How to improve critical thinking / individual thinking?

Hi there,

Honestly, this is so hard to train/learn. I find that people are rarely able to learn this on their own (they have to go against decades of a certain way of thinking).

If you really want to improve this, you should consider coaching.

That said, here's the general approach (it all boils down to being objective-driven)

1) Actively remind yourself of the objective: What is the question? What are you trying to answer? As such, what do you need to solve to get that answer?

2) Read frequently - Read The Economist, The Financial Times, BCG Insights, and McKinsey Insights. Daily. As you read these, think about how they structure their arguments, and the "So what" of the articles.

3) Get a session with a coach - I promise you, 1 hour can do wonders in terms of a mindset shift!

4) https://www.rocketblocks.me/ drills and exercises can help!

For Tables and Charts

1) Read the title - and understand it

2) Read the legends - and understand them

3) Remind yourself of the objective / hypothesis in the case, to see where this might fit

4) Find the differences - where does the line graph plummet or spike? Which column is a lot smaller or bigger than the others? Where does change occur? The differences are what matter

5) Talk outloud while interpreting - first, it helps you think and process your thoughts, second, it lets the interviewer provide guidance and course correct if needed.

https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-can-i-improve-my-graph-interpretation-skills-6924

The key here is to identify what matters. What are you trying to understand? What moves the needle? What are the key points?

Reading comprehension:

1) Underline key words

2) Fold important pages

3) Think about the main point the author is trying to make, and the key supporting facts...write this down (and nothing else)

Logic Development:

1) Read daily - specifically, read The Economist, and BCG Insights + McKinsey insights. Note how they structure arguments and take you through a story

2) Practice bucketing things - If you're at a restaurant and picking something to eat, think about how one might decide. Think about the different ways the food could be categorized to make a decision (i.e. big vs small, expensive vs cheap, healthy vs indulgent, etc.). Actively practice this!

3) Pause and signpost when speaking - When you're talking to someone about a complicated topic or decision, think about the 3 things they need to know or the 3 things you're going to tell them. Flag these three things upfront (i.e. I decided to buy this jacket for three reasons...price, quality, and stlye), then dive into each (in terms of price, it was within my budget, I knew I needed a baseline quality i.e. lasting 5 years, which it met, and boy it looked good on me)

Hi there,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• Critical thinking is a skill that can be developed and improved upon with practice. Here are a few tips that may help you to become a more independent thinker:
  • Practice actively questioning information: When you come across new information or ideas, try to ask yourself questions about it. Why do you think this is true? Could there be other perspectives or explanations?
  • Consider multiple viewpoints: Try to expose yourself to a variety of perspectives on a given topic, rather than just accepting the first viewpoint you come across. This can help you to develop a more nuanced understanding of an issue.
  • Seek out new experiences: By experiencing new things, you can expose yourself to new ways of thinking and broaden your perspective.
  • Engage in regular reflection: Take time to think about your beliefs and opinions and consider how they may have changed over time. This can help you to identify any biases you may have and to develop a more open-minded approach.
  • Practice critical thinking skills in everyday life: Look for opportunities to practice critical thinking in your everyday life. For example, when you read the news, try to evaluate the credibility of the sources and consider different perspectives on the issues being discussed.
• I hope these suggestions are helpful. It's important to remember that developing critical thinking skills takes time and practice, but it's a worthwhile effort that can pay off in many areas of your life.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Let's break this down into two parts.

 First is having different opinions than others. To develop this, you will need to start reading widely on a topic such that you start to understand how people form their opinions (beliefs / evidence / experience / gut feeling / stories). You should then start to question why certain things are the way they are and develop a mindset of trying to challenge what you hear internally on a regular basis.

Second is voicing those opinions. Here, there are books and lectures on how to influence people and communicate in an impactful way. Plenty of videos on YouTube which contain info on these.

Hello,

This is a pretty interesting question! I come from a similar culture too, here are my thoughts:

1) It is key to surround yourself with open minded individuals / diverse individuals - at work/school/clubs etc. The more you meet with people from different cultures or from an open minded culture, you will automatically realize that your opinions matter!

2) Even if you don't have people like this at your job, try to find a group of like minded individuals - maybe people who are also applying for consulting jobs! There are online forums like PrepLounge/CaseCoach/RocketBlocks where you can practice mocks with peers. Try and practice more brainstorming/creative thinking type questions to push yourself to think outside the box.

3) This is a bit unconventional - but it might help to take an online course in body language / voice modulation etc. There are tons of free resources out there too. This will help you really stand out from the crowd when it comes to expressing your thoughts!

Hope this helps!

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any specific questions  :) 

Best,

Rushabh

I totally subscribe Ian's great comment.

Let me just add that the critical building block of critical thinking (no pun intended) is logic. 

Read a book on “practical” and “basic” logic (Venn diagrams, inferences, modus ponens, etc) and you will have some material to practice your logical skills.

Beyond that, I am sure you have a personal compass, so, applying it alongside logic and a strong check of sources is a good way to improve critical reasoning.

Hello!

Your question is so thoughtful, and I believe it speaks really really highly of you to be pushing yourself this way. Congrats, you will make it far, in consulting or wherever you end. 

I don't think you will find an answer in this forum, it's more a therapy kind of question. But I wanted to congratulate you on your growth mindset. 

Cheers, 

Clara