1. Critical thinking involves carefully analyzing information from multiple sources to make well-reasoned judgments and decisions. It requires reflecting on one's own biases and considering alternative perspectives. 2. Employers highly value critical thinking skills as it allows workers to solve problems independently and make strategic decisions. Demonstrating critical thinking skills through your resume, interviews, and work examples enhances your candidacy. 3. Developing critical thinking involves practicing skills like open-minded reflection, effective communication, creativity, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving. Regular self-assessment helps strengthen critical evaluation abilities over time.

1. Top Pillars
Empowering tomorrow’s leaders
Critical Thinking
Essam Nazzal

2. Definition of Critical Thinking
• Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally about what to
do or what to believe, understanding the logical connection between ideas.
• Critical thinking seeks to identify reliable information and make reliable
judgments. It encompasses mindset and skills, both of which can be
developed through an understanding of key concepts, practice
and application.
• Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze information objectively and
make a reasoned judgment. It involves the evaluation of sources, such as
data, facts, observable phenomena, and research findings

3. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is not a matter of
accumulating information. A person with
a good memory and who knows a lot of
facts is not necessarily good at critical
thinking. A critical thinker is able to
deduce consequences from what he
knows, and he knows how to make use
of information to solve problems, and to
seek relevant sources of information to
inform himself.
Critical thinking can play an important
role in cooperative reasoning and
constructive tasks. Critical thinking can
help us acquire knowledge, improve our
theories, and strengthen arguments. We
can use critical thinking to enhance
work processes and improve social
institutions.

4. Critical Thinking
Some people believe that critical thinking hinders
creativity because it requires following the rules
of logic and rationality, but creativity might
require breaking rules. This is a misconception.
Critical thinking is quite compatible with thinking
"out-of-the-box", challenging consensus and
pursuing less popular approaches. If anything,
critical thinking is an essential part of creativity
because we need critical thinking to evaluate and
improve our creative ideas.

5. How to be a
Critical Thinker
Critical thinking is a complex skill that requires
practice. Don’t expect to read everything and
suddenly become a critical thinker - it will take
time. Just like a musician you will need to
practice to improve your skill level. Your
academic studies will provide you with the
opportunity to practice these skills and this
tutorial will assist you to understand the
process. Explore the topics at your own pace, in
the context of your unit requirements and the
stage of your learning.

6. The importance of critical thinking:
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Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skill:
The ability to think clearly and rationally is important whatever we choose to do. If you
work in education, research, finance, management or the legal profession, then critical
thinking is obviously important. But critical thinking skills are not restricted to a
particular subject area. Being able to think well and solve problems systematically is an
asset for any career.
Critical thinking is very important in the new knowledge economy:
The global knowledge economy is driven by information and technology. One has to be
able to deal with changes quickly and effectively. The new economy places increasing
demands on flexible intellectual skills, and the ability to analyze information and
integrate diverse sources of knowledge in solving problems. Good critical thinking
promotes such thinking skills, and is very important in the fast-changing workplace.

7. 1
3
4
The importance of critical thinking:
Critical thinking enhances language and presentation skills:
Thinking clearly and systematically can improve the way we express our ideas. In
learning how to analyse the logical structure of texts, critical thinking also
improves comprehension abilities
Critical thinking promotes creativity:
To come up with a creative solution to a problem involves not just having new ideas.
It must also be the case that the new ideas being generated are useful and relevant to
the task at hand. Critical thinking plays a crucial role in evaluating new ideas,
selecting the best ones and modifying them if necessary

8. 6
5
The importance of critical thinking:
Critical thinking is crucial for self-reflection:
In order to live a meaningful life and to structure our lives accordingly, we need to
justify and reflect on our values and decisions. Critical thinking provides the tools for
this process of self-evaluation
Good critical thinking is the foundation of science, Invention and innovation:
Science requires the critical use of reason in experimentation and theory confirmation.
The scientist must have a critical thinking to invent and innovate in the science and
knowledge

9. What are you Aiming to Achieve?
1. One of the most important aspects of critical thinking is to decide
what you are aiming to achieve and then make a decision based on a
range of possibilities.
2. The elements needing consideration are generally numerous and
varied. In many cases, consideration of one element from a different
perspective will reveal potential dangers in pursuing our decision.
3. For instance, moving a business activity to a new location may
improve potential output considerably but it may also lead to the loss
of skilled workers if the distance moved is too great. Which of these
is the more important consideration? Is there some way of lessening
the conflict?
4. These are the sort of problems that may arise from incomplete
critical thinking, a demonstration perhaps of the critical importance
of good critical thinking.

10. Someone with critical thinking skills
is able to do the following:
02
01
04
03
Understand the logical connections
between ideas.
Identify, construct and
evaluate arguments
Detect inconsistencies and
common mistakes in reasoning
Solve problems systematically

11. 06
05
08
07
Recognize any weaknesses or
negative points that there are in the
evidence or argument.
Identify the relevance and
importance of ideas
Perhaps the most important
element of thinking critically is
foresight. Evaluate a point of view to
determine how strong or
valid it is.
Someone with critical thinking skills
is able to do the following:

12. 10
09
12
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Gathers and assesses relevant
information, using abstract ideas
to interpret it effectively comes to
well-reasoned conclusions and
solutions, testing them against
relevant criteria and standards
Raises vital questions and problems,
formulating them clearly and precisely
Communicates effectively with
others in figuring out solutions
to complex problems
Thinks open-mindedly within
alternative systems of thought,
recognizing and assessing, as need
be, their assumptions, implications,
and practical consequences
Someone with critical thinking skills
is able to do the following:

13. 1
3
Thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recog
nizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, a
nd practical consequences.
4
A well cultivated critical thinker
2
1 Raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly
and precisely.
Gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas
to interpret it effectively comes to well-reasoned conclusions and
solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards.
Communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to
complex problems

14. ⁻ In essence, critical thinking requires you to use
your ability to reason. It is about being an active
learner rather than a passive recipient of
information.
⁻ Critical thinkers rigorously question ideas and
assumptions rather than accepting them at face
value. They will always seek to determine
whether the ideas, arguments and findings
represent the entire picture and are open to
finding that they do not.

15. ⁻ Critical thinkers will identify, analyze and solve
problems systematically rather than by intuition
or instinct.
⁻ Critical thinking is thinking about things in
certain ways so as to arrive at the best possible
solution in the circumstances that the thinker is
aware of. In another word, it is a way of
thinking about whatever is presently occupying
your mind so that you come to the best possible
conclusion.

16. What mindsets and skills do critical
thinkers possess?
• With respect to the question above, you may respond by describing critical thinkers
by the mindsets they possess. These could include being:
1. Reflective and aware of their
own thought processes
2. Open minded and willing to have
their beliefs challenged
3. Using evidence and reason to
formulate decisions
4. Able to formulate judgments
with evidence and reason
5. Inquisitive and curious, always
seeking the truth
6. Fair in their evaluation of
evidence and others’ views
7. Skeptical of information
8. Perceptive and able to make
connections between ideas

17. You may like to start at the first topic, reasoning,
but beware!
The ‘stages’ of critical thinking are interdependent
and cyclical. For example, if we are reasoning, we
may also need to reflect on our own biases
and analyze how these have impacted on
our evaluation. To start, choose the main focus of
your task and see where this takes you in the critical
thinking process.

18. 01
02
Top Critical Thinking Skills
Analysis:
Part of critical thinking is the ability to
carefully examine something, whether it is a
problem, a set of data, or a text. People
with analytical skills can examine
information, understand what it means, and
properly explain to others the implications
of that information. Communication:
Often, you will need to share your
conclusions with your employers or with a
group of colleagues. You need to be able
to communicate with others to share your
ideas effectively. You might also need to
engage critical thinking in a group. In this
case, you will need to work with others and
communicate effectively to figure out
solutions to complex problems.

19. 03
04
Top Critical Thinking Skills
Creativity:
Critical thinking often
involves creativity and innovation. You
might need to spot patterns in the
information you are looking at or come
up with a solution that no one else has
thought of before. All of this involves a
creative eye that can take a different
approach from all other approaches.
Open-Mindedness:
To think critically, you need to be able
to put aside any assumptions or
judgments and merely analyze the
information you receive. You need to be
objective, evaluating ideas without bias.

20. Top Critical Thinking Skills
Problem Solving
Problem solving is another critical
thinking skill that involves
analyzing a problem, generating and
implementing a solution, and
assessing the success of the plan.
Employers don’t simply want
employees who can think about
information critically. They also
need to be able to come up with
practical solutions.
Brainstorming Restructuring
Integration Strategic
Planning
Ongoing
Improvement
Inductive &
Deductive
Reasoning
Quantitative
& Qualitative
Data
Management
Risk Manage
Accuracy

21. Why Do Employers Value Critical
Thinking Skills?
• Employers want job candidates who can evaluate a situation using logical
thought and offer the best solution.
• Someone with critical thinking skills can be trusted to make decisions
independently, and will not need constant handholding.
• Critical thinking abilities are among the most sought-after skills in almost every
industry and workplace. You can demonstrate critical thinking by using
related keywords in your resume and cover letter, and during your interview.

22. Why Do Employers Value Critical
Thinking Skills?
- Promote Your Skills in Your Job Search
If critical thinking is a key phrase in the job listings you are applying for, be sure to
emphasize your critical thinking skills throughout your job search.
- Add Keywords to Your Resume
You can use critical thinking keywords (analytical, problem solving, creativity, etc.)
in your resume. When describing your work history, include any of the skills
listed below that accurately describe you. You can also include them in your resume
summary, if you have one.
For example, your summary might read, “Marketing Associate with five years of
experience in project management. Skilled in conducting thorough market research
and competitor analysis to assess market trends and client needs, and to develop
appropriate acquisition tactics.”

23. The importance of critical thinking
Critical
thinking is a
domain-
general
thinking
skill.
Critical
thinking is
very important
in the new
knowledge
economy.
Critical
thinking
enhances
language and
presentation
skills.
Critical
thinking
promotes
creativity.
Critical
thinking is
crucial for
self-
reflection.
Good critical
thinking is the
foundation of
science,
Invention and
innovation

24. In Summary
• Critical thinking is aimed at achieving the best possible outcomes in any situation. In order to
achieve this it must involve gathering and evaluating information from as many different sources
possible.
• Critical thinking requires a clear, often uncomfortable, assessment of your personal strengths,
weaknesses and preferences and their possible impact on decisions you may make.
• Critical thinking requires the development and use of foresight as far as this is possible. As Doris Day
sang, “the future’s not ours to see”.
• Implementing the decisions made arising from critical thinking must take into account an assessment
of possible outcomes and ways of avoiding potentially negative outcomes, or at least lessening their
impact.
• Critical thinking involves reviewing the results of the application of decisions made and
implementing change where possible.

25. Try this simple exercise to help you to start thinking critically:
Think of something that someone has recently told you. Then ask yourself the following questions:
Who said it?
Someone you know? Someone in a position of authority or power? Does it matter who told you this?
What did they say?
Did they give facts or opinions? Did they provide all the facts? Did they leave anything out?
Where did they say it?
Was it in public or in private? Did other people have a chance to respond an provide an alternative
account?
When did they say it?
Was it before, during or after an important event? Is timing important?
Why did they say it?
Did they explain the reasoning behind their opinion? Were they trying to make someone look good
or bad?
How did they say it?
Were they happy or sad, angry or indifferent? Did they write it or say it? Could you understand what
was said?

26. Top Pillars
Empowering tomorrow’s leaders
Top Pillars
Essam Nzzal
Empowering tomorrows leaders