There used to be a section for critical reasoning in MBA
entrance exams. I used to think that this is a section where questions have
options like only A is correct, Either A or B are correct, Both A and B are
correct. This section is kept in exams because in some theories or somewhere
someone believes that critical thinking is an essential quality, which leaders
or managers should have.
What is critical thinking? Critical thinking is way of
thinking in which you analyze negative aspects of a decision and eliminate those
one by one. Sherlock Holmes’ famously used to say something on similar lines.
Quote of Sherlock Homes: “How often have I said to you that when you have
eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however
improbable, must be the truth?” This kind of thinking is like a bottom to top approach. In which
keep on eliminating to reach to conclusion.
Looking closely critical thinking at times directly comes in
way of hope. Hope, which holds on single possibility of success in the pool of
thousand possibilities of failure.
Critical thinking gives reality check. It makes your
planning more realistic and less susceptible to failure. But does it not sound
same as mediocrity. At execution stage, when critical thinking expand its span
then execution contracts.
Critical thinking is like a defense it has to be coupled
with hope, confidence and optimism to achieve.
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