Hi there,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• Critical thinking is a skill that can be developed and improved upon with practice. Here are a few tips that may help you to become a more independent thinker:
  • Practice actively questioning information: When you come across new information or ideas, try to ask yourself questions about it. Why do you think this is true? Could there be other perspectives or explanations?
  • Consider multiple viewpoints: Try to expose yourself to a variety of perspectives on a given topic, rather than just accepting the first viewpoint you come across. This can help you to develop a more nuanced understanding of an issue.
  • Seek out new experiences: By experiencing new things, you can expose yourself to new ways of thinking and broaden your perspective.
  • Engage in regular reflection: Take time to think about your beliefs and opinions and consider how they may have changed over time. This can help you to identify any biases you may have and to develop a more open-minded approach.
  • Practice critical thinking skills in everyday life: Look for opportunities to practice critical thinking in your everyday life. For example, when you read the news, try to evaluate the credibility of the sources and consider different perspectives on the issues being discussed.
• I hope these suggestions are helpful. It's important to remember that developing critical thinking skills takes time and practice, but it's a worthwhile effort that can pay off in many areas of your life.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Let's break this down into two parts.

 First is having different opinions than others. To develop this, you will need to start reading widely on a topic such that you start to understand how people form their opinions (beliefs / evidence / experience / gut feeling / stories). You should then start to question why certain things are the way they are and develop a mindset of trying to challenge what you hear internally on a regular basis.

Second is voicing those opinions. Here, there are books and lectures on how to influence people and communicate in an impactful way. Plenty of videos on YouTube which contain info on these.

Hello,

This is a pretty interesting question! I come from a similar culture too, here are my thoughts:

1) It is key to surround yourself with open minded individuals / diverse individuals - at work/school/clubs etc. The more you meet with people from different cultures or from an open minded culture, you will automatically realize that your opinions matter!

2) Even if you don't have people like this at your job, try to find a group of like minded individuals - maybe people who are also applying for consulting jobs! There are online forums like PrepLounge/CaseCoach/RocketBlocks where you can practice mocks with peers. Try and practice more brainstorming/creative thinking type questions to push yourself to think outside the box.

3) This is a bit unconventional - but it might help to take an online course in body language / voice modulation etc. There are tons of free resources out there too. This will help you really stand out from the crowd when it comes to expressing your thoughts!

Hope this helps!

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any specific questions  :) 

Best,

Rushabh

I totally subscribe Ian's great comment.

Let me just add that the critical building block of critical thinking (no pun intended) is logic. 

Read a book on “practical” and “basic” logic (Venn diagrams, inferences, modus ponens, etc) and you will have some material to practice your logical skills.

Beyond that, I am sure you have a personal compass, so, applying it alongside logic and a strong check of sources is a good way to improve critical reasoning.

Hello!

Your question is so thoughtful, and I believe it speaks really really highly of you to be pushing yourself this way. Congrats, you will make it far, in consulting or wherever you end. 

I don't think you will find an answer in this forum, it's more a therapy kind of question. But I wanted to congratulate you on your growth mindset. 

Cheers, 

Clara