(Critical) Thinking will get you an ‘A’
We all want to be:
- A-grade students,
- A’dorable parents,
- A-level employees, and
- A-performing bosses and CEOs.
We all want to:
- Enjoy A-grade investment returns,
- Watch A-rated sports matches,
- Use the latest A-rated mobile device, and
- Live in A-performing countries.
An A, being an A, achieving an A—is at the top.
A is at the Apex.
It is perfectly right that we aim for A!
We must.
Less than an A is Blind, Cheap, Dreadful, Erroneous, Facile … and Zilch!
But, how do we get A’s?
How do we become A’s?
How do we do justice to be A-level at all we do and are?
Leadership Weekly Note’s #2, #3 and #4 of 2024 unpack and explain the underlying intellectual basis of the Influential Leadership System, and by implication the associated Apex Skill—the practice of Influential Leadership.[i]
[i]Intellectual basis means the underlying body of knowledge and thought that forms the foundation of a particular concept, argument or practice. In this instance it is the Influential Leadership System as a concept and Influential Leadership as a practice.
The current edition of the Notes (#2/24) tackles the first of the three parts of our intellectual construct, Social Agency, which is our capability to:
[1] think (critically),
[2] choose (smartly) and
[3] act with (productive) purpose.
Let us start with the basics.
What does ‘to think’ (‘thinking’) mean?
At physical and chemical levels something happens in our brains when we think.
A theory suggests that neurons release brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that generate electrical signals in neighbouring neurons in a sequence of waves, which leads to the formation of thoughts.
It is the topmost section of the brain that is the origin of conscious thoughts and actions; it is our database for memories and enables us to think, reason, analyse and learn.
- At a cognitive level, it is the ability to mentally process information, hold attention, store and retrieve memories and then select suitable actions or responses.
- I rather like the way that Charles Fernyhough structures the answer.
‘Let’s take Rodin’s The Thinker as an example. Here’s someone who is more than just conscious. He is struggling with a problem, cognitively trying to get from A to B. One important point about thinking is that it is active; it is something that we do.’
NOTE:
If you are interested in further information about what thinking is, a useful place to start is the online resource, Psychology Today, and Fernyhough’s article you can access here: “What Do We Mean by “Thinking?”.
From ‘thinking’ to ‘critical thinking’.
While ‘to think’ implies a basic level of reasoning and logic that has reasonable data to draw on, ‘critical thinking’ goes to an Apex Level.
What is critical thinking?
- In layperson’s terms critical thinking is a reflective (thoughtful) level of thinking capability that we apply to a specific question, task, problem, opportunity or circumstance. It encompasses the way we engage with the world, other people and all social constructs.
- It includes processes and skills like questioning, analysis, problem solving, comparing and contrasting and drawing conclusions and choices based on data (objective information).
- It is consistent with the principle of ‘the scientific method’ of enquiry, as illustrated below.
- Critical thinking seeks to externalise our emotions, feelings, beliefs and other predispositions that undermine reason, logic, objectivity and verifiable facts.
- In its most basic form critical thinking can be intuitive for highly curious people. However, to master critical thinking, and to apply it consistently and to its fullest extent, we must learn and develop it, like any Apex Skill.
What is the preferred alternative to thinking, and more importantly critical thinking?
I leave you to answer the question. Whatever it might be…
- Prayer
- Guesswork
- A happy hunch
- Go to DuckDuckGo
- The toss of a tuppence
- Frisk your friends and family
- Throw bones, read tarot cards, examine your palm, interpret the stars…
Only one can be our master. It is either reason or ___________________.
So, here is logic sequence in reverse:
- To have the optimum chance of a productive action (outcome),
- I must make a smart choice, and the way I do that is,
- To think critically…
This is the power of my Social Agency.
To be an Influential Leader, to command your Apex Skill and to get A-grades for decision-making, you must master critical thinking.
If you want to be A-grade in your life and leadership—learn to master critical thinking!
Regards,
Colin @ Karoo
We Activate your Apex Skill!
Leadership Weekly Note: 0224.080124
e: colind@karoo.world
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