How Can Critical Thinking Help Managers to Do their Jobs More Effectively - Assignment Example

How can critical thinking help managers to do their jobs more effectively? Introduction The world is going through a fast change and with every day the speed is getting faster. The stress to react is increasing. Innovative universal realities are swiftly moving their style into the earnest structures of human lives: financial, social, ecological realities, the realities with deep connotations for teaching and learning, for commerce and political views, for human rights and human discrepancy. These facts are becoming more and more multifaceted; and they all looking for the potent dynamic of gathering speed for change. This essay explores the general character of these changes and the quality of critical thinking essential for efficiently assist managers to do their jobs adapting to them. In order to be contented with continuous re-learning the power of critical thinking of self-critique is vital (Paul, Beach, 1995). Definition of Critical Thinking Critical thinking may be defined as thinking that involves the relevance of judgment. It is developed and polished as an easy rational structure to educate people a purpose-driven appraisal process. It’s all concerning the methodical use of one’s own decision. The tendency is to consider of critical thinking as a cold, scientific or objective way of visualizing things, however, this is wrong. The truth is that everyone is attentive in his own subjective experience of the world. The rigid truth that is carried with one into each new state of affairs and it would be unwise to act as if that one can merely put that away at will so as to view the present matter without partiality or judgment. Actually, it’s not even desirable. The requirement is that for people to build the optimal use of their knowledge and to act in sensibly suitable ways in order to accomplish their objectives (Wells, N.D). Everybody thinks; it is the natural to do so. However most of the thinking is biased, unclear, partial, and unaware. Thus the quality of lives and that of the produce depends exactly on the quality of the thought. Brilliance in thought must be methodically educated (Paul, Elder, 2001).  Faculties concur generally that the growth of students higher-order intellectual or cognitive aptitude is the vital educational task of institutions. These abilities strengthen students insight of the world and the ensuing decisions they make. Particularly, critical thinking - the ability to assess expertly and fairly the quality of proof and spot mistake, pretence, exploitation, and prejudice - is vital to both personal victory and state desires (Gardiner, 1995). Critical thinking is a vital tool for the progress of information literacy and an asset greatly appreciated by boss (Peterman, 2000).  Transformational Leadership and Management To employ this strategy in the labour force, one ought to appreciate precisely what is transformational management. The transformational management is a method that alters and transforms persons (Northouse, 2001). Further to say, transformational leadership is the capability to find people who want to change, progress, and be led. It engages evaluating associates objectives, fulfilling their desires, and valuing them (Northouse, 2001). Consequently, a transformational leader might make the corporation more successful by valuing its associates. For example Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, who frequently visited Wal-Mart stores across the realm to meet with associates to demonstrate his admiration for what they did for the business. Sam Walton’s ‘rules for success’s is appreciation to associates with praise (Walton, 1996). There are four features to transformational management: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and personal concern. Each feature will assist managers’ to use this strategy in the workplace. 1. Idealized influence explains managers who are very good role models for associates. 2. Inspirational motivation states that managers who encourage associates to commit to the dream of the institution. Managers with inspirational motivation encourage team spirit to accomplish the objectives. 3. Intellectual Stimulation describes managers who promote innovation and imagination in the course of challenging the usual thinking or visions of a group. Managers with intellectual stimulation support critical thinking and problem solving to make the organization superior. 4. Individual consideration explains managers who act as trainers and advisors to the associates. Efficient transformational management results in performances that surpass managerial outlooks. Every one of the four mechanisms illustrates uniqueness that is precious to the transformation procedure. Various studies of transformational literature, persons who displayed transformational leadership were highly efficient leaders with improved work results (Northouse, 2001). This was accurate for both high- and low-level managers in the public and private sectors (Northouse, 2001). Hence it is beneficial for managers to use the transformational strategy in the place of work. Applying Transformational Leadership For the reason that transformational management involves a broad range of features within leadership, there are no precise steps for a manager to follow. Accomplishing an efficient transformational leader is a procedure. This demonstrates that conscious attempt have to be made to assume a transformational style. Perceptive of the basics of transformational leadership and the four strategies explained can assist a manager relate this approach. A transformational manager has the following traits (Northouse, 2001): a) authorize followers to do what is best for the organization b) he is a strong role model with high morals c) listens to all opinions to expand a spirit of cooperation d) builds a dream, by means of people in the organization e) acts as a change agent inside the institution by setting as a role model of how to begin and execute change f) support the organization by helping others have a say to the organization (Hall, et al 2002). Critical thinking is a necessary expertise for all features of mission management. This ability helps one to categorize his thoughts, examine pros and cons of circumstances. As a manager, he use critical thinking to foresee problems, plan, determine problem, and make sure that all team members conscious what to envision and what to do. Fundamentally, critical thinking is about: a) Using substantiation competently and neutrally b) delay judgment in the absence of enough proof to support a decision c) Questioning and asking “Why?” as the project unfolds d) Thinking in advance and deciding possible outcomes based on facts. For instance, during the project planning stage, one must ask himself: i). How does one can localize the donor plan and make the best use of the resources? ii) What requirements to be in place and by when? iii) Who needs to be educated of changes? iv) Who wants to be an associate in the project? v) What subjects might come up from the political claim addressed so as to set up general objectives and activities? When greatest efforts are made to assess the condition before making a decision, actually, one may come across unforeseen events. In such case, one need to reconsider the situation, reassess, create a diverse decision and execute accordingly. One should not wait for a trouble or event to happen before taking action. Problem resolving is an indispensable expertise for critical thinking. Once engaged as part of the thinking strategy, this ability can change broad and common topics into specific areas that lead to desired outcomes. When anyone looks for an answer to a problem, he is, in spirit, trying to answer these vital questions: a. What are the exact issues that require ones attention? b. What rational approach or strategy is best to tackle each issue? c. What is the priority for tackling each issue according to importance? Problem Solving Defined As one is in the process of problem solving, he is choosing, organizing, and assessing information that determines the root sources of troubles. As a task manager, his understanding of the causes of a trouble is vital in shaping what ought to be done to tackle it. Consider a situation. While an office visit, a project manager observes that a field coordinators organizational schedule is not displayed on the offices notice board. The project manager rapidly presumes the cause to be inappropriate attention to office dealings regarding the schedule. Hence, she decides to issue warning to the field coordinator and introduce extra procedures to make certain permanent display of the schedule. The question is that is the project manager right in her supposition? Can’t it be a problem of relocation from hard copy to electronic? Or maybe there was an existing team disagreement and a new team associate removed the schedule? If either of these is the true reason, the existing schedule procedures were not improper. The warning and extra official procedure would fail to correct the trouble and would cause the field coordinator to be offended by the project manager. Systematic Process It is significant for the manager to analyze an issue to find out the actual reason of the problem before taking suitable remedial action. To be successful in problem solving, it is important to pursue a methodical procedure, which involves of four steps. a) Identify the problem clearly. The manager needs to decide what he wants to accomplish and has to write it down. Writing down the problem forces him to think regarding what he is in fact trying to resolve. b) Identify potential reasons of the problem, and write down all potential causes, whether they sound sensible or not. Let the manager think what the possible contributing factors are? Create a lot of ideas as possible and deny evaluation of any one idea, just write them all and invite team associates and others to present their views on probable causes. c) Identify the most likely cause by investigating factors within each of the probable reasons. Write down the good and bad points for all causes recognized, and think gathering further information concerning each cause. This step assists manager to get at the root cause of the trouble and tackle. d) Decide upon and develop action plan to decide the probably reason of the trouble based on the study and debate. Once identified the root cause, manager can then decide on the most suitable resolution. Usually the decision is based on lifetime understanding and judgment (careacademy.org, 2009). Conclusion Transformational leadership is a vital role for effective managers because leader effectiveness determines the success level of the organization. Organizations that take the time to teach leadership are far ahead of the competition (Hesselbein, Cohen, 1999). By becoming familiar with the transformational leadership approach and knowledge in problem solving technique, managers can become effective leaders in the business world. In this essay the significance of critical thinking and its various level of problem is solving capability is explained. References careacademy.org. (2009). Critical Thinking Guide [On line] Key Resources for Managers. Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE). Available from: [27 August 2009] Dana S. Peterman, (2000) Critical Thinking for Community Colleges, Community College Journal of Research and Practice. Gardiner, L. (1995) Redesigning Higher Education: Producing Dramatic Gains in Student Learning, Hall, J. et al. (2002). Transformational Leadership: The Transformation of Managers and Associates [On line] HR020 University of Florida. Available from: [27 August 2009] Hesselbein, F., Cohen, P.M. (1999). Leader to Leader. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Hesselbein, Frances, & Paul M. Cohen. (1999). Leader to Leader. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Northouse, Peter G. (2001). Leadership Theory and Practice, second edition. 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