Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Consider it all
Critical thinking was a key part of my education, starting in some of my high school classes, then with a particularly sharp focus in my undergraduate studies, and continuing with practical application in my post-graduate coursework. Now it’s the way I approach all challenging situations, almost reflexively.
In a nutshell, critical thinking is about collecting a variety of inputs (facts, evidence, personal observations, arguments, opinions, etc.) and then—with an awareness of personal proclivities (prejudices and biases, for example)—evaluating them using a combination of evaluation, analysis, and reasoning to arrive at informed decisions as outputs.
This quote distills it into a few powerful words, in a manner that is simple but not simplistic:
When we strip away what’s no longer true or helpful, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to build something new, something better.
The more we experience, the more we know—and often the more set in our ways and fixed in our beliefs we become. That’s why it’s so important to apply critical thinking, even to the things we *know* to be true. It helps us find places where our thinking, ideas, and beliefs can change and grow.
This week’s song is rich with metaphors about leaving behind old thinking and finding our own voices. Hope you enjoy it!
I’m not suggesting you undertake extensive analysis at every turn. But a quick gut check and a willingness to reconsider our position can open the door to different ways of thinking, more robust dialogue, smarter decisions, and better outcomes.
Critical thinking isn’t just for academic settings—it’s foundational to healthy relationships and productive workplaces. Whether we’re designing new processes, solving problems, or making strategic decisions, being able to separate fact from fiction, routine from reality, and instinct from insight is a huge competitive advantage.
What we once assumed, believed, or *knew* to be true might no longer be so—or it may no longer serve us. That’s ok, as long as we stay open, curious, brave enough to admit when we’re wrong, and strong enough to continue to evolve.
In a noisy world, critical thinking helps us not only to survive, but to thrive. And how we lead—ourselves, others, our organizations—starts with how we think.
How we lead is up to us.
What will you do next?
Have a great week!
Interested in making space to turn reflection into action?
Whether you’re leading yourself or leading a team I’ve put these questions and ideas together to help you build a more thoughtful, focused, and resilient approach—one small shift at a time:
