By
Mendy Green
December 12, 2022
•
20 min read
Fundamental Skills
Professional Development
Critical Thinking in 5
Critical thinking is an essential skill for success in both personal and professional life. It involves the ability to think independently and objectively, to analyze and evaluate information and arguments, and to make sound and logical decisions.
Learning critical thinking is not always easy, but it is a skill that can be developed and improved with practice. Here are some tips for how to learn critical thinking:
- Practice asking questions: Critical thinking involves questioning assumptions and looking at situations from different perspectives. Practice asking questions about the information you encounter, such as “Why is this true?” or “What evidence supports this claim?”. Feel free to start with this one right here 😉
- Seek out diverse perspectives: To think critically, it’s important to consider multiple viewpoints and perspectives. Seek out diverse sources of information and listen to others with different backgrounds and experiences.
- Evaluate sources of information: In today’s information-rich world, it’s important to be able to evaluate the credibility and reliability of sources. Consider factors such as the author’s expertise and credentials, the date and source of the information, and any potential biases or conflicts of interest.
- Take your time: Critical thinking takes time and effort. Don’t be afraid to take a step back and reflect on a situation before making a decision. Consider the potential consequences of your actions and be open to changing your mind based on new information.
- Practice regularly: Like any skill, critical thinking improves with practice. Take opportunities to apply critical thinking in your everyday life, and in some cases, you’ll find that you’ve already been doing it subconsciously!
Assumptions are an important part of the critical thinking process, as they help us make sense of the world and make predictions about future events. However, assumptions can also be dangerous, as they can lead us to make false or misguided conclusions.
One of the dangers of assumptions is that they can be based on incomplete or incorrect information. For example, if we make an assumption about someone’s intentions based on limited information, we may be mistaken and draw the wrong conclusion. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts with otherwise could have been avoided, whereas when we properly assess a situation, it keeps us agile and allows us to adjust to meet the new circumstances (both in personal and professional lives).
Another danger of assumptions is that they can lead us to become overconfident in our beliefs and conclusions. When we make an assumption, we may be more likely to ignore or dismiss something that we see or that someone tells us that contradicts our assumption. This can lead to confirmation bias, where we only consider evidence that supports our assumption, and can prevent us from seeing the whole picture, or alternative perspectives.
Despite these dangers, assumptions are still necessary in the critical thinking process. Without assumptions, we wouldn’t have a way to continue moving forward through the process Instead, we would have to rely on raw data and facts, and we’d be stuck without being able to collect new raw data. Making an assumption is necessary for us to test the raw data and allow us to collect more (such as if the assumption is right or wrong). It’s kind of like shaking the wrapped present to see if we can guess what’s inside…we just need to be prepared for the possibility that we might break it.
With assumptions being so crucial to the Critical Thinking process, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of assumptions and to approach them cautiously. We should be open to revising or rejecting our assumptions based on new evidence, and we should strive to be as objective and unbiased as possible. By doing so, we have a greater change of avoiding the dangers of assumptions and successfully use them to our advantage.
It’s important to update and revise the things we know when presented with evidence that contradicts it, sometime even when they’re not assumptions. This is because our understanding of the world is always evolving, and new information and evidence can challenge and expand our current beliefs and knowledge.
Updating and revising our beliefs and knowledge based on new evidence is an essential part of the critical thinking process. It allows us to be more objective and unbiased, and to avoid making false or misguided conclusions. By being open to new information and evidence, we can gain a more accurate and complete understanding of the world around us.
In a rapidly changing world, it’s important to be able to adjust and update our understanding of the world in order to make informed and effective decisions. By updating and revising our beliefs and knowledge, we can remain open to new ideas and opportunities, and can continue to learn and grow.
I'm passionate about IT, driven by a dual love for solving complex problems and a commitment to transforming the stereotype of technical support into a positive and enjoyable user experience. For over 13 years, I've been deeply involved in the MSPGeek community, lending my expertise to various Managed Service Providers (MSPs), while also serving as the CTO at IntelliComp Technologies.
My journey in the tech world is fueled by a passion for teaching others. I find great satisfaction in imparting problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and offering practical guidance during the troubleshooting process. It's this enthusiasm for mentorship and improvement that led me to my current venture.
Today, as the founder of Rising Tide, I'm focusing on the MSP industry, dedicating my time to coaching and assisting both individuals and businesses. At Rising Tide, we're not just about providing solutions; we're about nurturing growth, fostering innovation, and building a community where everyone can rise together. Whether it's through hands-on problem solving or strategic planning, my goal is to make the IT experience not just efficient, but also empowering and enjoyable
See some more of our most recent posts...
By The [Run]Book: Episode 1
What do webhooks, Agent Trophies, and a 10-year scheduler have in common? In Episode 1 of By the [Run]Book, consultants from Renada and Rising Tide walk through HaloPSA releases 1.86 and 1.88—field-testing features, skipping the fluff, and asking better questions than the release notes ever do.
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Welcome to By the [Run]Book
HaloPSA features, field-tested.
We’re not here to sell you a perfect system. We’re here to show you what’s possible when smart, slightly feral people get curious about tools that were allegedly designed to help us.
By the [Run]Book is a new podcast collaboration between consultants from Renada and Rising Tide, where we dig into the latest HaloPSA features, challenge what’s been handed to us, and ask: What else could we do with this?
No fluff. No shiny demo decks. Just real-world testing, practical breakdowns, and a healthy disrespect for default settings.
By the [Run]Book – Episode 1 Feature Guide
By the [run]Book's first episode breaks down HaloPSA releases v1.86 and v1.88, this episode explored what’s new, what’s weird, and what’s actually worth your time. Use this guide to follow along.
Event Management | 2.186 #798529 | ▶️ 6:06
Create and update tickets based on webhook events—without needing Runbooks.
- Easier interface for handling alert data
- Trigger rules based on payload content
- Map fields into tickets dynamically
Chat Interface Redesign | 2.186 #764942| ▶️ 10:06
The new chat view makes internal and client conversations more manageable.
- Conversation list/table instead of floating popups
- MS Teams chat support improved
- Much more usable in high-volume settings
Tabbed Interface in Halo | 2.186 #446952 | ▶️ 12:03
Multiple tabs now open inside Halo, not your browser.
- Reduces tab clutter
- Smooth for screen sharing
- Plays well when Halo is run as a desktop app
Agent Trophy Feature | 2.186 # 831583 | ▶️ 14:28
Yes, agents can now earn trophies for closing tickets.
- Visual badges on agent records
- Available in assignments and dashboards
- Fun, but scoring logic is a bit suspect
- Custom Leaderboards via CSS. Mostly a morale booster—not reporting-grade insight
Date Filters, Forecasting Module + TimeGPT Integration | 2.186 #830461| ▶️ 19:41
Prevent retroactive ticket floods when new rules are applied.
- Set start dates to control retroactive logic
- Helps avoid spam from old data
- Crucial for clean automation rollouts
Enforce Unique Email Addresses | 2.186 #829650 | ▶️ 20:43
Avoid duplicate users and weird portal issues.
- Blocks user creation if email already exists
- Critical for integrations and self-service portals
- Best turned on early before it breaks things quietly
Opportunity Variables: Annual, Monthly, One-Off | 2.186 #828897 | ▶️ 22:31
New fields help break down potential revenue at-a-glance.
- Available for ticket templates and reporting
- Auto-updates from quotes (with correct config)
- Useful for sales forecasting and quote summaries
Runbook Sleep Steps | ▶️ 30:55
Introduce delays in automation logic—finally.
- Wait X seconds before next Runbook action
- Great for API pacing or async dependencies
- Simple but long-awaited
To-Do Groups Linked to Clients | ▶️ 33:28
Tie checklists to specific clients.
- Good for client-specific onboarding/offboarding
- Still clunky, but now usable in context
- Replaces “one-size-fits-all” task lists
Dynamic SQL in Ticket Actions | ▶️ 33:34
Use SQL-powered fields in your ticket logic.
- Previously unreliable, now stable
- Can pull dynamic field values into workflows
- Adds power to advanced configurations
Xero + Avalara Sales Tax Integration | ▶️ 34:15
Auto-calculate sales tax in Halo quotes synced to Xero.
- Uses Xero’s built-in Avalara tax engine
- Requires
invoice.updatedwebhook enabled - Real-time, regionally compliant tax logic
Direct User-to-Client Association | ▶️ 37:40
Users can now be tied directly to clients, no site required.
- Supports more flexible org structures
- Great for shared-stock or multi-client setups
- May simplify certain workflows
10-Year Scheduling Period | ▶️ 42:24
Because someone, somewhere asked for it.
- Schedule things a decade out
- Useful for contract reminders or licensing renewals
- Feels deeply aspirational
Got a Feature You Want Us to Cover?
Introducing Rising Tide Proactive Support
Tired of tools slipping through the cracks? Discover why Rising Tide built Proactive Support: a low-lift, high-impact way to stay in control of your systems like HaloPSA, Hudu, and Rewst—without needing a full consulting engagement.
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Built for Busy MSPs: Why We Created Proactive Support
While we pride ourselves at Rising Tide on being clever, we didn’t make this up on our own.
Over the past year, multiple clients told us the same thing in different ways:
“We don’t need a full-on consulting. We just need someone to help us stay on top of the tools we already have.”
“Can you set aside time each month to tell us what’s working, what’s not, and what we should actually do next?”
“Honestly, I just want to know if anything’s falling through the cracks.”
MSPs weren’t talking about emergencies. They meant the small stuff. The not-yet-broken-but-might-be. The features that got launched but never rolled out. The bugs they forgot to follow up on. The process that made sense when they built it... but not anymore.
So we listened and built out a Proactive Support offering for teams like yours. Support that pays attention, leveraging the best of Rising Tide to make the best of your systems. It’s not reactive. It’s not rushed. It’s not about being broken.
It’s about staying in control, without wasting time figuring out where to start.
What You Get Each Month
Designed for Rising Tide clients who’ve already implemented tools like HaloPSA, Hudu, and Rewst, and just want to keep things running smoothly without spinning up a full project or workshop every quarter.
Here’s what Proactive Support looks like in practice:
1. Systems Health Review
A short, focused check-in on the systems you want our guidance on. for:
- Are automations running like they should?
- Are there missed SLAs or ticket pileups that can be fixed with better workflows?
- Are there any underused (or over-complicated!) features?
You’ll walk away with a small, clear action plan that you can execute on your own or leverage the Rising Tide team to complete.
2. Feature Release Briefing
We read the release notes so you don’t have to. You’ll get:
- Highlights of what’s new
- Suggestions for features worth trying and what isn't
- Warnings about what’s likely to break or change
3. Vendor Liaison Support
We’ll chase the vendor on your behalf. That includes:
- Logging and tracking bug reports
- Validating bugs and escalating to dev teams directly.
- Identifying workarounds and assisting in implementation.
- Following up on feature requests or stuck tickets
- Communicating feature requests clearly (and tracking them)
4. Immediate Error Support
If something breaks in a tool we’ve implemented or documented, we’ll:
- Help triage and fix it
- Identify if it’s a vendor issue
- Tell you clearly if it needs escalation into a project
What Proactive Support is Not
To be clear, the Rising Tide Proactive Support Plan is not consulting. Proactive Support is only for systems we’ve implemented and reviewed. It doesn’t include:
- New tool or system implementation
- Redesigning workflows or processes
- Training or onboarding
- Deep reporting or strategic planning
If we find something that should be a project, we’ll tell you and help you decide how you would like to move forward.
Pricing
$900/month
Includes up to 5 hours of support time
Bundled with licensing or dashboard/reporting add-ons, if you need them.
Let’s Be Real
The goal isn’t to keep you dependent on us. It’s to help you feel like you’re on top of your systems instead of under them.
We’ll help you spot friction before it becomes fire, surface fixes you might’ve missed, and give you the clarity to act, delegate, or table things with confidence.
That’s the tide we’re trying to raise.
Ready to add Proactive Support? Or want to see a sample check-in?
Contact Rising Tide Consulting Today. We’ll show you what this looks like.
2025 Q3 Newsletter - Get more out of Halo, Hudu, and Rewst
Rising Tide’s Q3 2025 newsletter is here—with fresh updates shaped by the conversations we’ve had with you on the road and in your consulting calls. Check out our new Proactive Support plan, admin tools in the client portal, and hands-on YouTube training for HaloPSA, Hudu, and Rewst. Let’s keep your team sharp and your systems humming.
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It’s been a few months since our last update. We’ve enjoyed seeing many of you on the road at Right of Boom, MSPGeekCon, and Flow. Hopefully you’ve taken the learning and tools you picked up at each even and are using them to their fullest!
In light of the conversations we’ve had with many of you at these conferences and in your consulting calls, we’ve been building a few new offerings that we hope will help you and your teams continue to learn and grow in your use of HaloPSA, Hudu, and Rewst. Take a look at our new Proactive Support, YouTube videos, and Administrative tools for you in the Rising Tide Portal.
Proactive Support with Rising Tide
Shaped directly by your requests, the Rising Tide Proactive Support plan is for teams who want another set of eyes on your systems, to make sure you’re getting the most out of your subscriptions. This new monthly support plan includes:
- A health review of applicable systems
- Updates on vendor features that matter to you
- Vendor liaising regarding bugs and requests (we’ll validate bugs and escalate to dev teams directly. If there's a workaround or fix we'll identify that and provide them for you too.)
- Hands-on support for tools we’ve implemented or reviewed
Read more about it here:
https://www.risingtidegroup.net/thoughts/introducing-rising-tide-proactive-support
Learn With Us
We’re actively growing our YouTube channel to create more and more helpful resources for you as you implement your tools and automations. Of note, check out:
- By the [Run]Book – A bi-weekly series, aired live with our friends at Renada where we review HaloPSA’s release notes and make suggestions on what to implement (and what not to!) in your HaloPSA instance. Watch the first episode here.
- Drag-and-Drop Dispatching in HaloPSA – Jason's video on how to visually schedule tickets for your technicians using dashboards and filtering lists.
- Streamline Your MSP Ticket Closure Process with HaloPSA – Jen's latest video on systematically restricting ticket closures and communicating why to your technicians until they’ve completed associated tasks, tickets, and activities.
There’s plenty more! Be sure to subscribe to our channel and hit the bell to get notified when new videos drop.
Let's keep your projects moving!
As a reminder, if you have hours on your pre-pay total, we keep them viable as long as you have a project on the books with us within a calendar year. If you want to know what your current hours are, visit the Rising Tide user portal at portal.risingtidegroup.net. In this area of our website, you can:
- View hours remaining on pre-pay blocks.
- Submit and track tickets.
- Refill Pre-Pay hours for consulting work.
- View feature requests and bug reports submitted to Halo by Rising Tide.
We recommend booking an hour at least once a month, and more frequently if you have work you want to get done! We don’t charge cancellation fees, so book time freely with any of our consultants and we’ll get your sorted. To book time, access your project from the portal to grab your booking link or pull it off any of the recap emails sent.
- Mendy Green - Halo General, Automations – Halo and Rewst, Hudu General and Migrations from IT Glue
- Jason Parsons - Halo General
- Jen Butler - Automations – Halo and Rewst
- El Copeland - Halo Invoice/Quote/Email Templates, UX/UI, Branding+Marketing
Of Note
A recent change to how HaloPSA processed notifications caused them to break in certain conditions. If your notifications stopped working, update your Permissions - Base role client restrictions to grant all clients to role members. Reach out for more specific instructions if you need it.
Lastly, as a bonus, enjoy the new Rising Tide theme song generated with Suno by our very own Jason Parsons.
Thanks for trusting us and being part of this work with us. We’ll keep refining what we offer based on your feedback so don’t hesitate to reply and tell us what’s working, what’s still messy, and what you’d like to see next.
Until next time,
The Rising Tide Team