Question

What barriers to strategic thinking discussed by Paul and Elder (2012) do you see in the workplace? What practical steps would you suggest to overcome these?

Answer 1

Critical thinking can be defined as a way of thinking in which we approach a subject, idea or an content by analysing the details of its subset and imposing an intellectual standard upon them. It is crucial to identify the reasonaning aspect of crutical thinkings and its purpose, as we approach a subject. The intellectual standards of critical thinking involves clarity , precision, depth, logic and significance of the problem that is being processed, by a critical thinker. There are multiple barriers to strategic thinking. Few of them are as follows.
1.Thinking brief and on short terms - One must focus on the depth and precision of the problem or an idea for it to be resolved or implented effectively. Raising important question, structuring the idea clearly , collecting in-depth knowledge and interpreting it after analysing all the details is something that one doesn't focus on. It is of utmost importance to think of a idea and its implications on a long term basis, which is something we avoid doing.

2.Lack of soft skill training modules within an organisation that aids critical thinking- Most of the employees in a workplace lack basic soft skill training on critical thinking . The workplace focus so much on the technical and mechanical skills of its employee that it ignores the important of developing soft skills , like creative or critical thinking. Paul-Edler's critical thinking model focus on the importance of elements of reasoning which involves purpose. It involves gathering of data and making accurate inferences based on these data. Employees lack the basic ability to engage with effective reasoning , which leads to ineffective strategic thinking in the workplace.  

3.No effective metholodoly for strategic planning- It is crucial to construct a metholodoly or a plan while engaging in strategic planning,which most of the employees don't . One must develop strategic thinking ways which explores all the possibilities of a problem or an event. Failure to do this leads to an ineffective strategy to deal with it. Therefore, the action plan and the precision with which it is expected to be achieved is vague.

There are mulitple ways to counter the barriers that emerges in strategic thinking.Conducting workshops for strategic thinking among the employees can be beneficial . Conducting strategic thinking excercise that focus on tools for engaging in reasons, intellectual standards and detailed techniques on how to avoid obstacles during strategic thinking activity, can help eliminate this barrier.