I thoroughly enjoyed this Micro Course from The Economist Education and GetSmarter. My new certification: Critical Thinking: Problem-Solving and Decision-Making in a Complex World!
Especially in today’s day, with so much information (and misinformation) at our fingertips, it is so important to think critically about what we consume. To question things, and admit when we’re wrong, or simply don’t know. To be aware of our cognitive biases, our heuristics, the way our brains jump to conclusions and assumptions, and fill in the gaps in order to digest the world around us. It’s much easier to oversimplify information confirming what you already believe with a lack of reasoning and perspective.
Pause… reflect, and remember that your perspective is exactly that – your perspective. And our perspectives of the world are so diverse. Leaning into this diversity is paramount to great decision-making – in a personal and professional capacity.
Let’s be more critical in the way we approach the world. Not everything is as it seems.
A couple of outtakes from the course are:
• Seek diverse perspectives in decision-making, this will ensure less groupthink, blind spots, and errors, while ensuring more innovation.
• Build time to do nothing into your day. Our “productive” society says you need permission to do this, but you actually don’t. By switching off, we allow new thoughts to enter.
• Normalise clarifying people’s points of views in collaboration. Ask follow-up questions and don’t be afraid to be wrong or say you don’t know.
• “You cannot think critically unless you’re finding ways constantly to open yourself up to this diversity.” Tom Chatfield
