Critical Thinking and Personal Barriers
Critical Thinking and Personal Barriers Through the year 2005, the Labor Department estimates that half of all labor force entrants will be women. ... To be counted as the best and brightest, it will be progressively more necessary for qualified workers to have critical thinking skills. What is critical thinking? Critical thinking is an important survival skill for companies. Craig Hassel, of the University of Minnesota defines critical thinking as “the process of thinking about one’s thinking, a conscious evaluation of one’s thoughts. Critical thinking can be understood as a way of becoming aware of and taking control of one’s own thinking processes in order to think more effectively. It is consciously directing one’s thinking to make it more rational, clear, accurate, and consistent” (Bacal). In essence this means moving away from what is familiar and comfortable and what most of us have come to trust; moving into relationships with those who are not similar in outward appearance, thinking, styles, and personalities. It means moving beyond the personal barriers of gender, age, race, religion, stereotyping, ethnocentricity, or whatever hinders one from making sound decisions, right choices, and taking the appropriate action(s). ... In order to do this, we must first understand ourselves, and then admit and accept our own personal barriers.