Page 188 - 4- Leading_from_Within

driving force behind any planning, negotiation, conflict-resolution, or
decision-making. If there were no barriers in the way of achieving a goal,
then there would be no problem. Problem-solving involves overcoming
the barriers or obstacles that prevent the immediate achievement of goals.

Leaders within the organization are either solving a problem for a
customer/client, supporting those who are solving problems, or
discovering new problems to solve. The most successful decision-makers
and negotiators are generally outstanding problem-solvers. If differences
or conflicts are viewed as problems to be solved, creative solutions can be

found that enhance the positions of both sides, and the parties may even be
brought closer together.

Critical thinking is not a skill that everyone has, but it is a skill that
everyone can develop. Everyone has the ability to think, of course, since it

is human nature to do so. But much of our thinking tends to be locked in
past prejudices, biases, subjective perceptions, and the lack of appropriate
information. Critical thinking, on the other hand, involves a trained and
disciplined approach to using the mind to process information and convert
it to relevant knowledge. As the level of complexity in the economy and
the community rises, the need for critical thinking is all the more
important.

Critical thinking and problem solving are basically synonymous. Critical
thinking involves conceptualizing an issue or problem, knowing where to
look for relevant data and information, knowing how to analyze and
synthesize that data and information, and then using it to make a decision

that improves the situation. Effective leading always involves the solving
of problems. One is not doing good critical thinking if one isn’t solving
any problems. Good leaders are able to anticipate problems often before
they happen, and can define them clearly and precisely. They are then
capable of thinking open-mindedly about the various alternative solutions

to problems and then work to develop ways to prevent the problems from
happening or escalating. Thinking our way through a problem to a
solution, then, is critical thinking.

Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better

David Kolzow 188