Critical Thinking – the Basic Competency for Leadership in the 21st century

Abstract

Critical thinking is the necessary competence for the processes of cognition, decision‑making, and taking‑action by managers. Its importance is increas­ing as fast, and relatively easy access to information of different quality and importance in terms of its possible impact can lead to decision paralysis or cognitive dissonance or result in an easier manipulation and influence. The article includes the essential aspects of critical thinking and the possibilities of developing and improving critical thinking in preparing students to be good leaders in the future.