Critical Thinking Worskshop 2 days Training Course

Module 1: Cultivating a Critical Thinking Mindset

• Defining critical thinking and its importance in a professional setting
• Distinguishing between critical thinking, reactive behaviour, assumption-based reasoning, and intuition
• Common obstacles that hinder clear reasoning
• The influence of time constraints, past experience, and organisational culture on decision-making
• An introduction to a structured critical thinking framework
• The steps of observation, interpretation, analysis, exploration, and evaluation
• Shifting focus from immediate answers to formulating better questions

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

Module 2: Identifying the Correct Problem

• Distinguishing surface symptoms from underlying issues
• Understanding why organisations frequently address the wrong problems
• Effective problem framing and question formulation
• Uncovering hidden assumptions within problem statements
• Utilising the 5 Whys technique
• Conducting root cause analysis
• Investigating alternative explanations

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

• Differentiating between facts, opinions, and assumptions
• Comparing interpretation against hard evidence
• Spotting gaps or incomplete information
• Evaluating the credibility and relevance of data
• Distinguishing strong from weak evidence
• Identifying implicit assumptions
• Understanding the difference between correlation and causation
• Avoiding premature conclusions based on limited data

Practical Exercise: Review a business scenario filled with facts, opinions, and incomplete evidence, and determine what additional data is needed before deciding.

Module 4: Cognitive Biases and Thinking Traps

• The impact of cognitive biases on judgement and decision-making
• Confirmation bias
• Anchoring bias
• Authority bias
• Availability bias
• Escalation of commitment
• Groupthink
• Detecting logical fallacies in workplace debates
• Ad hominem attacks
• Straw man arguments
• Slippery slope reasoning
• False dilemmas
• Challenging one’s own thought processes

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

Module 5: Analysing a Business Challenge

• Applying the critical thinking process to complex issues
• Clarifying the problem before suggesting solutions
• Identifying available and missing evidence
• Challenging initial assumptions
• Considering different interpretations
• Distinguishing relevant information from distractions
• Developing an evidence-based analysis of the problem

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

Module 6: Challenging Perspectives and Exploring Alternatives

• How considering multiple perspectives enhances decision quality
• Asking: "What if our assumptions are wrong?"
• Identifying alternative explanations
• Employing Devil’s Advocate techniques
• Red Team thinking
• Fostering constructive disagreement
• Challenging preferred solutions
• Using pre-mortems to identify potential failure points

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

Module 7: Creative Thinking for Enhanced Problem Solving

• The connection between critical and creative thinking
• Divergent and convergent thinking methods
• Going beyond the first or most obvious solution
• Brainstorming and brainwriting techniques
• Generating multiple alternatives
• Using SCAMPER to explore new approaches
• Objectively evaluating creative ideas

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

Module 8: Structured Decision Making

• Transitioning from analysis to action
• Setting clear decision criteria
• Objectively comparing alternatives
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Evaluating risks and trade-offs
• Understanding stakeholder impact
• Utilising decision matrices
• Identifying potential unintended consequences
• Making decisions under uncertainty

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

Module 9: Critical Thinking in Leadership and Teams

• The role of critical thinking in leadership
• Why teams occasionally make poor decisions
• The effects of hierarchy, authority, and groupthink
• Encouraging constructive challenge
• Cultivating an environment where questioning assumptions is welcomed
• Posing better questions in meetings
• Distinguishing disagreement from conflict
• Facilitating evidence-based discussions
• Communicating recommendations clearly and persuasively

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

Module 10: Final Business Simulation and Action Planning

• Applying the entire critical thinking process
• Defining the core problem
• Anlysing evidence and assumptions
• Recognising biases and thinking traps
• Exploring alternative perspectives and solutions
• Establishing decision criteria
• Assessing risks and outcomes
• Developing and presenting an evidence-based recommendation

Practical Exercise: Teams collaborate on a comprehensive business scenario or, where appropriate, a real workplace challenge provided by the client.