Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, and understanding the logical connection between ideas. The skills we need to be able to think critically are varied but include observation, analysis, interpretation, reflection and evaluation. In general, none of us thinks critically all the time, in fact mostly we think in any way but critically. 

Critical thinkers will identify, analyse and solve problems systematically rather than by intuition or instinct. Someone with critical thinking skills can;

• Understand the link between ideas

• Determine the importance of arguments and ideas

• Identify inconsistencies in reasoning

• Reflect on the justification of their own assumptions, beliefs and values.

Learning to stretch our thinking skills is integral to accelerating our development. This is a really important part of the learning process, and gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and show progression in your Apprenticeship.

Here are two challenges for you to pick from- should you choose to accept, this will help you to develop critical thinking, evaluation skills and encourage creativity.

Challenge 1 Test your own critical thinking skills using one of the assessments above. Analyse your results and identify two ways that you could improve your critical thinking skills. 

Review the resources on this page, or from your own research that will support you to develop your skills further. Identify an opportunity at work where you have used these new skills and reflect on any improvements in your critical thinking skills. 

Identify your next steps to develop your critical thinking further, remember to update your training log and ILP. Discuss your reflection with your Talent Coach and agree on an action plan to take the next development steps. 

Challenge 2 Improve your own critical thinking skills with this simple exercise. Different people have different styles of thinking and different styles of learning. You may have a strong preference toward visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learning, which is fine, but if you want to think in new directions, it's important for you to try thinking (or at least expressing yourself) in different mediums. For example, if you've been talking about a problem out loud, try to diagram it. If you've been staring at charts all day, try to write down your interpretations of them. 

Identify a problem or challenge that you are working on at the moment or recently. Then identify your personal thinking and learning style and then try working through the problem using a different medium.  

Reflect on this exercise and identify if this has been more or less effective than your normal style. The new perspective can be quite enlightening. Discuss your reflection with your Talent Coach and agree on an action plan to take the next development steps. 

Update your Learning Journal in OneFile with your evaluation and your reflections ready to discuss with your Talent Coach at your next review.