Recently, I had a blog prompt that asked, "I wish I had paid attention when...." and you are supposed to complete that sentence. I thought this was appropriate to discuss now, as December usually has me reviewing the past year and wondering if I could have done something better.
I wish I had paid attention when my Father wanted to teach me how to fix things around the house. He is very good at analyzing a problem, determining whether he could fix it himself, or call in an expert. My memory has him fixing many issues himself. On the other hand, I have little confidence in tackling issues around the house, my car, etc.
It's not so much that I want to be Mr. Fixit. I just want to be confident attacking some of the simpler repairs. I end up paying for everything my wife cannot fix. She is actually game to take on quite a lot, armed with YouTube videos. A big issue for me is that I don't have the patience to completely analyze the situation and do the required research before taking action. This is a sticking point for me in my ability to problem-solve. I want to share some information on Critical thinking from the Skills You Need Group:
Critical thinking might be described as the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking.
Critical thinking requires you to use your ability to reason. It is about being an active learner rather than a passive recipient of information.
Critical thinkers rigorously question ideas and assumptions rather than accepting them at face value. They will always seek to determine whether the ideas, arguments, and findings represent the entire picture and are open to finding that they do not.
Critical thinkers will identify, analyze, and solve problems systematically rather than by intuition or instinct.
Here is where the problems start for me- I am not naturally curious and enjoy trusting the information I receive without having to double-check the source. That created some misleading information on COVID-19 cures also. Here are some of the advantages you critical thinkers can appreciate:
Someone with critical thinking skills can:
Understand the links between ideas.
Determine the importance and relevance of arguments and ideas.
Recognize, build and appraise arguments.
Identify inconsistencies and errors in reasoning.
Approach problems in a consistent and systematic way.
Reflect on the justification of their own assumptions, beliefs, and values.
These are abilities I respect in my father and others. I do well with the first and last points. I am conflict-adverse, get bogged down with details, and bored with routine. So the middle 4 skills are challenging. I definitely appreciate the benefits the team, company, and customers get when we add critical thinking to our problem-solving. I make sure I team up with those that have this ability down. I do want to practice this skill to improve my ability to think critically. I know it will take patience on my part. Here is an idea from our source on how to improve:
Try this simple exercise to help you to start thinking critically:
Think of something that someone has recently told you. Then ask yourself the following questions:
Who said it? Someone you know? Someone in a position of authority or power? Does it matter who told you this?
What did they say? Did they give facts or opinions? Did they provide all the facts? Did they leave anything out?
Where did they say it? Was it in public or in private? Did other people have a chance to respond and provide an alternative account?
When did they say it? Was it before, during, or after an important event? Is timing important?
Why did they say it? Did they explain the reasoning behind their opinion? Were they trying to make someone look good or bad?
How did they say it? Were they happy or sad, angry or indifferent? Did they write it or say it? Could you understand what was said?
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