognizing the importance of critical thinking, experts across various disciplines have contributed valuable insights and methodologies. Here are some notable contributions from experts and institutions in the field:

Mind mapping: A visual approach to critical thinking skills

Mind mapping is a visual technique that helps organize and structure information. It's particularly useful for synthesizing complex ideas and identifying connections between different concepts. The benefits of mind mapping include:

• Enhancing creativity by encouraging non-linear thinking

• Improving memory and retention of information

• Facilitating brainstorming and idea generation

• Providing a clear overview of complex topics

To create a mind map:

• Start with a central idea or concept.

• Branch out with related subtopics or ideas.

• Use colors, symbols, and images to enhance visual appeal and memorability.

• Draw connections between related ideas across different branches.

Mind mapping can be particularly effective in project planning, content creation, and studying complex subjects.

The Socratic Method: Deepening critical thinking skills

The Socratic Method, named after the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, involves asking probing questions to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas. This technique is widely used in higher education to teach critical thinking. Key aspects of the Socratic Method include:

• Asking open-ended questions that encourage deeper reflection

• Challenging assumptions and preconceived notions

• Exploring the implications and consequences of ideas

• Fostering intellectual curiosity and continuous inquiry

The Socratic Method can be applied in various settings:

• In education, to encourage students to think deeply about subject matter

• In business, to challenge team members to consider multiple points of view

• In personal development, to examine one's own beliefs and decisions

Example: A high school teacher might use the Socratic Method to guide students through a complex ethical dilemma, asking questions like "What principles are at stake here?" and "How might this decision affect different stakeholders?"

SWOT analysis: Comprehensive critical thinking skills

SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis is a strategic planning tool that can be applied to critical thinking. It helps in evaluating situations from multiple angles, promoting a more thorough understanding of complex issues. The components of SWOT analysis are:

• Strengths: internal positive attributes or assets

• Weaknesses: internal negative attributes or limitations

• Opportunities: External factors that could be beneficial

• Threats: External factors that could be harmful

To conduct a SWOT analysis:

• Clearly define the subject of analysis (e.g., a project, organization, or decision).

• Brainstorm and list items for each category.

• Analyze the interactions between different factors.

• Use the analysis to inform strategy or decision-making.

Example: A startup might use SWOT analysis to evaluate its position before seeking investment, identifying its innovative technology as a strength, limited capital as a weakness, growing market demand as an opportunity, and established competitors as a threat.

Critical thinking resources

• The Foundation for Critical Thinking: Based in California, this organization offers a wide range of resources, including books, articles, and workshops on critical thinking.

• The National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking: This council provides guidelines and standards for critical thinking instruction and assessment.

• University of Louisville: Their Critical Thinking Initiative offers a range of resources and tools to help people develop critical thinking skills.

• The New York Times Learning Network provides lesson plans and activities to help develop critical thinking skills through current events and news analysis.

Critical thinking frameworks and tools

• Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework: Developed by Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder, this framework provides a comprehensive approach to developing critical thinking skills.

• Bloom's Taxonomy: While not exclusively for critical thinking, this classification system is widely used in education to promote higher-order thinking skills.

• The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI): This assessment tool measures the disposition to engage in problem-solving and make decisions using critical thinking.

• The Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test: Developed by Robert Ennis, this test assesses a person's ability to appraise an argument and to formulate a written argument.

By incorporating these tools and techniques into regular practice, individuals can learn to improve their critical thinking skills, leading to more effective problem-solving, decision-making, and overall cognitive performance.

The power of critical thinking skills

Critical thinking skills take time to build, but with effort and patience, you can apply an unbiased, analytical mind to any situation. Critical thinking makes up one of many soft skills that make you an effective team member, manager, and worker. If you're looking to hone your skills further, read our article on the 25 project management skills you need to succeed.

Ready to apply critical thinking to your team's projects? Get started with Asana to track your decision-making processes and keep your team aligned on solutions.

Decision-making tools for agile businesses

In this ebook, learn how to equip employees to make better decisions—so your business can pivot, adapt, and tackle challenges more effectively than your competition.

Get the insights

Frequently asked questions about critical thinking skills