Critical Thinking Worskshop 2 days Training Course

Module 1: Cultivating a Critical Thinking Mindset

• Understanding the definition of critical thinking and its significance in the workplace
• Distinguishing critical thinking from reactive behaviour, assumption-based reasoning, and reliance on intuition
• Identifying common barriers to clear and objective thought
• Examining how time pressure, past experience, and organisational culture shape decision-making
• Introduction to a systematic critical thinking methodology
• The process of observation, interpretation, analysis, exploration, and evaluation
• Shifting focus from seeking immediate answers to asking more effective questions

Practical Exercise: Examine a recent workplace decision and trace the cognitive processes that influenced the final outcome.

Module 2: Accurately Defining the Problem

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

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

Module 3: Assessing Information, Evidence, and Assumptions

• Distinguishing between facts, opinions, and assumptions
• Separating interpretation from empirical evidence
• Recognising gaps or incomplete information in data sets
• Evaluating the credibility and relevance of available information
• Differentiating between strong and weak evidence
• Identifying implicit assumptions in arguments
• Understanding the difference between correlation and causation
• Avoiding premature conclusions based on limited data

Practical Exercise: Analyse a business scenario containing mixed facts, opinions, and incomplete evidence, then determine what additional information is needed before reaching a decision.

Module 4: Cognitive Biases and Mental Traps

• The impact of cognitive biases on judgement and decision-making
• Understanding confirmation bias
• Recognising anchoring bias
• Identifying authority bias
• Addressing availability bias
• Avoiding escalation of commitment
• Preventing groupthink
• Detecting logical fallacies in workplace discourse
• Recognising ad hominem attacks
• Identifying straw man arguments
• Avoiding slippery slope reasoning
• Challenging false dilemma presentations
• Learning to critically evaluate one's own thought processes

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

Module 5: Analysing a Business Challenge

• Applying the critical thinking framework to complex issues
• Clarifying the core problem before proposing solutions
• Identifying both available evidence and information gaps
• Challenging initial assumptions and biases
• Considering multiple interpretations of the situation
• Filtering out irrelevant distractions to focus on key information
• Formulating a robust, evidence-based analysis of the problem

Practical Exercise: Small groups analyse a business case pertinent to the client’s industry and present their findings along with the logical reasoning behind their conclusions.

Module 6: Challenging Perspectives and Exploring Alternatives

• How considering diverse perspectives enhances decision quality
• The power of asking: "What if our current approach is incorrect?"
• Identifying plausible alternative explanations
• Applying Devil's Advocate techniques
• Utilising Red Team thinking strategies
• Fostering constructive disagreement
• Challenging initially preferred solutions
• Using pre-mortem analysis to identify potential points of failure

Practical Exercise: Participants critically review a proposed business decision by uncovering assumptions, risks, missing evidence, and viable alternative approaches.

Module 7: Creative Thinking for Enhanced Problem Solving

• The synergy between critical and creative thinking
• Understanding divergent and convergent thinking modes
• Moving beyond the first or most obvious solution
• Applying brainstorming and brainwriting techniques
• Generating a wide range of alternative options
• Using the SCAMPER method to explore innovative approaches
• Objectively evaluating creative ideas for feasibility

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

Module 8: Structured Decision Making

• Transitioning from analytical phases to actionable steps
• Establishing clear and measurable decision criteria
• Objectively comparing alternative options
• Conducting cost-benefit analyses
• Evaluating risks and necessary trade-offs
• Understanding the impact on various stakeholders
• Utilising decision matrices for evaluation
• Identifying potential unintended consequences
• Making informed decisions in the face of uncertainty

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

Module 9: Critical Thinking in Leadership and Teams

• The vital role of critical thinking in effective leadership
• Analyzing why teams occasionally make suboptimal decisions
• The effects of hierarchy, authority, and groupthink on team dynamics
• Promoting constructive challenge within teams
• Cultivating an environment where questioning assumptions is encouraged
• Improving the quality of questions asked in meetings
• Distinguishing between healthy disagreement and personal conflict
• Facilitating discussions grounded in evidence
• Communicating recommendations clearly and persuasively

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

Module 10: Final Business Simulation and Action Planning

• Applying the complete critical thinking cycle in a comprehensive exercise
• Defining the core problem accurately
• Analyzing evidence and underlying assumptions
• Recognizing and mitigating cognitive biases and mental traps
• Exploring alternative perspectives and potential solutions
• Establishing clear criteria for decision-making
• Assessing potential risks and long-term consequences
• Developing and presenting a robust, evidence-based recommendation

Practical Exercise: Participants collaborate in teams to tackle a comprehensive business scenario or, where appropriate, address one of the client’s actual workplace challenges.