Confess

Tackle complex situations with critical thinking. You're facing a problem at work. There are many ways you can approach the situation, but each comes with its own pros and cons. How do you sort through all the information so that you know you're taking the right path? The answer is in how you think. The HBR Guide to Critical Thinking will help you navigate your most challenging issues, from difficult problems to tough decisions to complex scenarios. By carefully observing the situation, gathering information, inviting other perspectives, and analyzing what's in front of you, you can move forward with confidence while building this crucial leadership skill. You'll learn how to: Question your assumptions Keep an open mind to opposing viewpoints Sidestep cognitive biases Use data—when appropriate Grow comfortable with ambiguity Find innovative and creative solutions Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges. What You’ll Learn 8 Contents 10 Introduction: What Is Critical Thinking 16 Section 1: Get in the Right Mindset 22 Ch. 1: Improve Your Critical Thinking at Work 24 Ch. 2: Beware the Urgency Trap 32 Ch. 3: Act Like a Scientist 40 Section 2: Observe the Situation 54 Ch. 4: To Change the Way You Think, Change the Way You See 56 Ch. 5: Are You Solving the Right Problems? 62 Ch. 6: Write a Better Problem Statement 80 Ch. 7: Zoom In, Zoom Out 86 Section 3: Ask Questions 90 Ch. 8: Critical Thinking Starts with Careful Questioning 92 Ch. 9: Four Types of Questions to Achieve Four Different Goals 100 Ch. 10: Think Critically About Your Data 106 Ch. 11: Stop Asking “Why” and Start Asking “How” 112 Section 4: Seek Differing Perspectives 116 Ch. 12: A New Way to Become More Open-Minded 118 Ch. 13: Disrupt Your Thinking by Involving Other People 124 Ch. 14: Disagreement Doesn’t Have to Be Divisive 134 Ch. 15: When Group Discussion Backfires 142 Ch. 16: Three Ways Leaders Can Listen with More Empathy 150 Section 5: Analyze the Information 156 Ch. 17: Three Ways to Improve Your Decision-Making 158 Ch. 18: How Successful Leaders Think 166 Ch. 19: Fooled by Experience 176 Ch. 20: How to Stop Overthinking 192 Ch. 21: How to Make Rational Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty 200 Section 6: Make Critical Thinking a Habit 208 Ch. 22: The Power of Self-Reflection 210 Ch. 23: Train Your Brain to Manage Information 218 Ch. 24: Apply Critical Thinking to Your Learning 224 Index 232 Tackle complex situations with critical thinking. You're facing a problem at work. There are many ways you can approach the issue, but they each come with their own pros and cons. How do you sort through the information at hand so that you know you're taking the right path? The solution is in how you think. The HBR Guide to Critical Thinking will help you use reasoning and logic to navigate your most challenging issues, from complex problems to tough decisions to tricky situations. By carefully observing, gathering information, and analyzing what's in front of you, you can feel comfortable moving forward while building this crucial leadership skill. You'll learn how to: *Examine your assumptions *Apply data where necessary *Keep an open mind to opposing views *Surface hidden biases *Grow comfortable with ambiguity *Learn and grow Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges. "You're facing a problem at work. There are many ways you can approach the issue, but they each come with their own pros and cons. How do you sort through the information at hand so that you know you're taking the right path? The solution is in how you think. The HBR Guide to Critical Thinking will help you use reasoning and logic to navigate your most challenging issues, from complex problems to tough decisions to tricky situations. By carefully observing, gathering information, and analyzing what's in front of you, you can feel comfortable moving forward while building this crucial leadership skill. You'll learn how to: examine your assumptions; apply data where necessary; keep an open mind to opposing views; surface hidden biases; grow comfortable with ambiguity; and learn and grow"-- Provided by publisher