The “2011/2012 Trends in Executive Development: A Benchmark Report” (produced by Pearson TalentLens and Executive Development Associates Inc.) surveyed the leaders of 81 large/multi-national companies and learned that for the 2nd year in a row, executives are concerned about the critical thinking skills of the next generation.
The leaders are concerned that the next generation is not boardroom ready. According to the report, they feel that the next generation of leaders lacks the critical and strategic thinking skills to solve complex problems.
You can read the full report here.
What do you think? Is it true that younger generations lack the necessary critical thinking skills to take over executive roles from baby boomers? Or do you think that each generation naturally downplays the skills of the younger generation and stereotypes them as lazy, unaccountable, and entitled?
What do you see in your organization? Is Gen X ready to take over leadership in your company?
Did you know critical thinking was rated the NEW #1 workplace skill? Download our paper: 
Hi Breanne, I’m brand new to your blog today! I don’t think the upcoming generations lack critical thinking skills. I think each generation has their own perceptions of how to problem solve and think theirs are the best. I believe true collaboration is the answer to come up with the best solutions to problems. No one needs to go it alone these days and everyone should be welcome to provide their point of view.
I’m running late on responding to this, but thank you for your comment! Glad to have new readers and perspectives! I think you raise a really great point. Perhaps the issue isn’t the critical thinking skills of one generation or the other, but rather it is the lack of collaboration to find the best solution. Great point!
I am new to your blog, thanks to Steve Browne. Regarding the readiness of Gen X to assume leadership of the company, not yet. However, that depends on present leadership. Organizations with leaders who practice critical-thinking tend to surround themselves with those who are learning and practicing critical-thinking. Unfortunately, there are many examples of leaders who do not think about their thinking, fail to consider the hard questions, and make premature decisions on inaccurate information and analysis. As an educator, I do my best to provide students with tools to practice critical thinking in their reading, study, and application of what they discover.
Hi Dennis! Welcome to the blog! I’m thrilled that Steve’s readers have been checking out the blog because you guys tend to have such great insights. Do you think some of the responsibility is on the leaders of the organizations to provide critical thinking mentorship to the younger generations? It seems like there is a lot of finger pointing, but not as much support. From an educational perspective, how do you engage your students in critical thinking? I’d love to hear more about your techniques!
I’m so grateful for this report documenting executives’ concerns regarding lack critical thinking skills among the next generation of graduates. California State University, East Bay is working with the Long Now Foundation to develop Long Kids: an Institute for Critical and Long Teem Thinking Skills. We will train K-12 education leaders as part of their Credential and EDD to use technology-driven, student-led and project-based modules from across disciplines and the Internet. This approach is designed to address the issues you point out in your blog by empowering students to ask deeper questions and question their assumptions so they can be more responsible members for the communities and their boardrooms.
Chris, thanks for the comment! I will definitely have to read more about the Long Now Foundation- it sounds like a great program! I’ve been reading so much about KIPP Collegiate’s process for empowering students to think critically. More stories like this are so encouraging!