Critical Thinking Worskshop 2 days Training Course

Module 1: The Critical Thinking Mindset

• The definition of critical thinking and its importance in the professional environment
• Distinguishing critical thinking from reactive behavior, assumption-based reasoning, and intuition
• Common obstacles to clear and logical thought
• The influence of time constraints, prior experience, and organizational culture on decision-making
• An introduction to the structured process of critical thinking
• Steps involving observation, interpretation, analysis, exploration, and evaluation
• Shifting focus from seeking immediate answers to posing more effective questions

Practical Exercise: Examine a recent workplace decision to identify the underlying thought process that led to the final outcome.

Module 2: Defining the Right Problem

• Distinguishing between symptoms and underlying issues
• Why organizations frequently address the incorrect problem
• Problem framing strategies and the art of asking better questions
• Identifying assumptions embedded within problem statements
• The 5 Whys technique
• Root cause analysis
• Exploring alternative explanations for problems

Practical Exercise: Utilize problem-framing and root cause analysis methods to address a real or simulated workplace challenge.

Module 3: Evaluating Information, Evidence and Assumptions

• Distinguishing between facts, opinions, and assumptions
• The difference between interpretation and evidence
• Recognizing missing or incomplete data
• Assessing the credibility and relevance of available information
• Differentiating between strong and weak evidence
• Identifying hidden assumptions
• The distinction between correlation and causation
• Avoiding decisions based on incomplete data

Practical Exercise: Assess a business scenario containing facts, opinions, assumptions, and incomplete evidence, determining what additional information is needed before making a decision.

Module 4: Cognitive Biases and Thinking Traps

• The impact of cognitive biases on judgment and decision-making
• Confirmation bias
• Anchoring bias
• Authority bias
• Availability bias
• Escalation of commitment
• Groupthink
• Recognizing logical fallacies in professional discussions
• Ad hominem attacks
• Straw man arguments
• Slippery slope reasoning
• False dilemmas
• Methods for challenging one’s own thinking patterns

Practical Exercise: Identify biases, assumptions, and logical fallacies within a series of workplace scenarios and decision-making discussions.

Module 5: Analysing a Business Challenge

• Applying the critical thinking process to complex problems
• Clarifying the problem before proposing solutions
• Identifying available and missing evidence
• Questioning initial assumptions
• Considering alternative interpretations
• Separating relevant information from distractions
• Developing an evidence-based problem analysis

Practical Exercise: Small groups analyze a business case relevant to the client’s industry, presenting their findings and reasoning.

Module 6: Challenging Perspectives and Exploring Alternatives

• How considering alternative perspectives enhances decision quality
• The practice of asking: "What if we are wrong?"
• Identifying alternative explanations
• Devil's Advocate techniques
• Red Team thinking approaches
• Promoting constructive disagreement
• Challenging preferred solutions
• Using pre-mortem analysis to identify potential failure points

Practical Exercise: Participants critique a proposed business decision by identifying assumptions, risks, missing evidence, and alternative approaches.

Module 7: Creative Thinking for Better Problem Solving

• The connection between critical and creative thinking
• Divergent and convergent thinking processes
• Moving beyond the first or most obvious solution
• Brainstorming and brainwriting techniques
• Generating multiple alternatives
• Using SCAMPER to explore new approaches
• Evaluating creative ideas objectively

Practical Exercise: Generate and develop multiple solutions to a workplace challenge before selecting the most appropriate options.

Module 8: Structured Decision Making

• Transitioning from analysis to action
• Establishing clear decision criteria
• Objectively comparing alternatives
• Cost and benefit analysis
• Assessing risks and trade-offs
• Understanding stakeholder impact
• Utilizing decision matrices
• Identifying potential unintended consequences
• Decision-making under conditions of uncertainty

Practical Exercise: Evaluate several possible solutions using agreed-upon decision criteria and present a justified recommendation.

Module 9: Critical Thinking in Leadership and Teams

• The role of critical thinking in leadership
• Reasons why teams sometimes make poor decisions
• The impact of hierarchy, authority, and groupthink
• Encouraging constructive challenge within teams
• Creating an environment where questioning assumptions is encouraged
• Asking better questions in meetings
• Distinguishing between disagreement and conflict
• Facilitating evidence-based discussions
• Communicating recommendations clearly and convincingly

Practical Exercise: Participate in a structured team decision-making exercise involving competing priorities, incomplete information, and diverse stakeholder perspectives.

Module 10: Final Business Simulation and Action Planning

• Applying the complete critical thinking process
• Defining the problem clearly
• Analyzing evidence and assumptions
• Identifying biases and thinking traps
• Exploring alternative perspectives and solutions
• Establishing decision criteria
• Assessing risks and consequences
• Developing and presenting an evidence-based recommendation

Practical Exercise: Teams work on a comprehensive business scenario or, where appropriate, one of the client's real workplace challenges.