Unit 3

 

Critical Thinking: Rank Talk Write

In reading the course material readings and the unit 4 notes I thought long and hard about the aspects of critical thinking. Through all the information I was receiving I kept coming back to the same two questions; Do our emotions play a role in our critical thinking? As a leader do we have a responsibility to be in tune with the emotions of those we lead? I really enjoyed Calhan’s 8 ways of knowledge essential to large to wise practice. Cahalan’s eight ways address situated awareness, embodied realness, conceptional understanding, critical thinking, emotional attunement, creative insight, spiritual discernment, and practical discernment (2017, Cahalan, Foley &Mikoski, para 2). Below I have ranked the eight ways in the order of what I feel is most important.

 

Summary sentences and their rank:

1. Situational awareness: is recognizing and identifying circumstantial elements. Situational awareness is just as important as self-awareness. One needs to be constantly aware of their surroundings. Know your audience, be attentive to who you are speaking to and what setting it is in.

 

2. Critical thinking: making an unbiased decision based on collected data and environmental factors. Critical thinking is a logical way of interpreting the world around us. By using Critical thinking, we collect data, we identify patterns, we problem solve. We use deduction and logic to decipher the best answer for the best possible outcome. It is vital to be able to problem solve this way in the workplace.

 

3. Emotional attunement- being able to accurately read and understand another person’s emotions. It is my belief that we need to be able to take a step back and put ourselves in our employees’ shoes. Emotional intelligence reminds us that we are complex human beings with complex human emotions. As a leader, we must pick up on clues verbal and non-verbal and be able to look at the facts while remaining objective.

 

4. Conceptual Understanding is comprehension of vital information and being able to recall the information at a moment’s notice. Remember new information and new concepts that are learned. Pay attention so when you are seeking to show and teach others you know what to do.

 

5. Embodied Realizing is the acquirement and honing of specific physical skills

 

6. Spiritual Discernment- is identifying what is the Lord’s will and what is not. Seeking Gods direction in all our decisions. I put spiritual discernment as sixth important but I really feel that this should be the number one priority. When God is at the center of your life you can do all things. He will give you wisdom for the things you don’t understand.

 

7. Creative Insight is being innovative and developing new ways of accomplishing tasks. This also builds the foundation for collaboration.

 

8. Practical reasoning is in its basic form of critical thinking. Using deduction and logic to make an informed decision.

I have learned that while emotions are a part of our life we cannot let them dictate our critical thinking ability. As a leader it is important to remain objective, we need to pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal clues. Critical thinking is an important skill and is a sign of emotional intelligence that employers seek.

References:

Cahalan, K.,Foley, E. and G. S. Mikoski eds. (2017). Integrative Knowing and Practical Wisdom in Minding the Gaps: Integrating Work in Theological Education. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock.