Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills

Section I Introduction and the Framework for Critical Thinking

This section will introduce a few definitions and terms. We'll cover the meaning of critical thinking and discuss what distinguishes it from what we call automatic thinking. We'll list many of its benefits and discuss times when you should use critical thinking in your work. Most important, we'll introduce a framework for critical thinking to guide you through the process.

Throughout the book I'll use the term headscratcher. You've likely heard the expression “That's a real headscratcher” when referring to a problem to solve, a decision to make, a situation to resolve, a goal to reach, or an objective to obtain—all without a predetermined way to get there.

A headscratcher is a:

• problem or issue without a ready solution;
• result or observation without an obvious explanation;
• goal without a clear path.

If you're already familiar with critical thinking, its benefits, and where you can use it, and you have the urge to skip over these chapters, you might want to start at Chapter 3, “The Framework and Tools,” where I define the framework; otherwise, start with Chapter 1, “What Is Critical Thinking,” where I define critical thinking, its benefits, and numerous places in your business you can use it.