skills – Personal Growth Cafe

August 16, 2019March 26, 2018

How to Develop Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is often characterized as a scientific, analytical way of thinking.

It helps us form more knowledgeable opinions and make better decisions.

That certainly seems like a beneficial skill to have, but how do you develop the ability to think critically?

Critical thinking doesn’t equal higher intelligence.

In layman’s terms, it’s just a more logical way to think about solutions from all angles.

Some of us may have stronger critical thinking skills than others, but we can all learn how to improve and develop our mind.

Here are some suggestions that can help you strengthen your critical thinking skills:

1. Clarify. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the problem you’re trying to solve.

You won’t be able to reasonably analyze a situation and locate a solution if you’re not completely clear on what you’re trying to accomplish!

It’s also important that you place your own feelings about the situation aside.

You cannot get a clear understanding of the issue if you have prejudiced opinions and biases about it.

2. Attempt to find a solution. Take some time with a pen and paper to define all possibilities.

At this time you’ll also want to map out how you’ll be able to reach each of these solutions.

Include the benefits and challenges of each solution.

To learn how to improve and develop your critical thinking skills, you must be open to new ideas, so try and incorporate as much as you can into your list.

3. Information. Next, gather as much information as possible to support all the solutions you’re considering, as well as information you need to refute them.

Considering your solutions from all angles will keep you from making a haphazard decision, which would not be classified in the realm of critical thinking.

4. Learn how to analyze. Now you have a problem, a list of solutions, and all the information you need to support or refute each of those decisions.

So what do you do with it all?

You’ll need time to analyze everything. Take everything into consideration and don’t assume anything.

Make sure you have irrefutable evidence to back everything up.

The more you practice this, the better you’ll ultimately get at it, so keep plugging away.

5. Conclude. Make an intelligent conclusion to your original problem.

Make sure you have the documentation to back up and prove your decision.

Always make sure this is a reasonable conclusion that is relatively simple to put into action.

If you’ve put the time and effort into analyzing the problem and gathering the information, your conclusion should be able to support itself.

Final Thoughts on Critical Thinking

By following the steps explained here, you have just used your critical thinking skills!

Though it may seem unnatural at first, as with everything, as you continue to practice these strategies, your critical thinking skills will continue to improve and develop.

Thinking critically can help you with many aspects in your life.

Keep practicing these skills on a regular basis and soon you’ll enjoy the benefits of better decisions and superior choices!

How often do you waste time and energy thinking about things that you cannot control?

How can you keep your mind active and alert at all times?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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August 14, 2019March 26, 2018

Five Unique Ways to Find Work

Unfortunately, with the current state of the economy, many people are out there job hunting.

They’re applying for every open position they can find, increasing the competition for available jobs.

It’s important that you stand above the crowd.

You have to prove to your prospective employer that hiring you would be adding an asset to their company.

These suggestions may make finding that job just a bit easier:

1. Social Networking. Internet social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are all the rage.

Many people use these sites to chat with long lost friends or find old loves, but they’re also great networking places to find employment as well!

The idea behind social networks is to build a relationship.

That means that you’ll want to show-off your value before asking desperately for a job.

It may not work overnight, but these sites have incredible word of mouth possibilities, so be diligent and keep networking and broadcasting that you’re available for work!

2. Offer services for free. Okay, I know what you’re thinking: why should you offer services for free when you don’t even have a job?

Aren’t you supposed to be making money with your skills and talents?

Yes, but offering your services for free for can actually work in your favor and set you apart from your competition.

For example, are you a talented childcare professional looking to get your foot in the door of a new day care center?

Are you an awesome cook who would love to work in a new restaurant in town?

Offer to work for them for a week for free.

If they’re pleased with your work, you may be hired on the spot, or at least when they have their first available opening.

The most important thing to remember is you have to be a top notch volunteer for that week.

You want them to discover what an asset you could be as a paid employee.

3. Write to prospective employers. Compose a letter to businesses that you’re seriously interested in.

In the letter, highlight how you’ll boost business for the company and discuss what you’d bring to the table.

If you can convince them that they’re better off with you than without you, then you’ve won the battle.

Make sure the letter is professional, grammatically correct, and confident.

Your goal is to make others understand why they need you as an employee, not to beg them for a job.

There’s a big difference, but it’s very easy to cross that line, so use good judgment.

4. Do it the old fashioned way. In this generation of faxes and emails, your resume can easily get lost in the shuffle.

Something to consider is to dress professionally and hit the pavement.

Introduce yourself, shake hands, and hand them a well-prepared resume package.

Building a relationship with someone is an important part in standing above the crowd.

It also allows a manager to put a face to a resume rather than just pick a resume up off the fax machine or out of their email inbox.

Though it may take a bit of footwork and perseverance, this may be your perfect way to make an impression when applying for a coveted job.

5. Place an ad in the newspaper or online.

When looking for a job, the first place we all tend to go is the help wanted section in the newspaper or on a classifieds website.

There we gaze over hundreds of ads and apply to as many as we possibly can.

6. Maybe you can turn the tables! This is where you can think outside the box.

What about placing your own ad telling prospective employers that you’re free to work for them?

Highlight your strengths and what position you’ll excel at.

Remember, you’re in control.

You want prospective employers to pick up the phone and call you – not to skim your ad thinking, “There’s another desperate individual begging for work.”

Looking for a job today can be challenging, but thinking a bit differently than other job hunters may be all you need to get that position you’ve been hoping for.

Stand out from your competition with these great tips, and be the one who lands the job!

What skills do you have that you can further develop?

How are you discovering more skills that can help you find more work?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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December 29, 2017

Become an Expert in Your Field – Perfecting Your Skills and Delegating Your Weaknesses

If you want to stand out from the crowd or competition at work, then you need to be seen as an expert in your field.

This takes action on your part and not just walking around telling people that you’re an expert.

Everyone has the potential to be an expert at what they do. Here are a few simple steps that you’ll need to follow first to be recognized as an expert.

Educate Yourself

First and foremost, make sure that you’re educated on what you’re doing.

If you’re working in the maintenance department of a company and you want to be seen as the go-to person on anything related to maintenance, then you need to know what you’re talking about.

Take evening courses at a local college to help further your education and keep you up to date on the latest knowledge and technology.

Read more. It doesn’t matter what you do as a profession, you need to take advantage of the vast knowledge in the library.

By expanding your knowledge you’ll also build your confidence.

Tell me one person that was ever seen as an expert that didn’t believe in themselves and what they were doing.

Can you name one? Not likely! With knowledge comes confidence.

Demonstrate Your Knowledge

It’s one thing to talk about what you know, but it’s something else entirely to actually do it.

Experts don’t walk around and brag about what they can do, they take action.

If you encounter a difficult problem or situation, you’ll be able to take charge and find a solution.

Be proactive. If a problem arises, take action right away to find a solution. If you don’t know the answer yourself, search out someone who does.

Even experts need to learn new things and they aren’t afraid to admit it to others.

Learn To Be a Great Communicator

People have to understand what you can do and why you’re the best one to do it.

This means that you have to understand and foresee the questions and concerns of others, then prepare and articulate the answers and solutions to them.

Great communicators don’t just boss others around. Use your communications skills to teach and empower your coworkers.

Always Act With Integrity

Don’t take credit for things you haven’t done and don’t take shortcuts.

Skipping out on doing something the right way doesn’t make you an expert, however, this doesn’t mean that you have to do everything yourself.

There will always be things we’re not so good at.

In those circumstances, you have to learn how to delegate those responsibilities to others who have the skills required to get the job done.

Part of being a good expert is seeing the strengths and weaknesses of others and how their talents can be put to good use.

Give others credit for a job well done. Wise leaders and the most incredible of experts don’t do everything themselves.

They have a talented team around them who have the skills they themselves lack.

By following these simple steps you’ll become the person with the answers. These are the experts who become irreplaceable and well respected because they take action.

Why does this make you feel healthier?

Have you practiced helping others without expectation?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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