Critical thinking and communication are closely linked. The ability to think critically and see things from different perspectives leads to better communication. Communication problems often stem from a lack of critical thinking. Following another person’s thought process and reasoning also improves communication. Critical thinking skills indirectly improve communication by increasing knowledge and wisdom. Educators should teach students how to solve problems and communicate effectively.
Communication and critical thinking are linked in many important ways. At a basic level, the ability to think critically, reason through a problem, and develop a compelling argument or explanation is important for all types of day-to-day communication. People with the ability to really think about an issue and see it from a different perspective will most likely be better communicators and less likely to react quickly in anger. On another level, critical thinkers often examine how other people think and argue before choosing to answer for themselves. This type of analysis is another very important aspect of the connection of communication to critical thinking.
In many cases, communication problems are based on an inability to think critically about a situation and see it from different perspectives. Communication and critical thinking are linked in this way because people who possess the ability to solve problems and consider other perspectives tend to be better communicators than those who don’t. While this is important for friendly discussions and debates, it’s also good for all different types of communication, including business relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships. Despite this, many people are never taught the positive link between communication and critical thinking.
Another important link between communication and critical thinking is the ability to learn to follow another person’s thought process and line of reasoning. An individual who is able to think critically about how another person is arguing will be able to formulate a more effective response, more quickly, than someone who is not. In some practices such as law, this skill can be invaluable. Thankfully it’s something you can learn and practice, and it’s definitely a skill you can improve over time; by the same token, however, it cannot be learned overnight, and must be developed with practice and experience.
In some situations, critical thinking skills improve communication in an indirect way. Someone who is interested in a certain subject, for example, and has the ability to think and formulate questions about what they still need to learn will likely take steps to acquire this knowledge. Greater knowledge and wisdom will always be helpful in different types of communications with others. Regardless, recognizing the important links between communication and critical thinking skills is important for people of all ages and professions; educators especially may want to bring some of this theory into their lesson plans to teach students not only how to solve problems, but how to be better communicators in the process.
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