Harvard Business Review - HBR Guide to Critical Thinking

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Harvard Business Review Press, issuing body.

Title: HBR guide to critical thinking / Harvard Business Review.

Other titles: Harvard Business Review guide to critical thinking | Harvard business review guides.

Description: Boston, Massachusetts : Harvard Business Review Press, [2023] | Series: HBR guides | Includes index. |

Identifiers: LCCN 2022031122 (print) | LCCN 2022031123 (ebook) | ISBN 9781647824464 (paperback) | ISBN 9781647824471 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Critical thinking. | Problem solving. | Decision making. | Industrial management. | Success in business.

Classification: LCC BF441 .H365 2023 (print) | LCC BF441 (ebook) | DDC 153.4/2dc23/eng/20220825

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022031122

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022031123

ISBN: 978-1-64782-446-4
eISBN: 978-1-64782-447-1

The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Publications and Documents in Libraries and Archives Z39.48-1992.

Do curiosity and logic guide you to innovative solutions at work? Do you seek outside perspectives when solving tough problems? Do you recognize the importance of data in decision-making?

When youre navigating a complex scenario, critical thinking is an essential skill for exploring potential paths ahead of you. But its not always so simple. You must be able to hold your hypotheses loosely, examine all aspects of a situation, keep your mind open to new and contradictory information, and use quantitative and qualitative research to back up your choices.

Fortunately, you can learn critical thinking. This guide will provide you with the advice and tips you need to understand and apply key elements of this important skillfrom taking a hard look at the problem and asking the right questions to seeking differing perspectives and analyzing informationso that you can make smarter thinking a habit and reach better outcomes.

Youll learn to:

• See why critical thinking is essential to your career growth
• Recognize and detach yourself from your assumptions
• Decide quickly with reflective urgency
• Ask questions to better understand the problem
• Think scientifically to avoid unconscious bias
• Assess data carefully to gain an evidence-based perspective
• Remain open-minded when listening to other peoples opinions
• Become an integrative thinker to find creative solutions
• Use the elements of critical thinking to enhance your learning

Understanding its key elements.

How to learn this essential skill.

AN INTERVIEW WITH HELEN LEE BOUYGUES BY CURT NICKISCH

Allow yourself time to think.

BY JESSE SOSTRIN

Be a knowledgeable skeptic.

BY STEFAN THOMKE AND GARY W. LOVEMAN

Defamiliarize yourself from what you know.

BY ADAM BRANDENBURGER

Reframe them to reveal unexpected solutions.

BY THOMAS WEDELL-WEDELLSBORG

Imprecise language can lead to imprecise solutions.

BY DANIEL MARKOVITZ

Understand when to focus and when to pull back.

BY ROSABETH MOSS KANTER

Apply rigor to your curiosity.

BY JOHN COLEMAN

Reach better conclusions and avoid tedious rework.

BY TOM POHLMANN AND NEETHI MARY THOMAS

How was it sourced, how was it analyzed, and what was left out?

BY ERIC HALLER AND GREG SATELL

It will help you focus on the future.

BY ALAN H. PALMER

Start by admitting you might be wrong.

BY SHANE SNOW

See past your blind spots.

BY CHERYL STRAUSS EINHORN

Engage and learn, even when your viewpoints clash.

BY FRANCESCA GINO

Discuss data; dont predict outcomes.

BY JOSHUA BECKER, DOUGLAS GUILBEAULT, AND EDWARD NED SMITH

Techniques to help you hear, process, and respond.

BY CHRISTINE M. RIORDAN