Critical Thinking Worskshop 2 days Training Course

Module 1: Cultivating a Critical Thinking Mindset

• Understanding the definition of critical thinking and its vital role in the workplace
• Distinguishing critical thinking from reactive behaviour, unfounded assumptions, and intuition
• Identifying common obstacles to clear and logical thinking
• Examining how time constraints, past experiences, and corporate culture impact decision-making
• Introducing a systematic process for critical thinking
• Core stages: observation, interpretation, analysis, exploration, and evaluation
• Shifting focus from seeking immediate answers to asking more probing questions

Practical Exercise: Review a recent decision made in the workplace and deconstruct the thought processes that influenced the final outcome.

Module 2: Defining the Correct Problem

• Differentiating between surface-level symptoms and underlying root problems
• Understanding why organisations frequently address the wrong issue
• Mastering problem framing and the art of asking better questions
• Uncovering hidden assumptions within problem statements
• Utilising the 5 Whys technique
• Conducting root cause analysis
• Investigating alternative explanations for observed issues

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

Module 3: Assessing Information, Evidence, and Assumptions

• Distinguishing between facts, opinions, and assumptions
• Separating interpretation from verifiable evidence
• Spotting missing or incomplete data
• Evaluating the credibility and relevance of available information
• Differentiating between strong and weak evidence
• Identifying implicit or hidden assumptions
• Understanding the difference between correlation and causation
• Avoiding premature conclusions based on incomplete data

Practical Exercise: Analyse a business scenario that includes facts, opinions, assumptions, and partial evidence to determine what additional information is needed before deciding.

Module 4: Cognitive Biases and Mental Traps

• How cognitive biases shape judgment and decisions
• Confirmation bias
• Anchoring bias
• Authority bias
• Availability bias
• Escalation of commitment
• Groupthink
• Recognising logical fallacies in workplace debates
• Ad hominem attacks
• Straw man arguments
• Slippery slope reasoning
• False dilemmas
• The importance of self-critiquing one’s own thought processes

Practical Exercise: Detect biases, assumptions, and logical errors in a series of workplace scenarios and decision-making discussions.

Module 5: Analysing Business Challenges

• Applying critical thinking frameworks to complex problems
• Clarifying the issue before proposing solutions
• Mapping out available evidence and identifying gaps
• Questioning initial assumptions
• Considering different interpretations of the data
• Filtering out distractions and focusing on relevant information
• Constructing a rigorous, evidence-based analysis of the problem

Practical Exercise: Small teams will analyse a business case pertinent to the client’s sector and present their findings along with their reasoning.

Module 6: Challenging Perspectives and Exploring Options

• The value of considering multiple perspectives for improving decision quality
• The power of asking: "What if our current approach is wrong?"
• Discovering alternative explanations for outcomes
• Employing Devil’s Advocate techniques
• Utilising Red Team thinking
• Fostering constructive disagreement
• Challenging preferred or default solutions
• Using pre-mortems to anticipate potential failure points

Practical Exercise: Critically evaluate a proposed business decision by highlighting assumptions, risks, missing evidence, and alternative strategies.

Module 7: Creative Thinking for Enhanced Problem Solving

• The interplay between critical and creative thinking
• Utilising divergent and convergent thinking styles
• Looking beyond the first or most obvious solution
• Applying brainstorming and brainwriting methods
• Generating a wide range of alternatives
• Using the SCAMPER method to explore innovative approaches
• Objectively evaluating creative ideas

Practical Exercise: Develop multiple potential solutions to a workplace issue before selecting the most suitable option.

Module 8: Structured Decision-Making

• Transitioning from analysis to actionable steps
• Setting clear criteria for decision-making
• Comparing options objectively
• Performing cost-benefit analyses
• Assessing risks and trade-offs
• Evaluating the impact on stakeholders
• Using decision matrices to aid choices
• Anticipating potential unintended consequences
• Decision-making in the face of uncertainty

Practical Exercise: Assess several potential solutions against agreed-upon criteria and present a well-justified recommendation.

Module 9: Critical Thinking in Leadership and Teams

• The significance of critical thinking for effective leadership
• Why teams occasionally make poor decisions
• The influence of hierarchy, authority, and groupthink
• Promoting constructive challenge within teams
• Cultivating an environment where assumptions can be safely questioned
• Posing better questions during meetings
• Distinguishing between healthy disagreement and conflict
• Facilitating discussions grounded in evidence
• Communicating recommendations with clarity and conviction

Practical Exercise: Engage in a structured team decision-making scenario that involves competing priorities, limited information, and diverse stakeholder viewpoints.

Module 10: Final Business Simulation and Action Planning

• Applying the full critical thinking process
• Clearly defining the problem at hand
• Analysing available evidence and underlying assumptions
• Identifying cognitive biases and mental traps
• Exploring different perspectives and potential solutions
• Establishing clear decision criteria
• Evaluating risks and potential outcomes
• Formulating and presenting an evidence-backed recommendation

Practical Exercise: Teams will tackle a comprehensive business scenario or, if applicable, a real challenge faced by the client’s organisation.