This informal CPD article ‘The Quality of Professional Decisions Begins with Better Questions’ was provided by Urban Response, a training organisation focused on situational awareness, personal safety, and response strategies within urban environments.
Every day, professionals make decisions that influence people, organisations and outcomes. Whether working in healthcare, engineering, education, business, emergency services or public administration - the quality of those decisions often determines success, safety and effectiveness. Modern technology has transformed the way professionals access information. Artificial intelligence, online databases and instant communication provide unprecedented access to knowledge.
Yet while information has become increasingly available, good judgement remains a distinctly human skill. Poor professional decisions are rarely the result of having no information. More often, they occur because individuals accept assumptions without verification, overlook important evidence or fail to ask the right questions before acting. For this reason, effective Continuing Professional Development (CPD) often means extending beyond the acquisition of technical knowledge. It should also look to strengthen critical thinking, reflective practice and sound professional judgement.
Information Does Not Equal Understanding
Access to information does not automatically create understanding. Professionals frequently operate in environments where information is incomplete, conflicting or constantly evolving. A clinician rarely diagnoses a patient based on a single symptom. An engineer typically verifies calculations before approving a design. A project manager will review available evidence before implementing significant organisational change. Emergency responders collect and interpret information before committing resources.
In every profession, effective decisions depend not only on gathering information but also on interpreting it accurately. Research explains that people naturally rely on intuitive thinking, allowing rapid decisions to be made in familiar situations (2). However, intuitive judgement can also lead to cognitive bias, particularly when assumptions are accepted without sufficient analysis. Developing the habit of pausing briefly to evaluate available information can significantly improve professional judgement.
The Value of Better Questions
Highly experienced professionals are often recognised not because they immediately provide answers, but because they ask better questions. Effective questions help distinguish facts from assumptions and encourage evidence-based thinking.
Examples include:
- What information has been confirmed?
- Which observations are based on direct evidence?
- What assumptions am I making?
- What information is still missing?
- What evidence could change my current assessment?
- Have I considered alternative explanations?
These questions can encourage analytical reasoning rather than automatic reaction.
Research has demonstrated that effective Situation Awareness depends upon three progressive stages: accurate perception of relevant information, understanding its meaning and anticipating possible future developments (1). Each stage requires questioning rather than assumption. Similarly, further research found that experienced decision-makers consistently compare new information with previous experience while remaining willing to revise their assessment when new evidence emerges (3).
Critical Thinking as a Professional Competency
Critical thinking is sometimes misunderstood as criticism or scepticism. In professional practice, it means neither. Critical thinking is the disciplined process of evaluating evidence objectively before reaching conclusions. It requires professionals to:
- recognise uncertainty,
- evaluate evidence,
- identify cognitive bias,
- remain open to alternative explanations,
- modify decisions when new information becomes available.
These competencies are increasingly important across professional fields. As organisations become more complex, professionals are expected not only to demonstrate technical competence but also sound judgement, adaptability and effective decision-making under pressure (5).
A Practical Framework for Better Decisions
A simple framework can improve decision quality across most professional settings. Before making an important decision, pause briefly and ask:
1. What do I know with certainty? (Separate confirmed facts from assumptions)
2. What assumptions am I making? (Identify conclusions that have not yet been supported by evidence)
3. What information is missing? (Consider whether additional information is available before acting)
4. What are the possible consequences of acting now? (Evaluate immediate risks and potential outcomes)
5. What are the consequences of waiting? (Determine whether additional time would improve the quality of the decision without introducing unnecessary risk)
This process requires only a few moments yet often improves judgement significantly. Importantly, structured questioning should not delay urgent decisions unnecessarily. Instead, it provides a framework that supports proportionate action when time allows.
Reflective Practice and Continuing Professional Development
Professional learning does not end once a decision has been made. Reflective practice encourages individuals to evaluate their decisions, identify lessons learned and improve future performance. Research has described reflective practitioners as professionals who continuously learn through analysing their own experience (4). Reflection can transform experience into professional growth.
Simple reflective questions include:
- What information influenced my decision?
- Which assumptions proved correct?
- Which assumptions proved incorrect?
- What would I do differently next time?
- What have I learned that will improve future judgement?
Reflection strengthens both competence and confidence while supporting lifelong professional development.
Reflection Activity
As a practical exercise, consider a recent professional decision. Ask yourself:
- Did I verify my assumptions?
- What evidence supported my conclusion?
- Could additional questions have improved my judgement?
- What would I change if faced with the same situation again?
This kind of reflective questioning can help transform everyday experience into continued professional learning.
Conclusion
Continuing Professional Development is not solely about acquiring additional knowledge. It is equally about improving the quality of professional thinking. As access to information continues to expand, the ability to evaluate evidence, question assumptions and reflect upon experience becomes increasingly valuable.
Better professional judgement rarely begins with better answers, It begins with better questions. Professionals who consistently question, verify and reflect are likely to be better prepared to manage uncertainty, adapt to changing circumstances and make informed decisions that benefit both their organisations and the people they serve.
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from Urban Response, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements
References
(1) Endsley, M. R. (1995). Toward a Theory of Situation Awareness in Dynamic Systems. Human Factors, 37(1), 32–64.
(2) Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
(3) Klein, G. (1998). Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions. MIT Press.
(4) Schön, D. A. (1983). The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. Basic Books.
(5) Weick, K. E., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2015). Managing the Unexpected: Sustained Performance in a Complex World (3rd ed.). Wiley.
