许多人把批判性思维和解决问题混为一谈，虽然两者有相似之处，但也有明显的差异。批判性思维运用分析、反思、评价、解释和推断来综合通过阅读、观察、交流或经验获得的信息，以回答以下问题：

• 这个信息可信吗？
• 信息的传递者是否可信？
• 问题是什么？
• 我对这些信息的感觉如何？它将如何影响我的决定？
• 这条信息会给我带来什么？

解决问题使用了许多相同的技能，如观察、分析、评估和解释，但它使这个过程更进一步，以确定障碍，然后战略性地制定出一套解决问题的解决方案。

那么，你怎样才能培养这些技能，成为一个更好的批判性思考者和更好的问题解决者呢？你不可能在一夜之间训练自己成为一个批判性的思考者或解决问题的人；你应该慢慢开始。一次只学习一项小技能。让我们来看看这些子技能：

分析

无论职位是什么，你都可以通过分析问题、项目、经历等来培养分析能力，把它们分解成更容易消化的块，从而获得更好或更深的理解。要做到这一点：

• 更善于观察
• 问一些问题，比如谁，什么，在哪里，什么时候，怎样，为什么
• 尽可能多地了解给定的主题
• 绘制出主题或问题，以获得直观的理解
• 弄清楚事实和观点之间的区别

反射

学会反思几乎可以在你的职业和个人生活的各个方面做到。开始写日记，不断地问自己问题，诚实地探索答案。这种经历将打开你的思维进行反思，这是你在特定情况或经历中看待自己角色的过程。写日记最好的地方是——你可以回头再读，看看自己的进步。开始这个过程：

• Ask yourself why you did something or reacted in a certain way
• Be open to look at yourself through an honest and critical lens
• Explore your experience through writing
• Ask trusted colleagues for feedback on your findings

Evaluation

We evaluate things all the time without realizing it – products, services, etc. Begin by being aware of this act. Similar to deepening your analysis skills, you can evaluate any issue, topic, program, procedure, policy, etc. through the means listed below to enhance your evaluation skills.

• Compare different issues, topics, programs, etc. – how are they similar, different?
• Look for trends
• Look for conflicts or barriers
• Don’t make assumptions, ask questions to gather information

Interpretation

The act of interpreting something is using a combination of analytical and evaluation skills, but it is a little more difficult to learn on your own. It is best to partner with someone to hone these skills – a trusted colleague or even a mentor, with whom you can put the following into practice.

• Understand your own biases or opinions
• Understand any cultural input, barriers, etc.
• Look at the situation, experience, issue, topic, etc. through different lenses
• Educate yourself about the situation, experience, issue, topic, etc.
• Synthesize the information, data, etc. to develop a deeper understanding

Strategic

One of the best ways to begin to develop strategic thinking skills is to do some long-range planning. You can start with your own professional goals, think about short-term goals and how those will help you get from point A to point B, and more importantly, how they lay the groundwork for longer-range goals. Keep practicing by employing these tactics.

• Obtain the perspective of others & brainstorm
• Educate yourself about the situation, experience, issue, topic, etc. 
• Be forward-thinking in both the short-term and the long-term
• Think about all parties involved and how decisions, etc. will impact them 
• Be creative and innovative

We utilize many of these skills each day, even multiple times a day; however, often we do it without realizing it. The first step to enhancing your critical thinking and problem solving skills is to think about them, become aware of them, then you can actively practice to improve them. Critical thinking and problem-solving are two important “soft” or essential skills hiring managers are looking for. According to a Linkedin survey, 57% of business leaders say soft skills are now more important than hard skills. Abby Guthrie, a communications team leader at Findcourses.com argues, “Every soft skill that you develop will be something you will eventually draw on in your career.” These skills are anything but soft, they are essential to your career.

Best,

Anne Converse Willkomm
Assistant Clinical Professor
Department Head of Graduate Studies
Goodwin College
Drexel University

Sources:

Skills You Need

MIWorks

Rasmussen