Critical Thinking Worskshop 2 days Training Course

Module 1: The Critical Thinking Mindset

• The definition of critical thinking and its significance in the professional environment
• Distinguishing critical thinking from reactive behaviour, assumption-based reasoning, and reliance on intuition
• Common obstacles to clear and logical thought
• The influence of time pressure, past experience, and organisational culture on decision-making
• An introduction to a structured process for critical thinking
• Key stages: observation, interpretation, analysis, exploration, and evaluation
• Shifting focus from immediate answers to asking more effective questions

Practical Exercise: Examine a recent workplace decision and trace the cognitive process that led to the final result.

Module 2: Defining the Right Problem

• Distinguishing between symptoms and underlying issues
• Why organisations frequently address the wrong problem
• Problem framing and the art of asking better questions
• Identifying hidden assumptions within problem statements
• The 5 Whys technique
• Root cause analysis
• Exploring alternative explanations

Practical Exercise: Utilise problem-framing and root cause analysis techniques on 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
• Recognising missing or incomplete data
• Assessing the credibility and relevance of information
• Differentiating between strong and weak evidence
• Identifying hidden assumptions
• Distinguishing correlation from causation
• Avoiding conclusions drawn from incomplete information

Practical Exercise: Analyse a business scenario containing mixed facts, opinions, and assumptions to determine what additional information is needed before deciding.

Module 4: Cognitive Biases and Thinking Traps

• How cognitive biases impact judgment and decision-making
• Confirmation bias
• Anchoring bias
• Authority bias
• Availability bias
• Escalation of commitment
• Groupthink
• Identifying logical fallacies in workplace discussions
• Ad hominem attacks
• Straw man arguments
• Slippery slope fallacies
• False dilemmas
• Challenging one's own thought processes

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

Module 5: Analysing a Business Challenge

• Applying the critical thinking process to complex problems
• Clarifying the issue before proposing solutions
• Identifying available data and missing evidence
• Questioning initial assumptions
• Considering alternative interpretations
• Filtering out distractions from relevant information
• Developing a problem analysis based on evidence

Practical Exercise: Small groups analyse a business case relevant to the client's industry and present their findings and reasoning.

Module 6: Challenging Perspectives and Exploring Alternatives

• Why considering alternative viewpoints improves decision quality
• Asking: "What if we are wrong?"
• Identifying alternative explanations
• Devil's Advocate techniques
• Red Team thinking
• Constructive disagreement
• Challenging preferred solutions
• Using a pre-mortem 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 synergy between critical and creative thinking
• Divergent and convergent thinking
• 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
• Comparing alternatives objectively
• Cost and benefit analysis
• Assessing risks and trade-offs
• Understanding stakeholder impact
• Using decision matrices
• Identifying potential unintended consequences
• Making decisions under uncertainty

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

Module 9: Critical Thinking in Leadership and Teams

• The role of critical thinking in leadership
• Why teams sometimes make poor decisions
• The impact of hierarchy, authority, and groupthink
• Encouraging constructive challenge
• Creating an environment where people can question assumptions
• Asking better questions in meetings
• Separating disagreement from 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 different stakeholder perspectives.

Module 10: Final Business Simulation and Action Planning

• Applying the complete critical thinking process
• Defining the problem
• Analysing 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: Participants work in teams on a comprehensive business scenario or, where appropriate, one of the client's real workplace challenges.