This past week, someone I was working with said, “You are teaching me how to fish”.
Now before you picture me in waders, standing in a river somewhere with a fly fishing rod and project plan, let me clarify that no actual fish were involved.
We were tackling a complex problem, one that the organization had never faced before. And we had nothing to start with, just a blank page. I knew the direction we needed to go, and it would have been faster for me to hand over a potential answer.
But instead we did the slower thing. We thought.
Which raises the question: what exactly are “critical thinking skills,” and why does it feel like taking the long way around?
At its core, critical thinking means questioning the process so you can see what is actually true, not just what feels familiar or convenient.
The organization that certifies project managers, the Project Management Institute, puts it this way:
“Corporate leaders have put critical thinking at the top of the list of essential competencies needed by their workers to understand these challenges, explore opportunities, and make good decisions in this new competitive environment.”
What this means is that with complex tasks, we need to put on our ‘thinking caps’ instead of our usual ‘doing hats’, because jumping in without thinking is a lot like fishing without bait.
How do you know you are thinking critically? Look for these signs:
- Clarify the situation.
Lay out the risks, issues, and concerns so everyone can clearly see what’s going on. - Watch for the signals.
Conflict, groupthink, and stalling are often early warning signs that something deeper is underway. - Offer a couple of paths.
You don’t need all the answers, but presenting one or two viable options helps move things forward. - Make it matter.
Connect the work to what people genuinely care about so they stay engaged and invested.
And the best advice I can give is to ask yourself the right questions so you don’t fall into the assumption trap.
If you’re doing these, you’re not just fishing, you’re increasing your chances of actually catching something.
Happy fishing everyone!
With 20+ years project management experience, Barbara Kephart has led projects across industries like medical software, clinical trials, and cybersecurity. With experience teaching technical project management and stakeholder engagement, Barbara is dedicated to helping companies pivot, prioritize, and complete projects with Chief Project Officer-level expertise, project professionals, practical training, and hands-on management—without the executive-level price tag.