Critical thinking can be defined as the process of analyzing and evaluating information to guide beliefs or actions. When students choose where to go to college, for instance, they put critical thinking to use by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the various schools they have been accepted to, factoring in relevant information such as cost and location. Critical thinking entails not only acquiring information but also analyzing it to identify essential elements.

Why is critical thinking important in business? Business leaders take major actions every day, from hiring and firing to reviewing financial earnings reports, participating in board meetings and handling public relations crises. These are the precise areas in which critical thinking comes into play, as business leaders use this skill to make tough decisions, such as letting an employee go or issuing a press release when scandal threatens to tarnish a company’s reputation.

If communication refers to the meaningful exchange of information in an organization, critical thinking is the engine that provides the meaning. The ability to identify a problem and develop a cogent explanation and solution is important for business communication.

Employees can learn to apply critical thinking and communication skills for business success in the following ways:




 

1# Assessment of various situation
Take, for example, the head of a marketing team managing nine people. To develop a marketing proposal for a new product, he divides his team into three groups of three. Each group pitches a concept.

The head of the marketing team then selects one, justifying his choice with clear communication that rewards those whose concept was chosen without discouraging the others. This is one of the many situations that may arise in a business setting that requires using critical thinking while communicating.

 

2# Collaboration among teams/departments.
Leaders need to manage their teams’ internal communications, as well as their interactions with other teams. For example, the aforementioned marketing team might have to work directly with the product development team to identify a product’s most notable selling points.

In this case, a course focused on communication and organizational culture prepares managers to recognize that the product development department might have a very different day-to-day approach to work and collaboration.

 

3# Teamwork.
Leaders need to be able to navigate the differences among groups of people from a variety of backgrounds. Rider’s online Master of Arts in Business Communication features coursework that focuses on the multicultural aspects of teamwork in an organization and can be a useful tool in business.

 

4# Presentation strategies.
Critical thinking allows individuals to make business-influencing decisions and convey their conclusions with confidence. For example, an individual has to present the results of a financial quarter, and the figures show a loss.

He may recognize that this is due to a major investment in a new work productivity tool, which is projected to increase turnover and result in a large profit next quarter. The program’s business presentation coursework equips professionals to make this kind of judgment.

 

5# Verbal communication.
Leaders may have to use verbal skills to change another person’s opinion in business. For example, if they are sitting on the board, and the board votes on an important issue that results in a tie, they may want to speak up and present an argument for their side of the vote. The coursework focusing on techniques for persuasive discourse provides students with the competencies needed to change people’s opinions and behaviors.

 

6# Written communication.
Not all business cases are made in face-to-face situations. For example, leaders can inspire their teams through a powerful email. A course in strategic business writing provides students with the tools needed to harness their writing skills to support strategy and produce desired outcomes, such as motivating employees.

Learn more about Transformational Leadership and Gain your skills on critical thinking management.