When were faced with a decision to make it is easy to weave in and out of critical thinking and creative thinking.  Most people do.  It is hard to think of someone just doing exclusively one or the other. When we stop to ask questions and try to map out the options for our decision we are critically looking at it. However, when we are brainstorming, we are implementing creative thinking.  

The EBOOK COLLECTION:  Read Keys to College Studying, Chapter 3 lays out seven steps to putting both of these skills to use.  

Step 1: Analyze the problem by defining the problem.  

Step 2: Analyze the problem by gathering information.  

Step 3: Create possible solutions to the problem.  

Step 4:  Evaluate solutions, the pro’s and con’s.

Step 5:  Choose and act.

Step 6: Reevaluate how well the solution worked.  

Step 7:  Apply the results of what you have learned in the future.  

So taking a scientific method approach to decision making sounds more critical than creative, but actually it is both.  You are using the structure and analysis aspect of critical decision making all while using creativity to fill in the gaps and brainstorm through the process.   How could we go wrong? Well, we do and that’s just a fact.  

Taking in all the facts to a problem and making a critical and creative solution to it sounds, well easy, but it often isn’t.  We get distracted and take a proverbial exit on the road to our destinations.  Decision making happens everyday and everyday people make mistakes. The assistance comes in step 7.  If we made a decision and it didn’t work out so well, we learn from that and try not to repeat it in the future. Same applies if it worked out well. We do repeat it in the future. 

So let’s get creative and come up with at least 5 decisions that are on your plate for the next 5 years. Apply the top 7 steps and get busy critically looking at them.  It can be fun. Really!