How You Think Matters
/Every decision you make as a leader begins long before you speak.
It begins with how you think.
The questions you ask. The assumptions you make. The stories you tell yourself. The possibilities you see...or don't see.
I know “thinking about how you think” is very meta – but how you think affects how you lead. It shapes what you believe and the reality you create. It even impacts your capacity for resiliency!
I want to know how my clients think about solving a problem, building relationships, and becoming even better leaders. Their thinking process gives me insights into their belief systems, emotional states, and what they see as possible for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. How they think sets the tone.
According to the World Economic Forum, core skills that are on the rise in 2030 include analytical thinking, AI and big data, creative thinking, resilience, technological literacy, and lifelong learning. These skills reflect the increasing requirement for people to lead, innovate, and pivot in a changing work environment. [Source: WEF, Future of Jobs Report 2025, EconomicsInsider.com]
I often get asked if the skills of creativity, curiosity, resiliency, and critical thinking can be learned – or if they are simply inherent in some people’s DNA. While it’s true that these vital skills may come more naturally to some than others, they are absolutely something that can be developed with intentionality, feedback, and practice! I believe choosing to be diligent in how we think and how we show up is an act of commitment to life-long learning.
Critical thinking is the ability to pause, evaluate the facts, challenge assumptions, and make thoughtful decisions rather than simply reacting.
In today's workplace, it’s hard not to value speed over reflection. Pausing – even to think critically – can feel like a luxury. Yet, thinking critically helps leaders solve problems more effectively, navigate ambiguity with more confidence, reduce costly mistakes, and make decisions that align with organizational goals instead of short-term emotions or habits.
In the newsletter, “Both/And” from Your Tech Ally, Sean Dagony-Clark asks his readers, “Are you letting AI think for you?” He invites us to use AI as an assistant, an editor, and a brainstorming partner but cautions us about abdicating our decision-making and critical thinking responsibilities. His mantra: “AI can generate, but a human should elevate.”
AI is a resource, not a replacement for the humanness of thinking, learning, or leading! AI can generate options. Leaders still need discernment and the ability to find and use their own true voice. That kind of authenticity is a trust builder!
At its heart, critical thinking is disciplined curiosity.
It's the practice of slowing down long enough to ask better questions, examining multiple perspectives, and understanding the root cause of a problem before taking action. It also helps us become more aware of ourselves, others, and the broader system in which we are operating – and that awareness can put you in the driver’s seat!
Critical thinking transforms reactive workplaces into intentional ones by improving decision-making, strengthening collaboration, reducing risk, and helping teams adapt confidently to change.
You can start by replacing assumptions with inquiry.
A few examples:
1. A department manager notices production delays. One leader concludes, "People just aren't accountable." Another asks, "What changed in the workflow? What are we assuming? What obstacles are people facing?"
2. Someone sends an email that feels abrupt. A reactive thinker assumes disrespect. A critical thinker becomes curious, even empathetic – “I wonder what’s really going on here.” - before becoming certain.
Critical thinking isn’t about being disagreeable or argumentative, or defending a position. It’s being willing to explore thinking patterns and rationales in a collaborative manner and in a way that best serves the organization.
You don’t have to have all the answers – but you do have to bring some courage and desire to explore the pitfalls and possibilities. Leaders navigate uncertainty and mitigate risk every single day. Bringing curiosity to your interactions will give you better data, while fostering respectful and trustworthy relationships.
I connect critical thinking to having agency – an essential ingredient of organizational resilience. A hallmark of someone who truly owns their role is that they don't simply accept the status quo or wait for answers.
Before making your next important decision, ask:
· What assumptions am I making? What evidence do I have?
· What perspective am I missing?
· What's really driving this issue?
· What blind spots and biases are clouding my vision?
· What might I be taking personally?
· What outcome are we trying to achieve? What problem are we solving for?
· What part of this belongs to me?
Owning your role isn't about being self-centered or being the hero. It's about becoming the kind of person others can rely on because you consistently bring initiative, accountability, generosity, and follow through to the work.
Critical thinking isn't just a cognitive skill. It's a leadership habit that turns personal agency into wise action. When we own our roles, we don't just own our tasks. We own the quality of our thinking, the impact of our decisions, and the experience we create for the people around us.
When you can hold your values firmly and your thinking freely, you become a powerful steward of your organization’s culture.
Drive the Experience.
For one week, replace one complaint every day with one contribution.
Instead of: Someone should... Ask: What can I do?
Instead of: They need to... Ask: How can I help move this forward?
You'll be surprised how quickly your influence grows.
Organizations become healthier when individuals become more intentional.
We don't always control our circumstances, but we do have tremendous influence over the quality of our thinking. And the quality of our thinking ultimately shapes the quality of our leadership.
How you think matters!
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