You’ve probably heard many times that “thinking better” is key to making better decisions. But here’s an uncomfortable truth: we don’t think as well as we believe. Most of the time, we operate on autopilot reacting more than reasoning.
In the latest episode of Digital Talks by t2ó ONE, Esther Checa talks with Alicia Chavero, CEO of the consultancy The Crew Concept, about a skill that makes all the difference in today’s environment: critical thinking. The conclusion is clear: it’s not enough to have ideas you need to know how to evaluate the quality of the reasoning behind them.
For years, companies have focused on creativity generating more ideas, more innovation, more disruption. But there’s a problem: when it comes time to decide, many organizations lack the tools to analyze, argue, and choose effectively.
It’s like having many options on the table… but not knowing which one is actually worth it.
🎧 What will you hear in this podcast?
More than theory, this conversation brings critical thinking into everyday professional life:
- How to distinguish between thinking and thinking well
- Why generating ideas isn’t enough if you don’t know how to evaluate them
- What questions help you avoid superficial decisions
- How to spot unproductive conversations in your team
- What traits define people who truly think critically
Alicia explains it very clearly: critical thinking is not just about analyzing information, it’s about being able to assess the quality of your own reasoning. It’s not enough to think about a problem; you need to be aware of how you’re thinking about it, detect biases, and understand whether your conclusions are solid or if you’re simply reacting on autopilot.
In that sense, it works like a quality control system applied to our ideas. And this is where we often fail. We enter conversations without clearly defining what we’re talking about, what the real problem is, or from which perspective we’re approaching it. The result is that we think we disagree on solutions, when in reality each person is trying to solve a different problem.
That’s why one of the most practical takeaways from the episode is learning to ask better questions before jumping to answers. Defining concepts, aligning on the problem, and understanding the approach completely changes the quality of any conversation.
And it’s precisely in conversation where critical thinking becomes visible in the ability to listen, to build on what others say, to synthesize, and to avoid clinging to one’s own ideas. This is where a key differentiator comes into play: intellectual humility. The ability to change your mind when a better argument appears and to prioritize the quality of the solution over ego.
All of this, however, clashes with an obvious reality: we live on autopilot. Between distractions, multitasking, and lack of attention, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to think deeply. That’s why the first step to developing critical thinking isn’t applying complex methodologies, but something much simplerand more demanding: paying attention.
Pay attention to how you think, how you react, and how you arrive at your conclusions. Because only when you understand your own reasoning can you begin to improve it.
If you want to dive deeper into this idea and take away practical tools to apply it in your daily life, you can now listen to the full episode of Digital Talks by t2ó ONE on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and iVoox.
If you enjoyed it and find it valuable for your business, don’t miss the other episodes you’ll learn from the best!
