HBR REVIEW BY GENTLE AGOH

🔍 Review and Commendations: "3 Simple Habits to Improve Your Critical Thinking" by Helen Lee Bouygues

I recently came across an insightful article on critical thinking by Helen Lee Bouygues titled "3 Simple Habits to Improve Your Critical Thinking." The author emphasizes the detrimental impact of a lack of critical thinking in business leadership and offers practical advice to enhance this vital skill. Bouygues highlights that critical thinking is a learned behavior, providing hope for individuals and organizations seeking to improve their decision-making processes.

The article begins with a compelling anecdote about a CEO who suffered a significant setback due to a failure in critical thinking. This real-life example effectively illustrates the consequences of overlooking thorough evaluation and reasoning. Bouygues then goes on to identify the root cause of many organizational problems as a lack of critical thinking, which can lead to jumping to conclusions and confirmation bias.

The central theme of the article revolves around three key habits that can enhance critical thinking: questioning assumptions, reasoning through logic, and diversifying thought. Bouygues skillfully explains each habit, offering practical examples and personal experiences to reinforce her points.

Questioning assumptions is presented as a crucial step in critical thinking. The author shares an eye-opening experience where questioning assumptions about customers' disposable income helped identify a pricing problem within a retail chain. Bouygues also advises readers on when to question assumptions, emphasizing the significance of high-stakes situations.

The article then delves into the importance of reasoning through logic, using a case study from the lingerie industry to illustrate the consequences of over-generalization. The author explains how improving reasoning can significantly impact an organization's bottom line and highlights the value of logic as a practice that has stood the test of time.

Finally, Bouygues stresses the significance of seeking diversity of thought and collaboration. She encourages readers to step out of their personal bubbles and actively engage with different perspectives. The author shares personal experiences of being the only woman and only Asian in corporate settings, emphasizing the value of diverse viewpoints in decision-making processes.

The article concludes with a call to action, highlighting that these simple yet often neglected tactics can lead to profound improvements in critical thinking. Bouygues acknowledges that implementing these habits requires effort, but emphasizes the positive impact they can have on business success.

Overall, "3 Simple Habits to Improve Your Critical Thinking" by Helen Lee Bouygues offers valuable insights and practical advice for individuals and organizations striving to enhance their decision-making capabilities. I commend the author for effectively communicating the importance of critical thinking and providing actionable steps to foster its development.

🔗 Source: Harvard Review article

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