We live in a technologically advanced world where everyone with a smartphone, laptop or tablet can document, report and share information to a far-reaching audience. We also have the ability, through readily-available software tools, to edit, manipulate, and skew ‘reality’ (strong emphasis on reality here as artificial intelligence allows for videos and images to be created of alternative and false realities!).
These days, everyone is a ‘journalist’ which is a huge problem. Particularly as we are a species with brains where one of its primary functions is to protect us from any perceived threat. When we’re faced with information – be it the written word, a video or image, with connotations that are intended to instill strong emotions or fear it’ll shoot straight to the amygdala. As we understand from our discussion of values and beliefs with Lina Mookerjee, registered member (Senior Accredited) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), this part of our brain is designed to respond to the ‘alarm’ call and only processes information in black and white. If we don’t question this information or rhetoric, it leads to dangerous action and behaviour. We are only able to question the information we’re faced with if we have developed the skill to think critically.
Critical learning
Critical thinking is defined by Cambridge Dictionary as: “The process of thinking carefully about a subject or idea, without allowing feelings or opinions to affect you.” Critical thinking is not taught as a standalone subject in education and is generally incorporated into some subjects, such as English, history, science, and extracurricular programmes such as debating. Although students are, from time to time, encouraged to question and contribute their thoughts and ideas, by and large, primary and secondary education is about preparing individuals with a broad range of knowledge and skills which could be continually developed through life and employment – GCSE exams, if you recall, are primarily around fact-based knowledge, not open for interpretation, or individual thoughts or ideas.
Importantly, why we’re being encouraged to think, question events, outcomes and subjects, is not being clearly communicated. And it is only if you advance in education, through A-Levels and degree-level qualifications, that your analytical and evaluative skills are developed and tested and this is where critical thinking is honed. Otherwise it is considered a soft skill, something you develop over time and through life-experience.
Social dangers
This is where, arguably, there is a huge problem in children accessing internet-based platforms that allows them to be exposed to ideals and information they have had no training in how to question. In educational settings, largely, because of pressures to follow the national curriculum, students are encouraged to memorise facts and are rewarded for such, rather than being encouraged to question things. It exposes vulnerable individuals to ideas that could radicalise them or encourage them to incite violence and spread hate.
It is a self-perpetuating cycle that can only be stopped by questioning the information we’re presented with and understanding what makes a source trustworthy; keeping an open mind until we have our resources and facts that we can understand and process. But it’s something we have to actively work on to develop.
How critical thinking helps in your life…
The ability to think critically has far-reaching benefits across all aspects of your life. We speak to 3 leaders across different specialisms to understand how impactful critical thinking can be outside of social media influence; from conflict resolution, to employment, and ultimately empowerment.
How critical thinking can help with conflict resolution
Leah Brown, Founder of The WayFinders Group and Sessional Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University specialising in conflict resolution, shares “I am strongly of the view that developing critical thinking skills revolutionises how people can navigate everyday conflicts. In our increasingly polarised world, the ability to thoughtfully assess our own positions before reacting to them requires critical thinking and curiosity.
Leah continues, “As an accredited mediator, I’ve seen first hand how critical thinking can transform tense family conflicts, workplace disputes, and relationship challenges within communities into opportunities for growth. Critical thinking empowers us to navigate life’s inevitable challenges with clarity and purpose rather than emotion and reactivity”.
Leah’s tips for why critical thinking is important and how to cultivate it:
Critical thinking is important to:
Distinguish between facts and emotion in a disagreement
Prevent retaining entrenched positions
Allow people to identify when they are being manipulated
Interrogate the perspective of another with curiosity to break tensions
Creates space for empathetic responses
Reduces stress by minimising relational breakdowns.
How do you cultivate it?
Ask questions of yourself and others
Take time to reflect
Start looking for the nuance
Consider whether the alternative could be true
How critical thinking can help employment opportunities
Robbin Schuchmann, Co-founder of EOR Overview, an organisation that simplifies the global employment process by providing businesses with the resources and tools they need to understand and compare Employer of Record (EOR) services, and a mission to help companies navigate complex international hiring and compliance challenges, ensuring they can expand their global workforce with ease and confidence tells us how critical thinking can impact employment opportunities:
“Critical thinking is one of the first things I look for when hiring globally. It’s not only about qualifications or experience on paper. When someone can evaluate a situation clearly, consider multiple angles, and make sound decisions without needing to be walked through every detail, they become incredibly valuable, especially in remote or cross-border setups where you can’t always be there to guide them in real time.
“In my experience, critical thinking helps teams work more independently, which is crucial when time zones don’t overlap or when quick decisions are needed on the ground. I’ve seen how it directly impacts problem-solving, communication, and even how people handle compliance-related issues in unfamiliar labor environments. It’s something that keeps operations running smoothly no matter where the person is located.”
As to how you can develop critical thinking for employment benefits, Robbin tells us: “The best way I’ve seen people develop this skill is by being put in situations where they’re allowed to make decisions and think things through without micromanagement. That could mean giving them more autonomy during onboarding or having them lead a part of a project early on. I also encourage hiring managers to ask questions during interviews that reveal how candidates handle uncertainty, prioritize tasks, or work through conflicting information.”
Robbin concludes: “Critical thinking isn’t something that just belongs in academic settings. It directly affects hiring, onboarding, managing risk, and even keeping a team productive across borders. If someone isn’t equipped to think clearly and independently, you’ll end up with bottlenecks that could have been avoided. So when we talk about building a solid remote team, this is one of the core traits I won’t compromise on.”
How critical thinking helps you through education, cultural understanding, empowerment and entrepreneurship
Dr. Julie Thomas Achettu, Co-Founder of House of Jaya and Education Consultant for SAAPRI, tells us “Critical thinking is not just an academic skill; it’s a vital tool for empowerment, especially for individuals from underserved communities. My work with curriculum development has shown me firsthand how teaching critical thinking can transform students’ engagement and success. For instance, incorporating diverse perspectives and encouraging students to analyze historical events from multiple viewpoints fosters a deeper understanding and challenges preconceived notions.
“Beyond education, I’ve also seen the importance of critical thinking in entrepreneurship. As co-founder of House of Jaya (HoJ), a South Asian American fusion fashion company, I witness daily how crucial critical thinking is for women entrepreneurs. HoJ’s mission is to empower individuals with dual identities, and we support aspiring students and women entrepreneurs from underserved communities by donating a percentage of each purchase to them. These women need to analyze market trends, assess risks, and make informed decisions to succeed. Critical thinking enables them to identify opportunities, solve problems creatively, and adapt to changing circumstances.”
How you develop critical thinking and teach children to think more critically
Dr. Julie Thomas Achettu believes that “educational initiatives and entrepreneurial programs can better incorporate critical thinking training by:
Integrating real-world case studies: Analyzing actual business scenarios helps learners apply critical thinking skills practically.
Promoting collaborative problem-solving: Group projects that require analyzing complex issues and developing solutions foster teamwork and critical analysis.
Encouraging reflection and self-assessment: Providing opportunities for learners to evaluate their own thinking processes enhances metacognitive skills.
Incorporating diverse perspectives: Exposure to different viewpoints broadens understanding and challenges biases.”
But we can’t rely on educational settings to develop critical thinking skills alone. Instead, we need to actively put ourselves in situations to question things.
WHY is the cornerstone of critical thinking
Children are naturally inquisitive. If you have a toddler, you’ll know how frustrating the million ‘why’’s a day can be. Although some of the questions they ask seem innate (why do I have to clean my room, why do I have to go to bed, etc.), to their training minds it is genuine curiosity. They’re trying to make sense of the world they live in. When we answer with ‘because’, often followed with ‘I said so’ it stomps out this inquisition. We need to create space to answer those questions – to the best of our abilities (even though, yes, the ‘why’ questions even on the same subject may continue, even if we patiently explain the reason). We even need to encourage that inquisitive nature.
Like developing minds, questioning ‘why’, ‘who’, ‘what’ etc., questioning assumptions and, importantly, the implication of what is being shared. This is key to working on your critical thinking skills. Try and tune into your inquisitive mind and create a space to challenge the narrative. Consider different perspectives and challenge your emotional response to stimuli and, ultimately, be objective.
