Critical Thinking and Establishing Expectations

Elements of Reasoning in Critical Thinking

• Purpose: Defining the objective of one's thinking process.

• Question at Issue: Ensuring the correct question is being addressed.

• Points of View: Recognizing one's own perspective and considering alternative viewpoints.

• Information, Data, and Evidence: Assessing the accuracy, fairness, and clarity of information, while also seeking alternate sources.

• Concepts and Ideas: Identifying the underlying concepts, theories, axioms, and principles being utilized.

• Assumptions: Recognizing the beliefs and values that influence one's thinking.

• Implications and Consequences: Evaluating potential outcomes and their impact on various stakeholders.

• Inferences: Identifying unstated inferences and assessing their validity.

Common Thinking Errors

• System 1: Fast, instinctive, emotional, and unconscious thinking; utilizes pattern recognition.

• System 2: Slow, deliberate, logical, and conscious thinking; discerns new patterns.

• Asking the Wrong Questions: Addressing irrelevant inquiries or failing to ask pertinent questions in an appropriate manner.

• Thinking Too Quickly: Rushing to conclusions without thorough consideration.

• Stereotypes: Relying on oversimplified and generalized beliefs about groups of people.

• Cognitive Biases

  • Halo Effect: Allowing a single trait or event to influence the overall perception of a person or situation.

  • Belief Perseverance: The tendency for existing beliefs to shape our interactions, leading to potential biases.

• Answering the Wrong Question

  • Deflection: Steering the conversation away from the initial intent.

Establishing Expectations

• Importance of establishing expectations:

  • To identify objectives/goals

  • To provide a road map for achieving objectives/goals

  • To provide the linkage to standards and unit mission

• Continuous Process:

  1. Establish Expectations

  2. Observe & Identify Performance Gaps

  3. Recalibrate, Adjust & Set New Expectations

  4. Let subordinates get back to work, step back and observe

• Guidelines for establishing expectations:

  • Expectations must be clearly communicated and understood

  • Help your subordinates make the connection.

  • Seek Buy-In

  • Encourage buy-in

  • Plan to track activities within each task

    • Outline the steps of the task

    • ii. Identify milestones

      iii. Track progress

      iv. Capture Results

      VII. SOB: PROFESSIONAL AND UNPR