Why is critical thinking a game-changer for developers?
I was often asked if doing a Ph.D. was worth it, considering that I left academia and went to the industry. The clear answer is yes because there, I learned some skills that, as a developer, I wouldn’t have, such as how to write, how to collaborate, how to do critical thinking, etc. The most important skill I learned is how to do critical thinking. And it is also something coming deep from my nature, as saying: “we are always doing it in this way” is usually not a good enough explanation for me.
Our industry must continuously test the benefits and drawbacks of different technologies, architectural approaches, etc. It is knowing how to approach and try those options and make proper decisions. Critical thinking is a way to process information before you get an answer or conclusion. Critical thinking and problem-solving are the things that make good developers great.
Usually, a process of critical thinking goes in the following steps:
- Analyze the problem from different perspectives and discover the facts
- Challenge your biases by asking yourself whether you’re making assumptions
- Hypothesize possible solutions based on an understanding of the problem and your past knowledge
- Test and compare the effectiveness of each solution and the feasibility of implementation
- Select one solution that fits your criteria
- Communicate results to as vast a pool as possible and take actions
The most important step 2. can be approached by asking some good questions:
✅ Is this necessary to do at all?
✅ Are we solving the right problem?
✅ Are we solving the problem in the right way?
✅ What goal do we want to achieve with this?
✅ Can we take another look at this?
✅ How can we break big problems into smaller ones?
✅ How do I know I succeeded?
✅ Is this solution good enough?
These are some examples of questions you can ask. Not all the questions you ask yourself have to have an answer. Talk about such issues with your management, the owner of the business, or the client. Understanding what problem you are fixing, why, and whether this does not cause new issues elsewhere.
What differentiates critical thinkers from others is that they are curious, drop less helpful information and use the right ones, use reliable sources, listen actively, communicate effectively, and have empathy.
Below is a helper cheat sheet that can guide you through the critical thinking process.
Thanks for reading, and stay awesome!
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Originally published at https://newsletter.techworld-with-milan.com on December 7, 2023.
