Creating SPACE for Critical Thinking

In this series on critical thinking, I'll offer a simple mnemonic that will help you actively engage critical thinking when appropriate.

I’m particularly interested in helping people develop an instinct to actively engage critical thinking at the times its most needed. My belief is that this exercise trains our subconscious, creating a “critical thinking reflex” that will turn us into continuous critical thinkers.

I’m a fan of mnemonics. Isn't everyone?

When confronted with ambiguous, tendentious or important data, you should create some SPACE between yourself and the message.

• S - Source: Identifying the source of information is the first step toward evaluating its reliability. If the source isn't known or credible, you should consider the analysis over -- the message is probably unreliable. You should seek to answer these questions:

  
  

  • Who or where is this information coming from?

  • Is the source credible and trustworthy? How do I know this?

  • Does the source have a history of reliability on similar topics?

  • Is the information attributed to "everyone" or no one?

    
    

• P - Perspective: Perspective refers to the point of view from which information is presented and received. Often, both "directions" are influenced by our biases, of which there are many. In general, we should consider the following questions:

  
  

  • What is the perspective or point of view of the source?

  • Are there other perspectives or interpretations of this information? What are they?

  • How might the perspective of the source influence the way the information is presented?

  • What biases might I, as the receiver, bring to interpreting this information?

  • How might alternative perspectives challenge or support the current view?

    
    

• A - Assumptions: Assumptions are things we accepts as true without providing evidence. For example, if I tell you the sun will come up tomorrow you should probably accept that without expecting me to show you the results of a scientific experiment. Often, we don’t even realize we’re making assumptions. Questioning our assumptions when confronted with information helps ensure we’re not overlooking an important aspect of our decision-making. We should ask ourselves:

  
  

  • What assumptions are being made, either explicitly or implicitly?

  • Are these assumptions based on evidence or are they speculative?

  • Are there any unconscious biases influencing these assumptions?

  • If these assumptions turn out to be incorrect, how would it change the conclusion?

  • What other assumptions could be influencing this decision or data?

    
    

• C - Consequences: Understanding the potential consequences for both the source and the receiver means evaluating the impact of accepting or rejecting certain information. For product managers, this could mean considering how decisions affect users, stakeholders, and long-term product success.

  
  

  • What are the potential short- and long-term consequences of accepting or acting on this information?

  • How will the decision impact the source and the receiver (e.g., team, company, customers)?

  • What are the risks and benefits of accepting this information or making this decision?

  • Who else might be affected by this decision, and in what ways?

  • What unintended consequences could arise?

    
    

• E - Evidence: Assessing the quality and sufficiency of evidence is central to critical thinking. Whether you're working with customer feedback, A/B test results, or competitive analyses, product managers must ensure that decisions are evidence-based. Moreover, you need to ask if further evidence is required before moving forward with an idea.

  
  

  • What evidence supports this claim or information?

  • How reliable and relevant is the evidence? Is it up-to-date?

  • Is the evidence sufficient to draw a solid conclusion, or do we need more?

  • Are there gaps in the evidence that need to be filled before proceeding?

  • How does this evidence compare with other available data or research?

    
    

This mnemonic can serve as a practical tool to help product managers, and teams engage in more structured, deliberate critical thinking during every stage of product development—from ideation to execution.

How do you ensure your critical thinking is engaged when you most need it?