How To Think Critically

DISCLAIMER*

I want you to engage with this article. I’m speaking to you about critical thinking, and this is a perfect opportunity for you to sharpen those skills. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

“Social media has created an environment that disincentivizes critical thought” — Julian Marcheaux Marshall.

I agree, and I’ll take it one step further. Given that social media has become a massive part of our lives, it doesn’t feel like it’s a stretch to say our society disincentivizes critical thought.

How did we get here? A question that’s much too large to answer here, and quite frankly, it goes over my head.

But, let’s rewind anyway.

Growing up, I was often scolded for asking *why* too much, and honestly, I was always confused why it was so bothersome to the adults around me. It’s a simple question, no?

When I entered the professional world, there were moments when my critical thinking was applauded. Because guess what, when you question things, you inevitably uncover better ways of doing things. Alas, there were even more moments when my “incessant questioning” was very much unwelcome.

My work reviews read a lot like my report cards. Sara is spirited but very disruptive.

Have you ever been told to “play the game” at work? I was frequently told my superiors would like me better if I just played the game. “If you want to move up, stop questioning everything, and go along with it.” Workplace cultures look a hell-of-a-lot like groupthink at this point.

If you’re unfamiliar with groupthink, it’s a phrase coined in the ’70s by psychologists that describes a phenomenon in which a group’s desire for harmony and conformity results in irrational or dysfunctional decision-making.

It’s like when you’re part of a group project, and the loud person suggests something that makes absolutely no sense, and yet somehow, everyone goes along with it.

Little did you know work would become a never-ending group project rife with groupthink…

Exhibit A

I believe groupthink happens even within solopreneurs. Going along with a recommendation from a peer, mentor, celebrity, or internet human without questioning it is very much the same.

Groupthink is likely to happen in situations where decision making is rushed. So basically, it happens everywhere all the time?

We can all agree; a part of the solution is to slow the decision-making process down to allow for more in-depth questioning. But, let’s not forget we must address Cognitive Bias.

Roll with me on this, I promise I’m not writing an academic journal, but if we’re going to affect change, we need to turn off autopilot, and that means shedding light on the unconscious parts of our brains. Once we do that, we can start steering with intention.

Cognitive Bias is defined as a systematic pattern of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment. Basically, our brains take shortcuts to ease the burden of decision-making. *Sigh* our minds are capable of such incredible things, and yet they’re highly flawed.

There are around 188 known cognitive biases that will/can seriously hinder our ability to make sound judgments. Assuming you’re not entirely nerding out over this (like me), I’ll spare you all of em’ and give you a highlight reel:

• Confirmation Bias: Focusing on or finding information that supports your argument or existing preconceptions. It’s like looking at snapshots and refusing to see the big picture.
• Bias Blind Spot: Frequently finding fault or observing biases in others, but not in ourselves. If you’re always pointing fingers, perhaps some self-examination is needed.
• Bandwagon Effect: Uptake of beliefs and ideas increases the more that others have already adopted them. If you see 20 people using a hashtag or posting something, how likely are you to hop on the trend to not be left out? That’s the bandwagon effect.
• Dunning- Kruger Effect: This one’s kind of my favorite because I used to be so guilty of it. Effectively it’s when someone has limited knowledge and overestimates their ability. It’s like your relative who read one article, and suddenly thinks they know more about your job.
• Halo Effect: If you see a person or company as having a positive trait, that positive impression will spill over into other areas. I chose to highlight this one because I think social media encourages this in some ways. Companies and individuals feed us all highlight reels, which can lull us into a false belief that they’re “good.”

So, how do we overcome Cognitive Bias?

(say it with me in a loud cheer) By increasing our ability to think critically!

“My own sense is that the most enabling resource that I can offer as a critic or an intellectual professor is the capacity to think critically about our lives. I think thinking critically is at the heart of anybody transforming their life.” -bell hooks

I’m with bell hooks, our capacity to think critically is what will transform people, and subsequently the world. Since ya’ll are leaders, who no doubt want to change the world around them, I figure it’s in our best interest to increase our critical thinking skills STAT.

If you look below, you’ll just how many areas of our lives we need to asses through a critical lens.

Exhibit B

It seems simple enough, honestly, at one point, I considered writing an aggressively short email that said “question everything,” but I figured that might be oversimplifying it.

So, what gets in the way of us questioning things in the way we should?

• Awareness: Most of us are sleepwalking through our lives. It requires a certain level of presence to be aware of our surroundings, thoughts, feelings, and information we’re receiving.
• Laziness: I thought about finding a kinder word, but it’s the truth. Inquiry requires effort. Most of us are too lazy to dig into facts or information in depth.
• Fear: Independent thinking does require courage. If you’re preoccupied with what others will think of you for raising questions, you won’t likely think critically. I feel inclined to state that the fear of speaking out, comes from very real consequences that many people have experienced.
• Close-minded: We must be willing to suspend judgment, and above all else, we need to seek the truth in favor of siding with our own biases.
• Privilege: All of the things listed above are symptoms of privilege (with the exception of fear.) Having privilege is synonymous with blind spots. Never questioning anything because you’re unaffected by the oppressive realities so many others face. Critical thinking is a bit like shining a light on everything, thus removing our blind spots.

These five examples are the tip of the iceberg. I invite you to think about what has stopped you from thinking critically in the past. I am guilty of all of them at one time or another.

At the start of this article, I encouraged you to engage your critical thinking skills when reading it. So now I have to ask

1. What stood out to you?
2. What did you like or not like?
3. What would you have done differently?
4. What did you learn?

Write me back! Engaging in conversation is a sure-fire way to build these skills.

Wishing you sharp thinking, and critical thoughts!

Sara

P.s I got absolutely sucked into this transcript during my research. It’s a transcript of an interview with bell hooks. 10/10 would recommend.

P.p.s Want a handy way to uncover some of your unconscious bias? Here is a series of tests you can take, it’s run by an organization call Project Implicit.