Critical Thinking Definition

Wikipedia Definition of Critical Thinking

Wikipedia actually has several versions of what Critical Thinking means. Here are a few of the definitions:

• Critical thinking has been described as “reasonable reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do.”

• It has also been described as "thinking about thinking."

• It has been described in more detail as "the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action

As you may or may not know, you can add in your own definition into Wikipedia so as you can see above, here are 3 different opinions of the meaning. 

Wikipedia proves that the term Critical Thinking has different meanings for different people.  Our focus is Critical Thinking and Problem Solving business issues. 

My Definition of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a process that harnesses many elements unique to an individual in order to come up with a problem solving solution.  People make critical decisions everyday in all walks of life.

The level of decisions that you make often have to do with the fabric of the person making the decisions.  Here are some attributes that I believe make up the decision making process of Critical Thinking.

Critical Thinking In Business involves the following attributes:

• Objectivity

• Creativity

• Analysis

• Experience

• Research

• Observation

• Ideas

• Education

• Ability

• Concentration

The ability to utilize the problem solving skills of Critical Thinking depends on your situation.  Our individual biases and ego's often get in the way of making the right decisions. 

A person skilled in Critical Thinking has the ability to forgoe favortism and focus on problem solving the best decision for the organization regardless of the impact whether positive or negative.

An outsider can typically come up with decisions much faster due to being disconnected from the emotional connection to a business.