Making a habit of critical thinking can help you develop a more objective viewpoint.
Making a habit of critical thinking before communication involves more than just examining and changing the way you think. Developing a habit of critical thinking in order to become a more effective communicator requires you to regularly engage in a certain pattern of thinking before you speak until it becomes automatic. Everyone has habitual thought patterns that can be dysfunctional, leading to increased mental distress and negativity, which impacts your overall viewpoint. In order to understand the way you think, you must clearly understand what you want to communicate before you make your argument.
Components
Learning the core components of critical thinking is the most important task in making it into a habit. According to the Open University, critical thinking can be broken down into eight main components. Processing, understanding, analyzing, comparing and synthesizing your information are the first components, in which you gather as much evidence as you can in order to formulate and back up your argument with solid facts. Evaluating, applying and justifying your outcome means having the ability to express the information you've processed in a clear, focused manner.
Listening Skills
Listening to others without making an immediate judgment is a core skill when engaging in the critical thinking process. In an article about critical thinking, the University of New Mexico College of Nursing advises students to take an empathetic stance when engaging in dialogue with others. Avoiding "shooting from the hip" and not immediately reacting can be difficult at first, but can become a habit with continued practice and patience. Listening to the argument first and teasing out the important points gives you fodder for further evaluation and reflection.
Processing Information
Processing the information you've received involves gathering as much information as you can regarding the problem at hand and asking questions to clarify any points that you don't fully understand. Critical thinkers make sure they have a solid grasp of the key points, assumptions and arguments presented. Don't be afraid to ask questions about anything that seems unclear.
Argument Formulation
Formulating a strong argument in support of or opposition to the points being presented requires questioning your own pre-existing assumptions about the argument. For example, in order to communicate your ideas with strong, supporting evidence you may need further research on your own ideas, data interpretation regarding information you have received from the other party and the ability to recognize the concepts of the initial argument that you either agree with or disagree with. During the formulation stage, spend time reflecting on your argument as objectively as possible. Presenting your argument requires applying your research and using this information to justify your position.
Habit Formation
Developing a habit of critical thinking requires engaging in continually practicing the core components. The University of New Mexico College of Nursing points out that you must learn to monitor your thoughts and actions in order to develop self-awareness. Being conscious of your thinking patterns and actively implementing the core components whenever possible can help you make critical thinking a lifelong habit.
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