Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the skill of looking at information in a clear and logical way. It means not accepting things at face value but questioning, analysing, and understanding them before making a decision. A good critical thinker is open-minded, flexible, and willing to see issues from different perspectives.

Critical thinking is more than just a skill—it is a habit of the mind. In management, every decision has consequences. When you think critically, you rely on facts instead of assumptions, logic instead of bias, and solutions instead of excuses. This helps you make decisions that are both effective and ethical.

Critical thinking involves several abilities. You need to analyse problems deeply, evaluate information carefully, and separate facts from opinions. It also means being creative but realistic, combining imagination with logic. Above all, it requires the courage to ask questions like why, what if, and how until the truth becomes clear.

Developing this skill is not complicated. You can practice it by analysing case studies, challenging assumptions in business discussions, or applying the “Who, What, When, Where, Why, How” framework to real problems. You can also test yourself by asking whether a statement is a fact or just someone’s opinion. Even simple exercises, like questioning your own choices with the word “because,” sharpen your thinking.

In business and leadership, critical thinking makes all the difference. It helps you look at situations calmly, resolve conflicts fairly, and design innovative strategies. It allows you to lead with clarity, inspire confidence in others, and avoid costly mistakes.

The key to becoming a strong critical thinker is never to stop questioning. Ask more, assume less. Be curious about every situation and keep your mind open to new ideas. The more you practice, the sharper your thinking will become—and that sharpness will shape you into a wise decision-maker and a confident leader.

Eenhancing analytical abilities 

1. Who? (Actor or Agent) Who is involved? Who did it/will do it? Who uses it, wants it? Who will benefit, will be injured, will be included, and will be excluded? 

2. What? (Act) What should happen? What is it? What was done/ought to be done, and was not done? What will be done if x happens? What went or could go wrong? What resulted in success? 

3. When? (Time or Timing) When will/did/should this occurs or be performed? Can it be hurried or delayed? Is a sooner or later time be preferable? When should be the time be if x happens? 

4. Where? (Scene or Source) Where did/will/should this occur or be performed? Where else is a possibility? Where else did the same thing happen/should the same thing happen? Are other places affected, endangered/protected/aided by this location? Effect of this location on actors, actions? 

5. Why? (Purpose) Why was/is this done, avoided, permitted? Why should it be done, avoided, permitted? Why did/should actor do? Different for another actor, act, time, place? Why that particular action, rule, idea, solution, problem, disaster, and not another? Why that actor, time, location, and not another? 

6. How? (Agency or Method) How was it, could it be, should it be done, prevented, destroyed, made, improved, altered? How can it be described, understood? How did beginning lead to conclusion?