Critical thinking is the art of thinking about thinking while thinking in order to make thinking better. It involves three interwoven phases: it analyzes thinking, it evaluates thinking, it improves thinking (Paul & Elder, 2006). Everyone can think. Thinking is natural and has become a way for individuals to process information. Individuals make important decisions about their lives every day. These decisions could be big or small.
The decisions can range from deciding what coat to wear outside to making a decision about a career path. No matter what kind of decisions people make daily, critical thinking is a part of the process. The ability to think critically is important in whatever a person may choose to do. If a person works in a profession such as education, finance or management, critical thinking is obviously important. Critical thinking skills are not used for a particular subject area.
These skills are used within any field of study. Critical thinking has become even more valuable in the global economy because it allows businesses to have a competitive advantage. Technology is constantly improved upon which requires organizations to recruit the best individuals for the job. Being able to think critically is becoming one of the job requirements for many organizations because they want to stay competitive long term. To think critically, individuals must be able to look past their emotions to obtain the truth. There is no room for emotions concerning critical thinking.
Emotions can cloud one??™s judgment. Critical thinkers must make sure that their mind is free and relaxed. It gives the mind a clear view of what is accurately going on. I have been working as a machine operator for Georgia-Pacific Corporation for almost four years.
As a machine operator, one has to identify the problem, identify causes of the problem, troubleshoot, and ultimately find the solution. This process definitely requires critical thinking skills. The machines are in an environment that is very cold in the winter and extremely hot in the summer. This type of environment can make it difficult to think rational thoughts. It can be a long and strenuous process trying to discover what type of issue a machine has if the person is not open-minded. Possessing an open-minded attitude allows the individual to weigh the pros and cons of the situation while also remaining safe. To work in this environment, a person also has to be aware of the safety hazards surrounding them. This also requires critical thinking.
The most important part of my job is making sure that safety is kept as a top priority. Making sure that I recognize the risks and implement corrective actions to mitigate those risks shows my commitment to my safety and others. Regarded as intellectually engaged, skillful and responsible thinking that facilitates good judgment, critical thinking requires the application of assumptions, knowledge, competence and the ability to challenge one??™s own thinking (Behar-Horenstein & Niu, 2011). Critical thinking is a vital part of the decision-making process. To make the best decisions possible, individuals must embrace critical thinking. Critical thinking allows individuals to see all sides of an issue without being biased. There is no such thing as ???taking sides??? when concerning critical thinking; there is only the truth. An effective critical thinker knows the best solution may not always be the most popular.
Many businesses would not be standing today if they could not think critically. Critical thinkers act instead of reacting. If hasty decisions are made, errors are likely to occur. Critical thinking is an important part of life. It can have a huge impact on individuals and society. Critical thinking can be used to solve all of life??™s complex issues without complicating them. If more individuals were conscious of their decision making, the world would notice more progressive environments.
Critical thinking skills are an important part of any organization, especially concerning survival. The skills will only become more vital to sustain society and those that possess these skills will see the benefits of obtaining them. Being able to identify, evaluate, and identify are skills that will never go out of style.?
