You may be a charismatic promo pro, but how well do you think on your feet? How often do you consider different perspectives and make quick decisions? Whether you work in sales, lead a team or run your own promo business, your ability to think critically can make a huge difference in getting the results you want.
Julia Martins, a work management expert and contributor to the Asana blog, says critical thinking is, naturally, critical. You use it in all aspects of life, from making decisions to communicating. How do you get better at this skill? Read on. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share some tips from Martin on how anyone can become a stronger critical thinker.
1. Identify the problem or question. Martins recommends asking what’s happening and why. Also, consider whether you’re making any assumptions that aren’t necessarily true. She says learning how to reach unbiased conclusions is a key part in thinking critically.
2. Dig deeper. Once you have a general idea of the problem, gather information to help you in your critical thinking. Martins says if you don’t get enough information, your ability to make a final decision will be skewed. Rather than trusting your gut, you’re using critical thinking to identify the objective best conclusion.
3. Analyze the data. What sources are you using? Keep in mind that just because you have data doesn’t mean it’s necessarily relevant. Martins advises sifting through the noise and sorting out what information is relevant and what isn’t.
4. Consider other viewpoints. Don’t let your unconscious biases sneak in. Before coming to any solution, ask yourself if you’re making any assumptions and if you’ve evaluated the information from every perspective. Martins says there may be viewpoints you haven’t considered yet.
5. Draw logical conclusions. Keep in mind, Martins says, that the critical-thinking process doesn’t always lead to a cut-and-dry solution. Instead, the process allows you to understand different variables at play so you can make an educated decision.
6. Communicate the solutions. To be a strong critical thinker, you need to be able to share your conclusion with other people. Whether it’s your boss, co-workers or clients, share your findings and encourage open discussion.
7. Reflect and learn. Going through the critical-thinking process yields a result. It’s up to you to put the solution into place, Martins says. Then, you can determine whether the solution was effective and what you learned from the experience.
Anyone can get better at thinking critically. From handling objections to dealing with a client who’s hard to please, use your critical-thinking skills to navigate the situation and find the best solution.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Julia Martins is a work management expert who contributes to the Asana blog.
