Critical Thinking Worskshop 2 days Training Course

Module 1: The Critical Thinking Mindset

• Understanding critical thinking and its importance in a professional setting
• Distinguishing critical thinking from reactive behaviour, assumption-based reasoning, and reliance on intuition
• Identifying common obstacles to clear and logical thought
• Examining how time pressure, past experience, and organisational culture impact decision-making
• Introduction to a systematic process for critical thinking
• The steps of observation, interpretation, analysis, exploration, and evaluation
• Shifting focus from seeking immediate answers to asking more insightful questions

Practical Exercise: Review a recent workplace decision and examine the thought processes that led to the final outcome.

Module 2: Defining the Right Problem

• Differentiating between surface-level symptoms and underlying issues
• Understanding why organisations frequently attempt to solve the wrong problem
• Mastering problem framing and formulating better questions
• Uncovering assumptions embedded within problem statements
• Applying the 5 Whys technique
• Conducting root cause analysis
• Investigating alternative explanations for issues

Practical Exercise: Use 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
• Separating interpretation from factual evidence
• Spotting gaps or incomplete information
• Assessing the credibility and relevance of available data
• Comparing strong versus weak evidence
• Recognising hidden assumptions in arguments
• Distinguishing correlation from causation
• Avoiding hasty conclusions based on limited data

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

Module 4: Cognitive Biases and Thinking Traps

• Understanding how cognitive biases affect judgement and decision-making
• Confirmation bias
• Anchoring bias
• Authority bias
• Availability bias
• Escalation of commitment
• Groupthink
• Identifying logical fallacies in workplace discussions
• Ad hominem arguments
• Straw man arguments
• Slippery slope reasoning
• False dilemmas
• Critiquing one’s own thinking patterns

Practical Exercise: Identify biases, assumptions, and logical fallacies in 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 definition before proposing solutions
• Identifying available evidence and missing data
• Questioning initial assumptions
• Considering different interpretations of the situation
• Filtering out irrelevant information and distractions
• Building a problem analysis grounded in evidence

Practical Exercise: Small groups will 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 enhances decision quality
• Asking: "What if we are wrong?"
• Identifying alternative explanations for outcomes
• Using Devil’s Advocate techniques
• Applying Red Team thinking
• Practising constructive disagreement
• Challenging preferred or default solutions
• Using a pre-mortem analysis to identify potential failure points

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

Module 7: Creative Thinking for Better Problem Solving

• The interplay between critical thinking and creative thinking
• Divergent and convergent thinking methods
• Moving beyond the first or most obvious solution
• Utilising brainstorming and brainwriting techniques
• Generating multiple alternative options
• Using the SCAMPER method to explore new approaches
• Objectively evaluating creative ideas

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
• Conducting cost and benefit analysis
• Assessing risks and trade-offs
• Understanding the impact on stakeholders
• Using decision matrices
• Identifying potential unintended consequences
• Making decisions 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
• Why teams sometimes make poor decisions
• The impact of hierarchy, authority, and groupthink
• Encouraging constructive challenge within teams
• Creating an environment where people feel safe to question assumptions
• Asking better questions in meetings
• Separating professional disagreement from personal conflict
• Facilitating discussions based on evidence
• Communicating recommendations clearly and persuasively

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

Module 10: Final Business Simulation and Action Planning

• Applying the complete critical thinking process
• Defining the core 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 will work in teams on a comprehensive business scenario or, where appropriate, one of the client’s real workplace challenges.