11 answers
Ena
Student
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
71
Questions
Asked
1441 views
How to build up critical thinking?
For me, theories courses are all difficult. May I can say I hardly ever get average grade in class. #critical-thinking #theory
11 answers
Daniela Silva
Freelance Writer in Mental Health and Education
920
Answers
State of Goiás, State of Goiás, Brazil
Updated
Daniela’s Answer
Hi Ena!
Let’s Begin…
Every day, a sea of decisions stretches before us, and it’s impossible to make a perfect choice every time. But there are many ways to improve our chances — and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking. Samantha Agoos describes a 5-step process that may help you with any number of problems.
See this ludic and instructional Ted video to understand better:
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/5-tips-to-improve-your-critical-thinking-samantha-agoos#review
I wish you good luck!
PwC Impact
884
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
PwC’s Answer
- Make it a habit to ask why and how. Don't be satisfied with the answers given. Go beyond and anticipate a few steps beyond the current question/issue.
- Asking questions is the best way to build critical thinking skills. Explore other perspectives, ask people how they came to a conclusion or just ask yourself if there’s anything you haven’t considered.
- Read the paper in print daily, picking one topic on which to go deeper.
- By keeping myself current in latest developments, learning through PwC courses, materials and TL but also listening to podcasts and reading articles.
- I would ask others to brainstorm with you on an issue. That way you can learn from others and start thinking this way on your own.
- Asking questions is the best way to build critical thinking skills. Explore other perspectives, ask people how they came to a conclusion or just ask yourself if there’s anything you haven’t considered.
- Read the paper in print daily, picking one topic on which to go deeper.
- By keeping myself current in latest developments, learning through PwC courses, materials and TL but also listening to podcasts and reading articles.
- I would ask others to brainstorm with you on an issue. That way you can learn from others and start thinking this way on your own.
PwC Impact
884
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
PwC’s Answer
By meeting problems (internal, client, self) head on rather than avoiding them everyday. This includes challenging myself daily to give independent solutions, not just solutions from previous years, examples, or surface-level answers.
Constantly ask yourself "What's not being said?" The first step is thinking about what you expect to happen/be said. For example, you can practice when watching a news interview. You expect a person to comment on a specific topic, and they don't. They are asked a question and they don't quite answer the question. You then should consider why they answered this way, or left out a piece of what you expected. Flex this muscle often and it will jump out immediately. Perhaps you have data and you need to not just see if it looks "ok" but challenge your expectations about what should happen next, where the data came from, if its source is reliable. Build a catalog of questions to ask yourself to go beyond a high level skim of data, information when it comes to you.
Critical thinking is dependent on a complete knowledge of the larger context that a given situation is within, for without a rubric there is no way to grade. There must be an end result and necessary steps within a project where the critical thinking pushes the envelope from one point to another. To understand the whole process, what each step is, why each step is where it is, and how the step moves you closer to the final deliverable. Consequently, one must think critically to get from there current position to the next required position, in a timely and accurate manner.
Constantly ask yourself "What's not being said?" The first step is thinking about what you expect to happen/be said. For example, you can practice when watching a news interview. You expect a person to comment on a specific topic, and they don't. They are asked a question and they don't quite answer the question. You then should consider why they answered this way, or left out a piece of what you expected. Flex this muscle often and it will jump out immediately. Perhaps you have data and you need to not just see if it looks "ok" but challenge your expectations about what should happen next, where the data came from, if its source is reliable. Build a catalog of questions to ask yourself to go beyond a high level skim of data, information when it comes to you.
Critical thinking is dependent on a complete knowledge of the larger context that a given situation is within, for without a rubric there is no way to grade. There must be an end result and necessary steps within a project where the critical thinking pushes the envelope from one point to another. To understand the whole process, what each step is, why each step is where it is, and how the step moves you closer to the final deliverable. Consequently, one must think critically to get from there current position to the next required position, in a timely and accurate manner.
PwC Impact
884
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
PwC’s Answer
Focus: Keep thinking fresh through structured variation.
Encourage diverse viewpoints by inviting multiple stakeholders to challenge assumptions.
For any repeated process, apply the “Rule of 7”: after doing something the same way seven times, the next iteration must use a new method or tool.
Use rotational leadership and cross-reporting to disrupt habitual thinking and spark innovation.
Apply GenAI tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to stress-test existing approaches: ask them to “break, rebuild, and improve” your logic."
I build my critical thinking skills by exploring information from diverse sources, staying curious, and questioning what I read. I also verify the information I receive by cross-checking with other reliable sources.
I build my critical thinking skills by first analyzing data or reading articles and forming my own conclusions based on that information. Then, I dive deeper into the data or topic to test and either prove or disprove my initial conclusions. Finally, I engage with more experienced colleagues or present my insights to leadership to receive feedback and refine my thinking.
It is important to slow down when beginning to critically think. You need to take time, and be ready to evaluate. Start by separating facts and assumptions, what do you really know, and what is just made to sound like a fact. Make sure you answer as many of the 5 W's as you can, and then identify they how. When you think you know why something is happening, come up with three other reasons it could be happening, this is always a good way to test your theory, and see how sound it really is.
List and order facts, build in timelines and then get details.
Encourage diverse viewpoints by inviting multiple stakeholders to challenge assumptions.
For any repeated process, apply the “Rule of 7”: after doing something the same way seven times, the next iteration must use a new method or tool.
Use rotational leadership and cross-reporting to disrupt habitual thinking and spark innovation.
Apply GenAI tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to stress-test existing approaches: ask them to “break, rebuild, and improve” your logic."
I build my critical thinking skills by exploring information from diverse sources, staying curious, and questioning what I read. I also verify the information I receive by cross-checking with other reliable sources.
I build my critical thinking skills by first analyzing data or reading articles and forming my own conclusions based on that information. Then, I dive deeper into the data or topic to test and either prove or disprove my initial conclusions. Finally, I engage with more experienced colleagues or present my insights to leadership to receive feedback and refine my thinking.
It is important to slow down when beginning to critically think. You need to take time, and be ready to evaluate. Start by separating facts and assumptions, what do you really know, and what is just made to sound like a fact. Make sure you answer as many of the 5 W's as you can, and then identify they how. When you think you know why something is happening, come up with three other reasons it could be happening, this is always a good way to test your theory, and see how sound it really is.
List and order facts, build in timelines and then get details.
PwC Impact
884
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
PwC’s Answer
Don't rush to be right. Start by being curious. Critical thinking isn't about defending your first thought, but rather exploring what else can be true. Ask open questions such as "What might I be missing?" "How would someone who disagrees with my perspective see this?" "What assumptions might I be making?" It's important to notice what is driving your perspective. Are you using logic? Feelings? Emotions? Past experiences? Research? Are there Biases? Each offers data but it's important to test your conclusions with logic and reflect on all possibilities and perspectives. Seek multiple perspectives and hold space for multiple truths until the fuller picture emerges. Critical thinking should be dynamic, not rigid so it is important to gather different viewpoints, consider the credibility of all sources, and play devil's advocate to your own opinions. If opposing perspectives feel uncomfortable, reflect and consider why they are eliciting that feeling as that is usually where growth is hiding. Remember that facts are what happened, opinions are judgements and interpretations are the stories we tell about the why. Be analytical and look for trends. One instance can be noise but it's the patterns that reveal truth, so zoom out and evaluate consistency over time, not just single moments. Along the way always remember that strong thinkers can change their mind without losing integrity. And acknowledging that shows wisdom. When new evidence arises, the goal is to be in alignment with truth, not attachment to pride of the original viewpoint that may now be changing. Critical thinking isn't about being the smartest in the room, but it's about being honest with one's self and to others. Remember when coming to a conclusion to ask yourself what the motive behind your final decision is and ask yourself "Am I trying to understand, or trying to be right?", because true critical thinking seeks understanding first and let's being right be the byproduct of being honest.
Abigail Sedano
Sales Compensation Analyst
1
Answer
Guadalajara
Updated
Abigail’s Answer
Hi Ena,
You can practice Critical Thinking with your daily choices. For instance, deciding what to eat or which chore to do next might seem simple, but these decisions help you understand how Critical Thinking works. It's not just about choosing; it's about understanding the situation and how your decision affects your time and life.
Here are a few tips that have helped me:
1. Ask lots of questions to get a clear picture of the situation. Talk to someone with more experience or look up information from different sources like books or online articles.
2. Understand the problem. Figure out why it happened, how it happened, and what you need to do to fix it.
3. Think creatively about possible outcomes. Consider not just the negative results, but also the positive ones. This can help you find the best solution.
4. Don’t worry if you don’t always have the perfect answer. When I started, I knew very little, but asking questions helped me learn and improve my Critical Thinking skills.
I hope these tips help you out!
You can practice Critical Thinking with your daily choices. For instance, deciding what to eat or which chore to do next might seem simple, but these decisions help you understand how Critical Thinking works. It's not just about choosing; it's about understanding the situation and how your decision affects your time and life.
Here are a few tips that have helped me:
1. Ask lots of questions to get a clear picture of the situation. Talk to someone with more experience or look up information from different sources like books or online articles.
2. Understand the problem. Figure out why it happened, how it happened, and what you need to do to fix it.
3. Think creatively about possible outcomes. Consider not just the negative results, but also the positive ones. This can help you find the best solution.
4. Don’t worry if you don’t always have the perfect answer. When I started, I knew very little, but asking questions helped me learn and improve my Critical Thinking skills.
I hope these tips help you out!
PwC Impact
884
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
PwC’s Answer
One powerful tool to think critically is to know the why of the task. If you have that basic understanding of why we do what we do (down to the level of a single audit procedure) you will start questioning yourself and your critical thinking journey will begin.
Practice listening to perspectives you disagree with and thinking critically about why (and whether you actually do disagree), but also practice listening to perspectives you agree with and thinking critically about why (and whether you actually do agree).
reading, thinking how things can be done in a different way, investigating, being curious
Start by asking better questions. Practice slowing down before acting on information, looking for underlying assumptions, and comparing multiple perspectives. Reading broadly outside your domain and engaging in structured debate also sharpen analytical habits.
Step back and ask yourself "does this make sense" and "would it make sense to someone unfamiliar with the subject matter". Double check your facts from multiple credible sources. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions and be intellectually curious.
Think! Be curious and endeavor to seek answers. When we relinquish the willingness to do so we stop thinking and loose the ability to think critically!
"To build your critical thinking skills you must 1) know your stuff and 2) be aware of your limitations. Critical thinking is, after all, an applied method of thinking, and thought tends to require knowledge.
Having a solid baseline understanding of your area of expertise (or a few different fields, even) will enable you to see the world through a lens of understanding that is vital to bring a diversity of thought to any problem. That is what the modern worker does, if they have any desire to build their career.
However, like the old parable of the blind men and the elephant, we tend to only see through the lenses we are familiar with, and we only ever see the pieces of the puzzle that we interact with. This is especially true in our modern workforce, where every team member contributes their own expertise and tackles their own challenges, in a thousand small ways, to help an organization reach its goals. Having the humility to know what you don't know, and a willingness to learn from others, is vital to stop your critical thinking from becoming dogma, and enables so much valuable growth and learning from others (which is a reward that you can receive all your life)."
Practice listening to perspectives you disagree with and thinking critically about why (and whether you actually do disagree), but also practice listening to perspectives you agree with and thinking critically about why (and whether you actually do agree).
reading, thinking how things can be done in a different way, investigating, being curious
Start by asking better questions. Practice slowing down before acting on information, looking for underlying assumptions, and comparing multiple perspectives. Reading broadly outside your domain and engaging in structured debate also sharpen analytical habits.
Step back and ask yourself "does this make sense" and "would it make sense to someone unfamiliar with the subject matter". Double check your facts from multiple credible sources. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions and be intellectually curious.
Think! Be curious and endeavor to seek answers. When we relinquish the willingness to do so we stop thinking and loose the ability to think critically!
"To build your critical thinking skills you must 1) know your stuff and 2) be aware of your limitations. Critical thinking is, after all, an applied method of thinking, and thought tends to require knowledge.
Having a solid baseline understanding of your area of expertise (or a few different fields, even) will enable you to see the world through a lens of understanding that is vital to bring a diversity of thought to any problem. That is what the modern worker does, if they have any desire to build their career.
However, like the old parable of the blind men and the elephant, we tend to only see through the lenses we are familiar with, and we only ever see the pieces of the puzzle that we interact with. This is especially true in our modern workforce, where every team member contributes their own expertise and tackles their own challenges, in a thousand small ways, to help an organization reach its goals. Having the humility to know what you don't know, and a willingness to learn from others, is vital to stop your critical thinking from becoming dogma, and enables so much valuable growth and learning from others (which is a reward that you can receive all your life)."
PwC Impact
884
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
PwC’s Answer
Try to structure thoughts as "What problem am I trying to solve" "How can I break down the problem into easy to understand parts". Challenge "symptoms" of the problem by asking 5 whys to dive further into the root cause.
We build critical thinking skills by exposing ourselves to different situations that require us analyze the data provided or even by brainstorming.
"When I am faced with a problem, I do not ask myself ""Who can I ask to help me?"". I ask myself, ""What can I do to try and find the solution?"". This allows me to think through all of the possible avenues I could take to find answers. Then through the application of researching, I tend to find out more information than I was originally looking for and I retain that information better by having applied the time and effort. Critical thinking develops not by trying to find the quickest and easiest solution to every problem, but stepping back and taking a holistic view and considering multiple different angles.
Considering complex scenarios, analyze options from a cause and effect lense. This helps to delve deeper into why the problem exists and the downstream impacts. Then when thinking through solutions apply a decision tree like mindset. What works best for me is to write out the process flow and then walk through it by applying different scenarios."
When learning a new topic for the first time, I would first ask why this topic is relevant in the field I am working in. Beginning to understand the "why" behind why we take certain actions helps me create a narrative on the action steps that follow.
You can build your critical thinking skills by adapting the mindset which aligns with the skills of critical thinking i.e. by developing a mindset with curiosity, intelligence and skepticism. Once you start developing the right mindset, you can follow training yourself with the core skills like - (1) bringing clarity to chaos where you turn vague claims into precise, testable statements; define terms (2) working on your decision-making where you weigh trade-offs and think about opportunity costs (3) improving your Communication skills where you summarize clearly; explain your reasoning and confidence concisely.
We build critical thinking skills by exposing ourselves to different situations that require us analyze the data provided or even by brainstorming.
"When I am faced with a problem, I do not ask myself ""Who can I ask to help me?"". I ask myself, ""What can I do to try and find the solution?"". This allows me to think through all of the possible avenues I could take to find answers. Then through the application of researching, I tend to find out more information than I was originally looking for and I retain that information better by having applied the time and effort. Critical thinking develops not by trying to find the quickest and easiest solution to every problem, but stepping back and taking a holistic view and considering multiple different angles.
Considering complex scenarios, analyze options from a cause and effect lense. This helps to delve deeper into why the problem exists and the downstream impacts. Then when thinking through solutions apply a decision tree like mindset. What works best for me is to write out the process flow and then walk through it by applying different scenarios."
When learning a new topic for the first time, I would first ask why this topic is relevant in the field I am working in. Beginning to understand the "why" behind why we take certain actions helps me create a narrative on the action steps that follow.
You can build your critical thinking skills by adapting the mindset which aligns with the skills of critical thinking i.e. by developing a mindset with curiosity, intelligence and skepticism. Once you start developing the right mindset, you can follow training yourself with the core skills like - (1) bringing clarity to chaos where you turn vague claims into precise, testable statements; define terms (2) working on your decision-making where you weigh trade-offs and think about opportunity costs (3) improving your Communication skills where you summarize clearly; explain your reasoning and confidence concisely.
Bhavya Raju Mandya
Software Engineer
6
Answers
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Updated
Bhavya Raju’s Answer
Ena,
I found journalling everyday and reading philosophy books helped a lot. It helps you to structure the thoughts and poke holes in your pattern and thinking. There are also podcasts like this - https://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/
There are also good courses online like this: https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-philosophy-god-knowledge-and-con-2
Hope this helps!
I found journalling everyday and reading philosophy books helped a lot. It helps you to structure the thoughts and poke holes in your pattern and thinking. There are also podcasts like this - https://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/
There are also good courses online like this: https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-philosophy-god-knowledge-and-con-2
Hope this helps!
Adam Heugh
Medical Bill Reciew
24
Answers
Lansing, Michigan
Updated
Adam’s Answer
Hi Ena:
Critical thinking is something that you will have to practice. The theory classes that you are taking will probably assist with this. One of the things that you have to do is: "think outside of the box". You have to be able to look at a problem and be able to identify different avenues that can be taken to solve it. A lot of critical thinking comes from experience and learning what to look for. Continuing on with your education is an excellent way to hone your skills. In addition, research is key when trying to be a critical thinker.
When asking about critical thinking, I often share this article with my employees so that they can get an idea of what they should be doing. Main advice, continue on with your education and research. Only then can you become very skilled in this topice.
https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/critical-thinking-skills-to-master-now/
Critical thinking is something that you will have to practice. The theory classes that you are taking will probably assist with this. One of the things that you have to do is: "think outside of the box". You have to be able to look at a problem and be able to identify different avenues that can be taken to solve it. A lot of critical thinking comes from experience and learning what to look for. Continuing on with your education is an excellent way to hone your skills. In addition, research is key when trying to be a critical thinker.
When asking about critical thinking, I often share this article with my employees so that they can get an idea of what they should be doing. Main advice, continue on with your education and research. Only then can you become very skilled in this topice.
https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/critical-thinking-skills-to-master-now/
PwC Impact
884
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
PwC’s Answer
At PwC, I can build upon my critical thinking as a Social Media Manager by moving beyond surface-level metrics and digging deeper into the why behind performance trends, using data to connect content outcomes to broader business objectives. By challenging assumptions, weighing creative ideas against potential risks, and anticipating unintended consequences, I can ensure our strategies not only drive engagement but also align with PwC’s brand values and reputation. Collaborating across functions, such as risk, communications, and client services—further sharpens my ability to synthesize diverse perspectives and make informed, well-rounded decisions. Through this balance of data-driven analysis, strategic foresight, and cross-functional input, I can continue to strengthen my judgment and deliver social strategies that create meaningful, lasting impact.
1. Step back and look at the big picture. Understanding why the task or deliverable are important and fit with larger objectives can give you the framework for what the outcome should look like.
2. Work the details. Leverage subject matter experts to get to know the existing inputs, their variations and level of accuracy, but also work with those who will be consumers of the solution to confirm expectations and identify opportunities.
3. Compare options. When evaluating solutions and additional opportunities ensure all impacts are considered."
As I learn something I find not just knowing the "what" behind the subject, but the "why" really helps me to develop expertise in an area and gain the ability to assess new fact patterns within the appropriate context.
Asking "why?" and being open minded that I don't know everything. Asking questions and searching deeper into problems and its respective solutions
Asking questions by clarifying facts before acting which leads to better decisions. Reduces errors caused by incomplete or incorrect assumptions.
1. Step back and look at the big picture. Understanding why the task or deliverable are important and fit with larger objectives can give you the framework for what the outcome should look like.
2. Work the details. Leverage subject matter experts to get to know the existing inputs, their variations and level of accuracy, but also work with those who will be consumers of the solution to confirm expectations and identify opportunities.
3. Compare options. When evaluating solutions and additional opportunities ensure all impacts are considered."
As I learn something I find not just knowing the "what" behind the subject, but the "why" really helps me to develop expertise in an area and gain the ability to assess new fact patterns within the appropriate context.
Asking "why?" and being open minded that I don't know everything. Asking questions and searching deeper into problems and its respective solutions
Asking questions by clarifying facts before acting which leads to better decisions. Reduces errors caused by incomplete or incorrect assumptions.
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