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Problem-solving and critical thinking are two essential skills you can possess in life. They can be applied to any situation and are necessary for success in your personal and professional life.
This blog post will provide ten examples of critical thinking and problem solving to see how these skills are implemented. We hope this will help you understand these concepts better and apply them in everyday life!
What are critical thinking and problem-solving?
As part of the critical thinking process, knowledge is challenged to discover the truth. During this process, knowledge and information are reviewed to make an informed decision.
Problem-solving involves using critical thinking abilities to identify problems and determine the best solution. To solve a problem, you must use creative thinking, regardless of whether you are trying to fix a broken appliance or solve a complex math problem.
Both skills are essential for success in school, work, and everyday life. It also helps you to differentiate between fact and opinion and to question information presented to you.
10 Great Examples of Critical Thinking
Here are ten great examples of critical thinking and problem-solving in action.
1. Assessing Your Own Actions
Self-evaluation is critical for improving your overall performance. When you engage in reflective thinking or try to evaluate yourself, you analyze what went wrong and how you can improve in the future. Then, you attempt to understand what happened and figure out what you need to change to get different results.
Constantly trying to improve your performance is essential for success in any field. However, without self-evaluation, it would be difficult to identify areas where you need to improve or make changes.
2. Staff Conflicts Resolved by HR Managers
In any organization, employees will invariably have disagreements. In many cases, the HR manager steps in to solve the problem.
For example, if two employees are arguing about a project deadline, the HR manager would need to listen to both sides, determine the source of the disagreement, and then decide how to proceed.
In this case, the HR manager might need to issue a new deadline or provide additional resources. As a result, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential for HR managers.
3. Planning a tactical operation by a military officer
Critical thinking is essential in making quick and effective decisions in military settings. One critical thinking example is an army officer working on tactical plans for extracting fellow soldiers from a dangerous military zone.
This situation requires logical thinking on the part of the army officer to find an effective method of getting the soldiers out of the danger zone while minimizing casualties.
4. A professor guides students to fresh ideas through creative questioning
The process of creative questioning can promote critical thinking because it fosters creativity. To force students to think more deeply about a subject, the professor asks open-ended questions requiring students to think more deeply about the topic.
They must determine what information is relevant and how best to share it. Students can also develop analytical thinking by analyzing arguments.
As a result, they develop the ability to think critically about complex issues and to express their ideas clearly and persuasively.
5. Thesis Defense by a Master’s Student
Writing a thesis requires critical thinking skills to select and organize information, conduct research, perform calculations, and draw conclusions.
In addition, you must be able to communicate your findings clearly and concisely to contribute to the body of knowledge in your field.
By demonstrating critical thinking and clear communication, you can show that you have the skills necessary to make a valuable contribution to scholarship in your area.
6. Coach discovering new tactics during a timeout
Being able to think on your feet and adapt to changing circumstances is a valuable skill in any context, but it is essential for basketball coaches. This might mean calling a timeout to reassess the team’s strategy if things are not going well.
The coach will look for new tactics to exploit the opposing team’s weaknesses in such cases. This requires being able to assess potential risks and identify opportunities quickly.
7. Organizing content ideas by a writer
Any writer knows that good writing requires more than just stringing a few sentences together. It requires critical thinking skills and careful planning.
To produce an influential article, writers must be able to sort through the vast amount of information available on any given topic and select only the most relevant and accurate information. They must also be able to organize this information in a way that is logical and easy to follow.
8. Interview preparation for applicants
One of the most important critical thinking skills examples is the ability to apply logic to solve problems. If you are going to an interview for a job, you must use the necessary thinking skills to be successful.
In addition, practicing answering questions and thinking on your feet will help you be less nervous and more confident during the interview. So if you want to land the job, brush up on your critical thinking skills before the following discussion.
9. Choosing a career
Choosing the right career path certainly takes time. So as a critical thinker, you weigh the pros and cons of every option.
For instance, if you’re considering taking up a job in a private organization, you think about the potential benefits such as job security and a steady income.
However, you also consider the drawbacks such as long hours and limited creativity. Finally, after thoroughly evaluating all the options, you make a decision that you believe is best for you.
10. Detectives Analyzing a Crime Scene Using Their Observational Ability
Police detectives play an essential role in solving crimes. To be successful, detectives must have critical thinking and solid skills. They need to be able to observe a crime scene and identify clues that will help them solve the case.
Additionally, they must be able to inquire and deduce information from the evidence logically. Without strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, police detectives could not solve crimes effectively.
Related: Design Thinking
Tips to Boost Your Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
Here are some ways to boost your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
→ Identify and analyze the problem
Anyone who wants to form an opinion on a particular issue should conduct extensive research and analysis. This will help to ensure that the idea is based on facts rather than emotions or personal bias.
One approach is to break the problem into smaller pieces and analyze each part separately. This will help to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue as a whole. Then, with enough information and careful analysis, it is possible to form an informed opinion on any topic.
→ Be aware of your biases
People have biases that they need to deal with throughout their lives. By being aware of one’s preference, one can check their own thought process and make sure they are not thinking in a particular way.
If people are unaware of their own biases, they will not be able to identify when their thoughts might be distorted. Without this awareness, engaging in practical critical thinking would be difficult, if not impossible.
→ Ask for advice
To solve problems effectively, it is essential to have a strong sense of how to acquire knowledge. This means seeking advice when you are not sure about what you know. If you don’t know something, ask someone that knows. The more information you have, the better conclusion you can draw.
→ Think for yourself
Thinking for yourself is one of the most critical skills you can possess. Just because someone is an expert on a subject doesn’t mean they’re always right.
It’s essential to be able to question information and look at it from different perspectives. Only then can you form your own opinion on the matter.
Related: List of Skills for Resume
Conclusion
Critical thinking and problem-solving are two essential skills that can be used in any situation. By understanding these concepts better, you can apply them in your personal and professional life to achieve success. We hope this blog post has helped you see how these skills are implemented and how they can benefit you.
Have you tried using critical thinking and problem-solving in your own life? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
FAQ
What is an example of critical thinking in real life?
One of the best examples of critical thinking in real life is solving problems in a professional setting. When you encounter an issue at work, you need to be able to think critically to solve it effectively. This means considering all of the relevant information and coming up with creative solutions.
How do you show critical thinking examples?
Here are a few ideas:
• Share an example of when you had to analyze a complex problem and devise a creative solution.
• Describe a situation where you had to weigh multiple competing data points and make an informed decision.
• Tell a story about a time when you had to think outside the box to succeed.
• Explain how you approached and tackled a difficult task or project that required careful planning and execution.
• Describe how you react when faced with challenges or obstacles; do you tend to see them as opportunities for learning?
What are two examples of critical thinking questions?
Two examples of critical thinking questions are:
• Are there any alternative explanations that could account for the evidence?
• How likely is it that each of these explanations is true?
