Are you a critical thinker? A better question might be, what is critical thinking? Critical thinking is logic based reasoning, which separates out all the emotion during problem solving.  Let me put in another way, take a look at all the reasons why you “can’t” solve a problem or do something and run them through this filter, “Is this an actual factual obstacle or is it just something I feel is too hard to overcome?”

Let me give you an example, I was recently working for a client and tasked with a problem that to solve conventionally would have cost around $10 million.  Ouch!! I went to work utilizing a series of critical thinking tools and processes, within 6 weeks of taking the time to understand the root cause of the problem and then think outside the box (get outside the emotionally based excuses “that it can’t be done”), and solved the problem at a cost of less than $400,000.  (To put it in terms my head can wrap around, the cost went from $1,000 to $40. I’ll do that all day every day, Boom!)

What did you do, Andrew? I’m glad you asked.  It was a technical problem involving networking and electronics, software and hardware, all of which I know nothing.  But what I do know is how to use a truck load of critical thinking tools.  I selected a few of my favorites and walked a tech rep through the critical thinking problem solving process.  Within 2 hours on the phone, I had him thinking outside the box and free flowing ideas.  Within another 2 to 3 weeks, we had come up with a brand spanking new approach and a workable solution that was easy to implement and duplicate.

This was a long unsolved problem for the client, simply because it was way too costly to solve.  So ask yourself this question, “Am I using critical thinking to solve the problems I am facing? And if not, how much is it costing me?”

Peak Performance is a whole lot easier when you think critically, (and it pays so much better than mediocrity!)

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Boo Yah!