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The instructor began with a stern warning about the time and dedication that would be required to achieve the success we all desired at that point. According to the instructor, the little machine that sat directly in front of each one of us, would demand hours upon hours of practice and dedication to reach and maintain the speeds we would need to become licensed certified shorthand reporters. As I recall though, my mind was focused on the rewards and not the challenges. It seemed like a dream career that carried with it high prestige, excellent pay, and job security; but obviously, it wouldn’t be easy.

There were about 84 people in that first class. Others would come and go. As our first class came to an end, we all packed up our little black machines into their cases and prepared to leave class. My new friends looked over at me and said invited me to join them on a night out. It felt good to be invited out with my new friends, but I couldn’t help thinking about the admonition we had just received from our instructor. So, I politely declined.

Three years later, I received my license and certification as a Certified Shorthand Reporter for Cook County Illinois, it was mentioned that I was the sole person out of 84 to several hundred of students who had achieved the goal. Even then, I knew hadn’t completed the course because I was any smarter than the other people; I was just more committed to the goal. I was willing to think critically from that very first night. As they say, the rest was history.

This is an example of the power of creating the outcomes we desire by learning to think critically. If we fail to think for ourselves, someone else will think for us, and we give away our own power to create what we desire.

The Important Facts About Critical Thinkers

• They remain focused on the big picture.
• The consider complex components of situations.
• They exhibit open-mindedness.

 

Remaining focused on the big picture

Critical thinking often requires making important choices. In my personal example above, I had to make a choice between popularity and pursuing my goal. At the precise moment of the invitation to go out with the group, it didn’t seem so crucial. But I didn’t know at the time that how we begin a project often has an impact on how that project ends. That is not always the case, but it often is. What we begin right, we tend to end right. Critical Thinking is one of the skills I believe sets us apart from the noncritical thinkers.

 

Considering complex components of situations

In my class example above, we had a very complex situation. It was explained that we would need to learn medical and legal terminology to be successful in the courtroom that relied on heavily on medical and legal testimony as evidence. We would also have to be exceptional when it came to grammar and English for us to create high-quality error-free transcripts that attorney and other corporate leaders would depend on to solve their problems. We also had to develop the ability to write 300 words per minute on our little machines, and master literary dictation, judge’s charges to juries, and what was commonly called Q and A dictation. Of course, we would need to be great spellers with exceptional vocabularies.

 We were overwhelmed with the complexity of what we had chosen to embark upon, and it was obvious why people wanted to go out and bury in the back of their minds the impossibility of the challenge. The key to the complexity though was the ability to see the system without looking at all the various parts. It was crucial to understand how the parts were connected and would work together. It was necessary to look at the structure of the system to manage it without being overwhelmed. It required a different way of thinking, one known as systems thinking. It required thinking in a critical way as opposed to reacting to the impossibility of the situation confronting us.

 

Critical Thinkers Remain Open-Minded

Critical thinkers are avid convers who are frequently engaged in dialogue with others, regardless of who those others are. They have a high regard for individuality because they recognize that every person they encounter, probably knows something they don’t know. The respect they bring to the conversant relationship can remove layers of defensiveness and fear that often prevents others from sharing the wealth of knowledge they can bring to a table. Critical thinkers listen. They evaluate. They learn, while refraining from judgment.

 

 

The Rewards of Critical Thinking

Thinking produces actions. We think, we emote, and then we ultimately act. The action we choose is almost always based upon the thoughts we have. I only say almost because few things are always. Those thoughts may originate in our conscious or subconscious mind, and they are often very quick, especially when coming from the subconscious mind.

The point is, of course, our thinking plays a major role in what we ultimately do. Therefore, when our thinking is correct and as it should be, we have a much better chance of acting as we should act, and thus creating the reality we truly desire.

Leaders produce other leaders by empowering and helping others to be their personal best. Sometimes though, followers can make their way to positions of leadership. Some because of good fortune, and others because they are skilled manipulators and controllers.

Regardless of what position a person attains, learning to think critically is a safeguard from being controlled by others. In other words, you may work under a controller, but you will not be controlled by them when you learn to think critically. This allows you to continually create your own outcomes, regardless of the motives of those in positions over you