Tackle complex situations with critical thinking.
You're facing a problem at work. There are many ways you can approach the situation, but each comes with its own pros and cons. How do you sort through all the information so that you know you're taking the right path?
The answer is in how you think. The HBR Guide to Critical Thinking will help you navigate your most challenging issues, from difficult problems to tough decisions to complex scenarios. By carefully observing the situation, gathering information, inviting other perspectives, and analyzing what's in front of you, you can move forward with confidence while building this crucial leadership skill.
You'll learn how to:
- Question your assumptions
- Keep an open mind to opposing viewpoints
- Sidestep cognitive biases
- Use data—when appropriate
- Grow comfortable with ambiguity
- Find innovative and creative solutions
Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.
Author(s): Harvard Business Review
Series: HBR Guide to
Edition: 1
Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 256
City: Boston, MA
Tags: Critical Thinking; Problem Solving; Decision Making; Industrial Management; Business Success
What You’ll Learn
Contents
Introduction: What Is Critical Thinking
Section 1: Get in the Right Mindset
Ch. 1: Improve Your Critical Thinking at Work
Ch. 2: Beware the Urgency Trap
Ch. 3: Act Like a Scientist
Section 2: Observe the Situation
Ch. 4: To Change the Way You Think, Change the Way You See
Ch. 5: Are You Solving the Right Problems?
Ch. 6: Write a Better Problem Statement
Ch. 7: Zoom In, Zoom Out
Section 3: Ask Questions
Ch. 8: Critical Thinking Starts with Careful Questioning
Ch. 9: Four Types of Questions to Achieve Four Different Goals
Ch. 10: Think Critically About Your Data
Ch. 11: Stop Asking “Why” and Start Asking “How”
Section 4: Seek Differing Perspectives
Ch. 12: A New Way to Become More Open-Minded
Ch. 13: Disrupt Your Thinking by Involving Other People
Ch. 14: Disagreement Doesn’t Have to Be Divisive
Ch. 15: When Group Discussion Backfires
Ch. 16: Three Ways Leaders Can Listen with More Empathy
Section 5: Analyze the Information
Ch. 17: Three Ways to Improve Your Decision-Making
Ch. 18: How Successful Leaders Think
Ch. 19: Fooled by Experience
Ch. 20: How to Stop Overthinking
Ch. 21: How to Make Rational Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty
Section 6: Make Critical Thinking a Habit
Ch. 22: The Power of Self-Reflection
Ch. 23: Train Your Brain to Manage Information
Ch. 24: Apply Critical Thinking to Your Learning
Index
