In this episode, hosts Merv Jersak and Tim Jerome delve into critical thinking as a crucial skill for project managers. They discuss the importance of problem-solving and defining critical thinking as a repeatable process for data analysis and decision-making. The conversation covers its application in complex and dynamic project environments, touching on resource constraints and risk management. They also explore when not to apply critical thinking, such as in emergency and routine situations, and emphasize continuous learning and improvement through reflection and journal keeping. Various methods to cultivate critical thinking, including engaging reading materials and experiential learning, are also covered.

Main Take-Aways

The project leader must learn critical thinking skills to perform well as a problem-solver and to instill problem-solving within his or her teams. An overview of the importance of critical thinking in your role of project leadership includes:

• critical thinking as a key to problem-solving and managing projects
• key steps in the process of critical thinking
• situations in which critical thinking need not be applied
• making decisions when you don’t have time for a full critical thinking process
• learning and teaching critical thinking skills
• using hunches and nudges

Show Notes

Today’s Project Managers Coffee Chat: The Role of Critical Thinking in Leading Projects

00:59 Introducing the topic of critical thinking, its role in problem-solving, and a working definition of critical thinking.

03:05 Focusing on critical thinking as a key skill in project management in problem-solving on the project and in handling risk. Projects are complex and dynamic environments that need critical thinking for everyday activities.

06:28 Steps in the critical thinking process in initially identifying the problem, in decision making, in monitoring the progress of the selected direction, and in lessons learned.

09:37 Times when critical thinking skills need not be applied: when making decisions in urgent situations, when dealing with routine tasks, or when working using standard operating procedures.

11:34 Making decisions when we don’t have time to employ a true critical thinking process: call in the experts, continuously practice critical thinking skills to develop habits, compartmentalize the problem into its urgent and non-urgent components, learn to work with imperfect decisions, or apply decisions from past analogous situations.

15:38 Learning and teaching critical thinking involves a mindset of curiosity, leading via questions, reading current literature, and/or keeping a journal.

18:56 Using hunches and nudges (gut feelings and directional hinting) to help with developing critical thinking skills.