The Role of CEOs in Encouraging Critical Thinking

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Good CEOs not only practice metacognition, but also encourage their teams to challenge their own thinking. By providing examples of successful work in similar fields, CEOs expose their teams to diverse perspectives. They promote thinking differently and discourage narrow focus on one's own tasks. In contrast, an uncritical thinker would aim for more efficiency and productivity by adding pressure and KPIs, rather than considering alternative approaches.

When was the last time you practiced your critical thinking skills? Helen Lee Bouygues, an expert in business transformation, says many business problems are really about simple errors in critical thinking.

“People believe that critical thinking is something that we do every day and it comes very natural,” she tells IdeaCast host Curt Nickisch. “But in reality, critical thinking is not only extremely important for success in life, but it’s also something that needs to be learned and practiced.”

In this episode you’ll learn how to practice your critical thinking skills. Bouygues outlines three key components of critical thinking: questioning your assumptions, reasoning through logic, and diversifying your thought process.

Key episode topics include: strategy, strategy formulation, decision making and problem solving, managing yourself, critical thinking, managing emotions, strategic decisions.

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· Listen to the full HBR IdeaCast episode: Improve Your Critical Thinking at Work (2019)

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