Stepping up your thinking...

How many decisions have you made today?

Probably dozens before you've even had your first coffee. Some are small, others shape projects, relationships and even careers. Yet many of us make decisions quickly, relying on assumptions or habit rather than stopping to think critically.

What is it?

“Disciplined ability to actively analyse, interpret and evaluate information in order to make reasoned judgements.  Rather than accepting ideas at face value, critical thinkers question assumptions, recognise bias, and apply logic before drawing conclusions or solving problems.”

Making that even simpler there are 4 core components:-

Analyse – What information do I have?

Interpret – What does it actually mean?

Evaluate – How reliable is it? What evidence supports it?

Self-regulate – What assumptions or biases might I be bringing?

Why it matters?

Every day we solve problems, make decisions and influence other people. Critical thinking helps us avoid jumping to conclusions, spot risks earlier and make better-informed decisions.

It also helps us communicate our ideas more convincingly because we have considered alternative viewpoints and tested our own thinking before presenting a recommendation.

Tools & Technques

Using the “Five Whys” technique being curious about what is going on, can lead to the root cause of the problem.  If a product has not been delivered you may ask the following:-

• Why didn't it arrive?
• Why wasn't the delay identified earlier?
• Why didn't the courier notify us?
• Why isn't there a process for monitoring deliveries?
• Why haven't we reviewed our delivery partners and customer service standards?

Other Tools & Techniques

• Time boxing – Set a time limit to avoid overthinking while ensuring enough analysis.
• Scenario mapping – Consider "What if...?" and explore different possible outcomes.
• Mind mapping – Organise complex information visually and identify connections.
• Questioning models – Challenge assumptions and uncover missing information.
• Healthy debate – Invite different perspectives to test your thinking.
• Reflection – Review decisions afterwards to learn what worked and what you'd do differently.



Critical thinking isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking better questions.

Before making your next important decision, pause and ask:

What evidence do I have?

What assumptions am I making?

What might I be missing?

Sometimes the quality of our decisions is determined by the quality of our questions.

Coach's Notebook Reflection: What decision are you making this week that could benefit from one more thoughtful question before you act?