feedback on critical thinking skills

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16 constructive feedback examples — and tips for how to use them

Giving constructive feedback is nerve-wracking for many people. But feedback is also necessary for thriving in the workplace. 

It helps people flex and grow into new skills, capabilities, and roles. It creates more positive and productive relationships between employees. And it helps to reach goals and drive business value.

But feedback is a two-way street. More often than not, it’s likely every employee will have to give constructive feedback in their careers. That’s why it’s helpful to have constructive feedback examples to leverage for the right situation. 

We know employees want feedback. But one study found that people want feedback if they’re on the receiving end . In fact, in every case, participants rated their desire for feedback higher as the receiver. While the fear of feedback is very real, it’s important to not shy away from constructive feedback opportunities. After all, it could be the difference between a flailing and thriving team. 

If you’re trying to overcome your fear of providing feedback, we’ve compiled a list of 16 constructive feedback examples for you to use. We’ll also share some best practices on how to give effective feedback . 

What is constructive feedback? 

When you hear the word feedback, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? What feelings do you have associated with feedback? Oftentimes, feedback conversations are anxiety-ridden because it’s assumed to be negative feedback. Unfortunately, feedback has this binary stigma, it’s either good or bad.

But in reality, there are plenty of types of feedback leveraged in both personal and professional relationships. They don’t all fall into one camp or the other. And each type of feedback is serving a purpose to ultimately better an individual, team, or work environment. 

For example, positive feedback can be used to reinforce desired behaviors or big accomplishments. Real-time feedback is reserved for those “in the moment” situations. Like if I’ve made a mistake or a typo in a blog, I’d want my teammates to give me real-time feedback . 

However, constructive feedback is its own ball game. 

What is constructive feedback?

Constructive feedback is a supportive way to improve areas of opportunity for an individual person, team, relationship, or environment. In many ways, constructive feedback is a combination of constructive criticism paired with coaching skills. 

16 constructive feedback examples to use 

To truly invest in building a feedback culture , your employees need to feel comfortable giving feedback. After all, organizations are people, which means we’re all human. We make mistakes but we’re all capable of growth and development. And most importantly, everyone everywhere should be able to live with more purpose, clarity, and passion. 

But we won’t unlock everyone’s full potential unless your people are comfortable giving feedback. Some employee feedback might be easier to give than others, like ways to improve a presentation. 

But sometimes, constructive feedback can be tricky, like managing conflict between team members or addressing negative behavior. As any leader will tell you, it’s critical to address negative behaviors and redirect them to positive outcomes. Letting toxic behavior go unchecked can lead to issues with employee engagement , company culture, and overall, your business’s bottom line. 

Regardless of where on the feedback spectrum your organization falls, having concrete examples will help set up your people for success. Let’s talk through some examples of constructive feedback. For any of these themes, it’s always good to have specific examples handy to help reinforce the feedback you’re giving. We’ll also give some sample scenarios of when these phrases might be most impactful and appropriate. 

Constructive feedback examples about communication skills  

An employee speaks over others and interrupts in team meetings.

“I’ve noticed you can cut off team members or interrupt others. You share plenty of good ideas and do good work. To share some communication feedback , I’d love to see how you can support others in voicing their own ideas in our team meetings.” 

An employee who doesn’t speak up or share ideas in team meetings.

“I’ve noticed that you don’t often share ideas in big meetings. But in our one-on-one meetings , you come up with plenty of meaningful and creative ideas to help solve problems. What can I do to help make you more comfortable speaking up in front of the team?” 

An employee who is brutally honest and blunt.

“Last week, I noticed you told a teammate that their work wasn’t useful to you. It might be true that their work isn’t contributing to your work, but there’s other work being spread across the team that will help us reach our organizational goals. I’d love to work with you on ways to improve your communication skills to help build your feedback skills, too. Would you be interested in pursuing some professional development opportunities?”  

An employee who has trouble building rapport because of poor communication skills in customer and prospect meetings.

“I’ve noticed you dive right into the presentation with our customer and prospect meetings. To build a relationship and rapport, it’s good to make sure we’re getting to know everyone as people. Why don’t you try learning more about their work, priorities, and life outside of the office in our next meeting?” 

Constructive feedback examples about collaboration 

An employee who doesn’t hold to their commitments on group or team projects.

“I noticed I asked you for a deliverable on this key project by the end of last week. I still haven’t received this deliverable and wanted to follow up. If a deadline doesn’t work well with your bandwidth, would you be able to check in with me? I’d love to get a good idea of what you can commit to without overloading your workload.”  

An employee who likes to gatekeep or protect their work, which hurts productivity and teamwork .

“Our teams have been working together on this cross-functional project for a couple of months. But yesterday, we learned that your team came across a roadblock last month that hasn’t been resolved. I’d love to be a partner to you if you hit any issues in reaching our goals. Would you be willing to share your project plan or help provide some more visibility into your team’s work? I think it would help us with problem-solving and preventing problems down the line.” 

An employee who dominates a cross-functional project and doesn’t often accept new ways of doing things.

“I’ve noticed that two team members have voiced ideas that you have shut down. In the spirit of giving honest feedback, it feels like ideas or new solutions to problems aren’t welcome. Is there a way we could explore some of these ideas? I think it would help to show that we’re team players and want to encourage everyone’s contributions to this project.” 

Constructive feedback examples about time management 

An employee who is always late to morning meetings or one-on-ones.

“I’ve noticed that you’re often late to our morning meetings with the rest of the team. Sometimes, you’re late to our one-on-ones, too. Is there a way I can help you with building better time management skills ? Sometimes, the tardiness can come off like you don’t care about the meeting or the person you’re meeting with, which I know you don’t mean.” 

A direct report who struggles to meet deadlines.

“Thanks for letting me know you’re running behind schedule and need an extension. I’ve noticed this is the third time you’ve asked for an extension in the past two weeks. In our next one-on-one, can you come up with a list of projects and the amount of time that you’re spending on each project? I wonder if we can see how you’re managing your time and identify efficiencies.” 

An employee who continuously misses team meetings.

“I’ve noticed you haven’t been present at the last few team meetings. I wanted to check in to see how things are going. What do you have on your plate right now? I’m concerned you’re missing critical information that can help you in your role and your career.” 

Constructive feedback examples about boundaries 

A manager who expects the entire team to work on weekends.

“I’ve noticed you send us emails and project plans over the weekends. I put in a lot of hard work during the week, and won’t be able to answer your emails until the work week starts again. It’s important that I maintain my work-life balance to be able to perform my best.” 

An employee who delegates work to other team members.

“I’ve noticed you’ve delegated some aspects of this project that fall into your scope of work. I have a full plate with my responsibilities in XYZ right now. But if you need assistance, it might be worth bringing up your workload to our manager.” 

A direct report who is stressed about employee performance but is at risk of burning out.

“I know we have performance reviews coming up and I’ve noticed an increase in working hours for you. I hope you know that I recognize your work ethic but it’s important that you prioritize your work-life balance, too. We don’t want you to burn out.”  

Constructive feedback examples about managing 

A leader who is struggling with team members working together well in group settings.

“I’ve noticed your team’s scores on our employee engagement surveys. It seems like they don’t collaborate well or work well in group settings, given their feedback. Let’s work on building some leadership skills to help build trust within your team.” 

A leader who is struggling to engage their remote team.

“In my last skip-levels with your team, I heard some feedback about the lack of connections . It sounds like some of your team members feel isolated, especially in this remote environment. Let’s work on ways we can put some virtual team-building activities together.” 

A leader who is micromanaging , damaging employee morale.

“In the last employee engagement pulse survey, I took a look at the leadership feedback. It sounds like some of your employees feel that you micromanage them, which can damage trust and employee engagement. In our next one-on-one, let’s talk through some projects that you can step back from and delegate to one of your direct reports. We want to make sure employees on your team feel ownership and autonomy over their work.” 

8 tips for providing constructive feedback 

Asking for and receiving feedback isn’t an easy task. 

But as we know, more people would prefer to receive feedback than give it. If giving constructive feedback feels daunting, we’ve rounded up eight tips to help ease your nerves. These best practices can help make sure you’re nailing your feedback delivery for optimal results, too.

Be clear and direct (without being brutally honest). Make sure you’re clear, concise, and direct. Dancing around the topic isn’t helpful for you or the person you’re giving feedback to. 

Provide specific examples. Get really specific and cite recent examples. If you’re vague and high-level, the employee might not connect feedback with their actions.

Set goals for the behavior you’d like to see changed. If there’s a behavior that’s consistent, try setting a goal with your employee. For example, let’s say a team member dominates the conversation in team meetings. Could you set a goal for how many times they encourage other team members to speak and share their ideas? 

Give time and space for clarifying questions. Constructive feedback can be hard to hear. It can also take some time to process. Make sure you give the person the time and space for questions and follow-up. 

Know when to give feedback in person versus written communication. Some constructive feedback simply shouldn’t be put in an email or a Slack message. Know the right communication forum to deliver your feedback.   

Check-in. Make an intentional effort to check in with the person on how they’re doing in the respective area of feedback. For example, let’s say you’ve given a teammate feedback on their presentation skills . Follow up on how they’ve invested in building their public speaking skills . Ask if you can help them practice before a big meeting or presentation. 

Ask for feedback in return. Feedback can feel hierarchical and top-down sometimes. Make sure that you open the door to gather feedback in return from your employees. 

Start giving effective constructive feedback 

Meaningful feedback can be the difference between a flailing and thriving team. To create a feedback culture in your organization, constructive feedback is a necessary ingredient. 

Think about the role of coaching to help build feedback muscles with your employees. With access to virtual coaching , you can make sure your employees are set up for success. BetterUp can help your workforce reach its full potential.

Understand Yourself Better:

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Madeline Miles

Madeline is a writer, communicator, and storyteller who is passionate about using words to help drive positive change. She holds a bachelor's in English Creative Writing and Communication Studies and lives in Denver, Colorado. In her spare time, she's usually somewhere outside (preferably in the mountains) — and enjoys poetry and fiction.

5 types of feedback that make a difference (and how to use them)

17 positive feedback examples to develop a winning team, how to give constructive feedback as a manager, become a pro at asking for feedback (and receiving it), should you use the feedback sandwich 7 pros and cons, why coworker feedback is so important and 5 ways to give it, are you receptive to feedback follow this step-by-step guide, how to get feedback from your employees, how managers get upward feedback from their team, 30 customer service review examples to develop your team, how to give feedback using this 4-step framework, how to give negative feedback to a manager, with examples, start, stop, continue: how to implement this retrospective model, how to embrace constructive conflict, 25 performance review questions (and how to use them), stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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37 Analytical Skills Self Evaluation Comments Examples

Self-evaluation of analytical skills can help us identify our strengths and weaknesses in this area, and develop strategies for improving our analytical abilities.

To evaluate your analytical skills, start by considering the types of tasks or projects you have worked on in the past that required analysis. Reflect on how you approached these tasks, what methods you used to collect and analyze data, and how you communicated your findings. Consider the outcomes of your analysis, and whether your conclusions were accurate and supported by evidence.

Next, consider your ability to think critically and creatively. Analytical skills require both the ability to analyze data and information, as well as the ability to think outside the box and find new solutions to problems. Evaluate your ability to identify patterns, make connections between seemingly unrelated information, and generate new ideas.

Also consider your communication skills. Analytical skills are only valuable if you can effectively communicate your findings and conclusions to others. Evaluate your ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner, and to explain your thought process and reasoning.

Questions to Ask Yourself to Evaluate Analytical Skills

• What are my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to analyzing complex data and information?
• How do I approach tasks that require analysis? Do I have a structured approach or do I tend to jump in without a clear plan?
• Am I able to identify patterns and connections between seemingly unrelated information?
• Do I consider multiple perspectives and potential outcomes when analyzing data?
• How do I communicate my findings and conclusions to others? Am I able to present complex information in a clear and concise manner?
• Do I have the ability to think critically and creatively? Can I generate new ideas and solutions to problems?
• How do I handle uncertainty and ambiguity when analyzing data?
• Do I have the necessary technical skills and tools to effectively analyze data?
• How do I ensure that my conclusions are supported by evidence and data?
• Am I open to feedback and willing to learn new analytical skills and techniques?

Examples of Analytical Skills Self-Evaluation Comments

Examples of positive comments.

• I am skilled at analyzing complex data and information to arrive at logical conclusions.
• I have a structured approach to analyzing data, which allows me to effectively manage large amounts of information.
• I am able to identify patterns and connections between seemingly unrelated information, which helps me to draw accurate conclusions.
• I am skilled at considering multiple perspectives and potential outcomes when analyzing data.
• I am able to present complex information in a clear and concise manner, which helps others to understand my findings and conclusions.
• I am able to think critically and creatively, which allows me to generate new ideas and solutions to problems.
• I am comfortable handling uncertainty and ambiguity when analyzing data, and am able to make informed decisions based on incomplete information.
• I have strong technical skills and am able to effectively use tools and software to analyze data.
• I am able to ensure that my conclusions are supported by evidence and data, which helps to build trust in my findings.
• I am open to feedback and am willing to learn new analytical skills and techniques to improve my abilities.
• I am able to quickly identify key trends and insights in data, which allows me to make informed decisions.
• I am skilled at synthesizing information from multiple sources to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of a problem or situation.
• I am able to effectively communicate the results of my analysis to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• I am able to identify potential biases and assumptions in my analysis, which helps me to avoid errors in my conclusions.
• I am able to use data visualization tools to effectively communicate complex information.
• I am able to identify gaps in data and information, and take steps to fill those gaps in order to arrive at more accurate conclusions.
• I am able to effectively manage large amounts of data and information, and am able to quickly identify key insights.
• I am able to identify potential risks and opportunities based on my analysis, which helps to inform strategic decision-making.
• I am able to effectively use data to identify trends and patterns, and to make predictions about future outcomes based on those trends and patterns.
• I am able to effectively prioritize information and focus on the most important factors when analyzing data.
• I am able to identify trends and patterns that may not be immediately obvious to others.
• I am able to use statistical analysis to draw accurate conclusions from data.
• I am able to work collaboratively with others to analyze data and arrive at shared conclusions.
• I am able to effectively communicate the limitations of my analysis, and to acknowledge areas where further research may be necessary.
• I am able to identify potential sources of bias in data and information, and take steps to mitigate those biases in my analysis.
• I am able to effectively manage my time and resources when analyzing data, and am able to prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
• I am able to effectively use data to inform decision-making, and am able to communicate the rationale behind my decisions.
• I am able to identify potential outliers in data, and take steps to investigate those outliers to ensure the accuracy of my analysis.
• I am able to effectively use both quantitative and qualitative data to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of a problem or situation.
• I am able to identify potential gaps in my knowledge or understanding of a problem, and take steps to fill those gaps in order to arrive at more accurate conclusions.

Examples of comments that indicate need for improvement

• I tend to jump into analyzing data without a clear plan.
• I struggle with identifying patterns and connections between seemingly unrelated information.
• I sometimes struggle to consider multiple perspectives and potential outcomes when analyzing data.
• I have difficulty presenting complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• I sometimes struggle to think critically and creatively.
• I find it challenging to handle uncertainty and ambiguity when analyzing data, which can lead to indecisiveness.
• I lack some technical skills and tools necessary to effectively analyze data.

Example Paragraph (Positive)

“I am pleased with my analytical skills and believe that they are a strength that I bring to my work. I am skilled at identifying patterns and connections between seemingly unrelated information, which allows me to draw accurate conclusions from data. I am able to think critically and creatively, which allows me to generate new ideas and solutions to problems. I am also able to effectively communicate my findings to others, which helps to build trust in my conclusions. While there are always areas for improvement, I believe that my analytical skills are a valuable asset to my work and I am committed to continuing to develop them. Overall, I am proud of my analytical abilities and believe that they contribute to my success as a problem solver and decision maker.”

Example Paragraph (Areas of Improvement)

“Overall, I believe that my analytical skills are strong, particularly when it comes to identifying key trends and insights in data. However, I recognize that there are areas where I could improve. One area is my ability to handle ambiguity and uncertainty when analyzing data. To address this, I plan to practice using decision-making frameworks and risk analysis techniques to help me make more informed decisions in uncertain situations. Another area for improvement is my ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner. To address this, I plan to work on developing my communication skills by practicing presenting information to both technical and non-technical audiences. Finally, I would like to improve my technical skills in order to better analyze data. To achieve this, I plan to take courses and attend workshops on statistical analysis and data visualization tools. I am committed to improving my analytical skills and believe that these actionable steps will help me achieve my goals.”

Tips for Effective Analytical Skills Self-Evaluation

• Be honest with yourself: It’s important to be honest about your strengths and weaknesses when evaluating your analytical skills. This will help you identify areas where you need to improve and develop strategies to enhance your abilities.
• Use specific examples: When evaluating your analytical skills, use specific examples from your work or personal life to illustrate your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you identify areas where you excel and areas where you need to improve.
• Focus on actionable steps: When identifying areas for improvement, focus on actionable steps that you can take to enhance your analytical skills. This may involve seeking out additional training or education, practicing critical thinking exercises, or working on improving your communication skills.
• Consider feedback from others: It can be helpful to seek feedback from colleagues or supervisors when evaluating your analytical skills. This can provide valuable insights into areas where you may need to improve.
• Celebrate your strengths: Don’t forget to celebrate your strengths when evaluating your analytical skills. Recognizing your strengths can help build confidence and motivation to continue to develop your skills.
• Set goals: Set specific goals for improving your analytical skills and develop a plan for achieving those goals. This will help you stay focused and motivated as you work to enhance your abilities.
• Reflect regularly: Regularly reflect on your progress and evaluate whether your strategies for improving your analytical skills are effective. Adjust your approach as needed to ensure that you are making progress towards your goals.

With dedication and effort, anyone can improve their analytical skills and become a more effective problem solver and decision maker.

• 42 Communication Skills Self Evaluation Comments Examples
• 26 Interpersonal Skills Self Evaluation Comments Examples
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• 30 Examples of Teamwork Self Evaluation Comments
• 31 Professionalism Self Evaluation Comments Examples

Effective Feedback Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking Skills in Online Learning Environments: An Online Assessment Learning Perspective

• Conference paper
• First Online: 15 June 2021
• Cite this conference paper

• Sharon Ndolo 14  

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Educational Technology ((LNET))

703 Accesses

2 Citations

This paper presents a thematic analysis of how higher education instructors can effectively provide feedback in the online learning environment, in such a way that, it promotes critical and creative thinking skills in the students. Feedback has been a great point of interest to many researchers. However, previous research has mainly focused on analyzing student perception toward the feedback they receive in the learning environment but, little focus is being put on how effective feedback should be delivered to the students, in such a way that sparks their thinking to greater heights improving the learning process. This comprehensive review of literature will explore various interactive feedback strategies such as, those recommended by prominent researchers (Narciss, 2008 ) that instructors can utilize. The paper will provide dominant themes within several research literature on feedback, with an aim of enhancing the quality of feedback in the online learning environment.

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Formative Assessment and Feedback Strategies

Student perceptions of assessment feedback: a critical scoping review and call for research

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Wolsey, T. (2008). Efficacy of instructor feedback on written work in an online program. International Journal on E-Learning, 7 (2).

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Acknowledgements

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my major professor Dr. Tandra Tyler-Wood for sponsoring my studies and providing good academic advice and supports during my study.

I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Michael Spector who provided me with great resources that I used in this paper. Dr. Spector provided a lot of re-assurance when coming up with the paper and encouraged me to keep on working on it even when I had various concerns. Without Dr. Spector’s guidance and re-assurance, this paper would have not been as useful as it is.

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Department of English Language and Literature, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan

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Department of Applied Foreign Languages, National Taipei University of Business, Taipei, Taiwan

Siao-Cing Guo

Learning Technologies, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

J. Michael Spector

Department of Linguistics, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

Shobhana Chelliah

College of Information, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

Department of Chinese as a Second Language, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan

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Ndolo, S. (2021). Effective Feedback Strategies that Promote Critical Thinking Skills in Online Learning Environments: An Online Assessment Learning Perspective. In: Wen, Y., et al. Expanding Global Horizons Through Technology Enhanced Language Learning. Lecture Notes in Educational Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7579-2_10

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Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

• Developing technical and problem-solving skills
• Engaging in more active listening
• Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
• Seeking out more diversity of thought
• Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

• What information should be included?
• Which information resources should the author look to?
• What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
• What is the most effective way to show information?
• How should the report be organized?
• How should it be designed?
• What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

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Critical Thinking AI in Cybersecurity: A Stretch or a Possibility? Critical Thinking AI in Cybersecurity: A Stretch or a Possibility?

It might still sound far-fetched to say AI can develop critical thinking skills and help us make decisions in the cybersecurity industry. But we're not far off.

August 21, 2024

Will artificial intelligence ever think for us? In 2024, when AI is still in somewhat of an early stage, this might be a loaded question. In cybersecurity, the technology doesn't go beyond automating repetitive tasks, leaving security teams to do the decision-making bit. However, AI's impressive growth in the past two years inevitably makes us wonder if, soon enough, it will be used for critical thinking activities in the sector.

This question becomes even more pressing as hackers increasingly use AI to build better, more sophisticated attacks. And, as KPMG posits, the industry must  use AI to fight AI . If the industry wishes to be a step ahead of malicious actors, it must also elevate the technology to fight fire with fire. So, security teams must train their AI models to be smarter than their hacker counterparts, nearing critical thinking levels to outsmart attacks.

While AI's possibilities seem limitless and AI cyberattacks are a pressing matter, we can't get ahead of ourselves. There are many improvements yet to be made, and it's up to the cybersecurity industry to channel its development in the correct path. Where should the industry concentrate its efforts so AI can eventually aid in critical thinking tasks?

Let's explore the current state of AI technology in cybersecurity, the obstacles facing its development, and what leaders can do to get it closer to a critical thinking stage.

What's the Current State of AI In Cybersecurity?

In the larger scope, we are still attempting to build trustworthy AI that can generate accurate answers without hallucinations (which have proven to be extremely harmful to cybersecurity). In the cybersecurity industry, it's helping chief information security officers (CISOs) streamline workflows and forensics examine cyberattack incidents. It also provides valuable insights into new attack vectors.

Needless to say, when we talk about critical thinking technology, its purpose will be to aid humans in making decisions that require more than a yes or no answer and to go beyond the current logic we give it — analyzing angles, forecasting outcomes, and suggesting favorable choices.

For example, let's say a company receives a convincing phishing email that appears to be from their CEO requesting an urgent wire transfer of a large sum of money. Traditional AI would simply analyze keywords in the email and sender address. If they match the CEO's information, the transfer could be flagged as legitimate but not necessarily verified.

On the other hand, critical thinking AI would analyze the email content, verify the request, identify anomalies, and cross reference data. This could mean the AI directly contacts the CEO to confirm he made the request, alert security teams about suspicious activities, and check on the CEO's calendar to see if he was even available at the time the email was sent.

AI never makes any vital choices in this scenario because the complexities of our lives, work, and decisions involve numerous little factors that it may not fully comprehend, at least for now. However, it does assess more data points than traditional AI, and becomes more resourceful on its own accord. Ultimately, humans should monitor and confirm its decisions before anything else is done.

This constant vigilance is crucial, especially considering the ongoing arms race with cybercriminals:  93% of leaders already expect  daily AI-powered cyberattacks. While the technology is being used to strengthen and secure systems, malicious actors have also found ways to refine their attacks and outsmart cybersecurity protocols — meaning leaders must keep pushing the boundaries of AI to keep platforms safe.

What Are the Most Pressing Obstacles to Building Smarter AI?

It's clear there is a long road ahead to achieving an AI tool we can trust with decision-making in the cybersecurity world. We must start by addressing some major pain points in how we implement the technology right now, like lack of context, data sharing, and unforeseen incidents.

AI is built on large language models (LLM) that can process vast amounts of data, but we might fail to give it a crucial piece of information: context. AI systems often lack the detailed understanding of personal and organizational specifics needed to make accurate choices that reflect a company and its members, leading to potential misjudgments. By giving it company, industry, and more task-specific context, it can begin to arrive at more well-rounded conclusions.

Explaining the "why" will empower AI to discern the best choices in given situations.

Lastly, the technology requires an extreme level of accuracy in terms of its algorithms, data quality, and prompt specificity to achieve the desired outcome. This means training data and algorithms must be optimized continuously, and prompt engineering must be taught to all users.

What Steps Can Cybersecurity Leaders Take to Refine AI?

To fully harness AI's potential while maintaining security, there must be a way to safely provide AI with the necessary context and information. One approach is to create secure and controlled methods for feeding relevant data to AI systems, ensuring they understand the specific goals, context, and security priorities of an organization. For example, automating security scans across attack surfaces can align data with security objectives. Implementing explainable AI  and context and scenario-building training data can also help improve AI's critical thinking.

And, as with anything, AI needs limits if we want to get the most optimal results. These limitations will help reign in the tech, preventing it from going out of scope and performing actions that developers didn't anticipate. This is particularly important when considering AI agents capable of executing specific tasks within the context of LLMs. For example, imagine using AI to transfer money for a mortgage payment but instructing it with a twist: "Don't use my money, use John Doe's." It must be developed to avoid unintended manipulation.

It might still sound wild to say AI can develop critical thinking skills and help us make decisions in the cybersecurity industry. However, we're not too far off, and developing the technology through the right path can help businesses build a smarter and more intuitive tool — going above and beyond automation and monitoring.

About the Author

Nenad Zaric

CEO & Co-founder, Trickest

Nenad Zaric is an offensive security professional with more than 10 years of experience in penetration testing, bug bounty hunting, and security automation. He is the co-founder and CEO of Trickest, a company focused on automated offensive cybersecurity. Before founding Trickest, he found critical vulnerabilities in Fortune 500 companies such as Uber, Snapchat, Spotify, Twitter, and Airbnb.

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Critical Thinking: 40 Useful Performance Feedback Phrases

Critical Thinking: Use these sample phrases to craft meaningful performance evaluations, drive change and motivate your workforce.

Critical Thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally while understanding the logical connection between ideas in a reflective and independent thinking.

Critical Thinking: Exceeds Expectations Phrases

• Highly demonstrates assertive and decisive ability when finding solutions for problems.
• Knows how to communicate ideas and issues easily in a very clear and concise manner.
• Able to piece together elements and come up with proper deductions on issues.
• Knows how to clarify problems and solutions easily so that other people can understand.
• Evaluates ideas and opinions in an unbiased manner without favoritism.
• Thinks through issues in a very logical manner that results in finding the best solution to a problem.
• Demonstrates excellent problem-solving skills by accessing a problem and devising the best possible solution for it.
• Takes in into consideration different and varied perspectives when solving problems.
• Examines the implications and possible consequences to any particular action carefully.
• Solves problems one by one so as not to mix up issues and ideas.

Critical Thinking: Meets Expectations Phrases

• Uses strategic approachability and skill when it comes to solving issues.
• Demonstrates well assertive and decisive ability when it comes to handling problems.
• Tries to always consider all factors at play before deciding on a particular methods or way.
• Gathers all the required facts and figures before starting to solve a particular problem.
• Always seeks to ask questions as a form of finding a sound basis to solving a problem.
• Not afraid to make mistakes and tries to find creative ways to handle any issue.
• Looks at issues in different angles and not in a one-sided way.
• Shows great flexibility when it comes to changing strategies and tact while dealing with different problems.
• Questions regularly to find out if the decision taken will achieve the desired effect.
• Always feels comfortable and confident when seeking help or advice whenever stuck on solving any issue.

Critical Thinking: Needs Improvement Phrases

• Does not take the time to consider all factors available before making a decision carefully.
• Looks at issues in a one-sided manner instead of having different varied ways of looking at it.
• Finds it challenging to arrive at a concrete conclusion after undertaking any evaluation.
• Not willing to do proper research and relies on outdated data and information.
• Does not demonstrate a curious type of attitude to try to find out a little bit more on issues.
• Not willing to accept corrections and take calculated risks when necessary.
• Does not show enough willingness to try to improve the critical thinking skills.
• Does not present ideas and points in a logical order or outline.
• Looks at issues in a biased and unfair way by not evaluating all factors.
• Not willing and inflexible to change tact or strategy when the initial plan fails to achieve the desired effect

Critical Thinking: Self Evaluation Questions

• How well do you research and gather facts and information before solving an issue?
• Give an instance you hurriedly made a decision without thinking it through and what was the result?
• Elaborate on a given occasion that you made the best decision. How did you feel about it?
• How well do you consider all the factors available before making your decision?
• Do you get to appreciate and learn from your mistakes and how do you deal with making wrong decisions?
• Do you always try to inquire further, what could be the missing elements that could achieve a positive outcome?
• How well do you consider having a concrete conclusion when presenting your ideas?
• When expressing your ideas do you deliver them in a logical manner?
• Do you usually look at issues in a one-sided manner or at different angles?
• How flexible are you when it comes to trying different ways of solving problems other than the intended way.

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Cultivating critical thinking in the digital age

Nurturing this skill from a young age lays the foundation for lifelong learning and effective decision-making..

Published - August 24, 2024 01:41 pm IST

Acquiring critical thinking skills is not an overnight process; it requires nurturing from a young age.  | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockPhoto

T oday, we are constantly bombarded by information with Each day bringing a deluge of news, social media updates, and diverse opinions. As a result, the ability to engage in critical thinking is more essential than ever. Without the capacity to critically evaluate this flood of information, there’s a significant risk of making hasty decisions based on incomplete or misleading data. Recognising this, the World Economic Forum has highlighted critical thinking as one of the paramount skills for the 21st century.

The quality of our personal and professional life is deeply intertwined with the quality of our thinking. However, our cognitive processes are influenced by personal experiences, biases, and preconceptions, leading to a disconnect between perceived realities and the actual world. This can have adverse effects on interpersonal interactions and our relationship with the environment. Thus, fostering intellectual autonomy through critical thinking is imperative to bridge this cognitive gap.

Critical thinking, as defined by Richard Paul and Linda Elder from the Foundation for Critical Thinking, involves skillfully taking charge of the structures inherent in the act of thinking and imposing intellectual standards upon them. This intricate process requires a deliberate slowing down of one’s thought process to meticulously observe and evaluate information before accepting it.

The relevance of critical thinking today is underscored by the phenomenon of “fake news”. For instance, during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, false stories proliferated on social media, significantly influencing public opinion and voter behaviour. Moreover, the emergence of deepfakes — highly realistic digital forgeries of videos and images — further complicates our ability to discern truth from falsehood. In such a landscape, individuals equipped with critical thinking skills hold a distinct advantage.

Early beginnings

Acquiring critical thinking skills is not an overnight process; it requires nurturing from a young age. Richard Dawkins advises parents and educators to cultivate independent thinking in children. Encourage them to ask probing questions and base their opinions on sound reasoning rather than blindly following trends or ideologies.

A fundamental way to cultivate critical thinking is to encourage a child’s natural curiosity. Children are inherently inquisitive, constantly asking questions about the world around them. Parents and educators can nurture this curiosity by providing thoughtful and detailed answers, prompting children to think deeper about their questions.

Teaching children to ask open-ended questions is another effective strategy. This encourages exploration of various possibilities and thinking more broadly. Questions such as “What do you think would happen if…?” or “Why do you believe this character acted in this way?” stimulate critical thinking and help children develop the ability to consider multiple perspectives.

Children should also be encouraged to develop their argumentative skills. This involves teaching them how to construct logical arguments, support their viewpoints with evidence, and respectfully challenge opposing views. Activities such as debates, discussions, and persuasive writing exercises are beneficial.

In the curriculum

Integrating critical thinking into the educational curriculum is essential. Subjects like Science, Maths, Literature, and Social Studies lend themselves to critical thinking naturally. For instance, in Science, students can design experiments, test hypotheses, and analyse results. In Literature, they can interpret texts, analyse characters’ motivations, and explore themes. History classes can focus on evaluating sources, understanding cause and effect, and considering different historical perspectives.

Reflection is a crucial component of critical thinking. Encouraging children to reflect on their learning processes and outcomes helps them understand how they arrived at their conclusions and consider how they might improve. This can be facilitated through reflective journals, where students write about what they learnt, the strategies they used, and what they found challenging.

Modelling critical thinking behaviours is essential for adults. When parents and teachers demonstrate critical thinking in their daily lives, children are more likely to adopt these behaviours. This might involve thinking aloud when solving a problem, discussing how to evaluate information sources, or reflecting on decisions and their outcomes.

Creating a safe and supportive environment for discussion is essential. Children should feel comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions without fear of ridicule or harsh criticism. Encouraging respectful dialogue and valuing diverse perspectives helps children learn to consider different viewpoints.

In the current digital age, media literacy is a crucial component of critical thinking. Children need to learn how to navigate the vast amount of information available online and discern credible sources from unreliable ones. Educators can incorporate lessons on evaluating websites, understanding biases in media, and recognising misinformation.

Cultivating critical thinking from a young age lays the foundation for lifelong learning and effective decision-making. By encouraging inquiry, promoting argumentation, integrating critical thinking into the curriculum, and providing a supportive environment, we help children develop the skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex world. As they grow, these skills will enable them to think independently, evaluate information critically, and contribute meaningfully to society.

The writer is Assistant Professor, Institute of Management, JK Lakshmipat University.

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Build a Mathematical Mind - Even If You Think You Can't Have One: Become a Pattern Detective. Boost Your Critical and Logical Thinking Skills. (Advanced Thinking Skills) Paperback – January 29, 2023

• Book 3 of 6 Advanced Thinking Skills
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Albert Rutherford dedicated his entire life to find the best, evidence-based practices for optimal decision-making. His personal mantra is, "ask better questions to find more accurate answers and draw more profound insights."

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He firmly believes in Benjamin Franklin's words, “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

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"I read this book through in almost one setting. It provides reason for and clarity about the need for math and how it really is for all of us...." Read more

"...For sure this math motivating book was a psychological boost ." Read more

"Albert does an amazing job of simplifying and providing a thoughtful presentation of math ...." Read more

Customers find the book a good read.

"This is a great book to read alongside "Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers"...." Read more

"...Really liked the chapters on tinkering and guessing. Good read overall ...." Read more

"A wonderful book by an excellent writer . Your ability to understand and work with numbers will be enhanced by reading it...." Read more

" This book was really great . I enjoyed looking at this topic in a different way." Read more

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