Critical Thinking
Session 1
Context: Employers value critical thinking because it helps people make good decisions when there isn’t a clear set of instructions. In real workplaces—especially ones shaped by AI and constant change—employees need to question assumptions, evaluate information, and use judgment instead of just following a process. Critical thinkers adapt when things shift, spot problems early, and aren’t easily misled by incomplete or biased information.
What it is: Critical thinking is the ability to objectively analyze information, question assumptions, and draw well-reasoned conclusions by evaluating evidence, considering consequences, and recognizing personal bias. Simply put, it means thinking carefully about information instead of accepting it at face value, so you can make better decisions.
Why it matters: Critical thinking also shows up in how people solve problems and communicate. It helps employees get to the root of an issue, come up with workable solutions, and think through the impact of their choices. Just as important, it allows them to explain their thinking, listen to others, and handle disagreement productively. From an employer’s perspective, this means better decisions, fewer mistakes, and people who can be trusted to think for themselves when it counts.
Primer Questions
1) Can you name three things you believe to be true that you didn't actually discover or prove for yourself?
2) If two 'experts' on TV or social media completely disagree on a topic, how do you decide which one to trust? What is your personal 'BS meter' actually looking for?
3) When was the last time you searched for the best argument against something you strongly believe? Did it change your mind, or just make you annoyed?
“In a world of growing uncertainty one thing is certain; we will need sharp critical thinkers who can size up the situation... and seize opportunities”
-Jason Baldoni, an internationally recognized leadership educator, author, and speaker.
Are You A Critical Thinker?
Critical thinking doesn’t develop overnight—it’s built through practice. By using these habits in everyday decisions, students and early-career professionals become more confident problem-solvers who can adapt when situations change. These skills help bridge the gap between school and the workplace.
Practicing critical thinking before entering the job market prepares individuals to move beyond simply following instructions and toward making sound, independent decisions employers value.
Why is critical thinking so important?
Everyone has an opinion. Some are grounded in facts and truth, but others are based on nothing more than what a person wants to believe.
In both the workplace and in life, making decisions or taking action based solely on opinion can lead to unintended or negative consequences. What’s the cost of stubbornly holding onto a belief—even when evidence to the contrary is presented?
Key No. 1: Control Your Emotions
No good decision was made in anger, fear, or frustration.
Stress or conflict can trigger an automatic fight, flight, or freeze response. When fear, anger, or frustration are high, decisions are more likely to be reactive than thoughtful. Pausing before making a decision helps restore emotional control, creating the mental space needed to think clearly and respond intentionally rather than on impulse.
Key No. 2 : Process the Situation
Take the situation apart to see what’s actually happening, what’s just noise, and what information is missing.
To process a situation, you have to shift from being a listener to being an investigator. This means taking the remaining information and checking the facts: look for the details that can actually be proven, identify who is telling the story and what they might want you to believe, and—most importantly—hunt for the gaps or what isn't being said. It is the mental work of taking a messy scenario apart to see how the pieces truly fit before you decide what to believe or come to a conclusion
Process with Filter Questions
The Evidence Check: "What are the actual facts I have right now that aren't just someone’s opinion?"
The Perspective Check: "Who is telling me this, and what do they want me to think or do about it?"
The "Missing Piece" Check: "What is the one piece of information I don't have yet that could change how I see this?"
OR
What are the assumptions? What am I or others taking for granted?
What are the consequences? What are the implications or potential outcomes of this decision or action?
How Would Your Perspective Be Different If You Were on the Opposing Side?
Key No. 3: Respond Wisely
To develop mindfulness, choose one thing to focus on and stay with it. Use your breath, your body, or your senses as an anchor when your attention drifts. And remember this: knowing your “why” makes focus easier. When you understand why you’re doing something—not just what you’re doing—you stay more motivated, more present, and more intentional with your attention. Focusing on the why strengthens your ability to stay locked in on the task.
Metacognitive Exercise
This week, choose an opinion you hold—or a decision you need to make—and intentionally slow down your thinking. Use the three steps above to move beyond your usual default response and more carefully analyze the situation, the facts, the motives involved, and the underlying purpose.
You might try this during a conversation with someone who disagrees with an opinion you hold strongly. Ask yourself:
What facts are involved? Are they verifiable?
Are there credible facts supporting more than one viewpoint?
Can you research the topic further?
Can you, even briefly, try to see the issue from the opposing perspective?
The goal isn’t to change your opinion—it’s to practice thinking more deliberately before responding or deciding.
Thought of the Day
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
— Aristotle