Our most popular

foundation for decisions

foundation for decisions

Optional: Post course 1:1 mini coaching sessions available for followup and continued assistance

Mulitple curriculums for varied attendees

We also modify the curriculum for the mix of attendees:
•   Executives and Business Leaders
•   Teams (a Manager and team, or cross
      functional)
•   Supervisors, Managers and Directors
•   Individual Contributors
•   Mixed class of multiple disciplines and
      responsibilities

Risk Model

A 11 point Risk model that helps you evaluate the risk, w/exercises
• Downsides
• Downside Probability
• Upside
• Upside Probability
• Downside Absorption Capability
• Ignoring Statistical Downside
• Controllability
• Necessity of Upside
• Reversibility,
• Mitigation Strategy
• Preeminent Metrics

What's the benefit of Critical Thinking

Attendees learn Pragmatic Critical Thinking Techniques resulting in;
• Faster and higher quality decisions
• Superior solutions to problems, goals,
   and strategies.
• Better understanding of the dynamics
   between different aspects of a business
   or project
•  Innovative ideas and solution
• Higher productivity
• Being better equipped to tackle problems 
   and make decisions on a daily basis

Contact us for more information or to schedule a Workshop

We contrast your everyday automatic thinking with Critical Thinking.

Using concepts from our model we created a simple framework for Critical Thinking

What's unique about our workshop?

This isn't your ordinary "academic" day. It's not just "theory", but pragmatic, proven techniques for solving real world business problems, strategies and challenges.

Customized

We customize the workshop to your business, with real examples and exercises that come from interviews with would be attendees. The attendees learn critical thinking AND see it in action with their own day-to-day issues.

Critical Thinking skills gained can be applied to:

 •  General problem solving and decision
     making
 •  New product ideas and creation
 • Short and long term business strategies
 •  Improved development processes and
    quality
 •  Improved operational efficiency
 •  Crisis Management
 •  Revenue generation and cost reduction
     strategies
 •  Customer care improvement

Overview    

(Download the Workshop Brochure for more details)

This 2-day workshop is the combination of 3 separate 1-day workshops (#201 Critical Thinking for Problem Solving and Decision Making, #301 Advanced Critical Thinking and Decision Making, and #501 Critical Thinking and Innovation).   The continuity of the two days enables most of the material from the separate days to be covered in an integrated fashion.  

This course includes

everything in the Core course (#201) plus  Influencing and Communicating ideas, Fuzzy Criteria, A 11-Point Risk model and template, Presenting, Arguement Analysis, Thinking outside-the-box, Abductive and Impossible Thinking, and Being a Thinking Coach. 

The course objectives include:
•  “Automatic” from “Manual” Thinking
•  The Framework for Thinking Critically and
     applying the 3 step  Process
•  Thinksheets for Clarity, Conclusions and
     Decisions
•  Identify the “box” that constrains your
     current thinking and think outside of it.
•  Creating credible presentations for
     buy-in, enrollment and approval.
•  Think through 11 risk factors
•  Know how to ask questions to get yourself
    and others to think critically
•  Identify where you can apply Critical
    Thinking in your job

Topics Covered:

•  “Automatic” from “Manual Thinking”
•  Benefits of Critical Thinking
•  Empty your bucket
• 

Clarity

- “Get Clear” on a problem to
     solve or decision to make
     •  Inspecting the problem statement
     •  Socratic Questioning; Why, So What 
     •  Anticipatory Thinking
     •  Need vs. Want
• 

Conclusions

     •  Inductive & Deductive thinking.
     •  The Premise that leads to a conclusion
         and how personality affects this.
     •  How facts, assumptions, experience,
         beliefs, and observations affect your
         thinking
     •  Why people come to different conclusions.
     •  Credibility and Consistency
     •  Triangular Thinking
     •  Influence and Persuade
     •  Argument Analysis
     •  Presenting your solutions
     •  Role Play
• 

Innovation

- Creating an environment 
     and stimulating creativity and innovation
     •  Thinking Outside-the-Box
     •  What if?, What other?)
     •  Abductive Thinking
     •  Impossible Thinking
• 

Decisions

     •  The Elements of Decision
     • Who, When and Criteria
     •  Preeminent Metrics             
     •  Risk Criteria – A 11-point Risk model
     •  Fuzzy Criteria   
•  Thinking Coach
     •  Introduction
•  Next Steps - Your plan to implement your
     learning

More time on getting clear and less time and rework needed for decisions

We also modify the curriculum for the mix of attendees:
   •   Executives and Business Leaders
   •   Teams (a Manager and team, or cross functional)
   •   Supervisors, Managers and Directors
   •   Individual Contributors
   •   Mixed class of multiple disciplines and responsibilities

Less time on getting clear and more time and rework needed for decisions

What's the benefit of Critical Thinking

Attendees learn Pragmatic Critical Thinking Techniques resulting in;
  •  Faster and higher quality decisions that are more likely to be the correct ones.
  •  Superior solutions to problems, goals, and strategies.
  •  Better understanding of the dynamics between different aspects of a business or project
  •  Innovative ideas and solution
  •  Higher productivity
  •  Being better equipped to tackle problems and make decisions on a daily basis.

Critical Thinking skills gained can be applied to:

  •  General problem solving and decision making
  •  New product ideas and creation
  •  Short and long term business strategies
  •  Improved development processes and quality
  •  Improved operational efficiency
  •  Crisis Management
  •  Revenue generation and cost reduction strategies
  •  Customer care improvement

Contact us for more information or to schedule a Workshop

This isn't your ordinary "academic" day. It's not just "theory", but pragmatic, proven techniques for solving real world business problems, strategies and challenges.

Customized

We customize the workshop to your business, with real examples and exercises that come from interviews with would be attendees. The attendees learn critical thinking AND see it in action with their own day-to-day issues.

Our most popular

Overview    

(Download the Workshop Brochure for more details)

This course includes everything in the Core course (#201) plus  Influencing and Communicating ideas, Fuzzy Criteria, A 11-Point Risk model and template, Presenting, Arguement Analysis, Thinking outside-the-box, Abductive and Impossible Thinking, and Being a Thinking Coach. 

The course objectives include:
    •  Distinguish “Automatic” Thinking from “Manual”
    •  Understand a Framework for Thinking Critically and apply the 3 step Critical Thinking Process
    •  Learn and practice a variety of tools to think critically including the use of Thinksheets to:
       •  Get Clear on a Problem, Situation or Goal
       •  Guide your thinking for Conclusions
       •  Guide your thinking for Decisions
    •  Be able to identify the “box” that constrains your current thinking and think outside of it.
    •  Creating credible presentations for buy-in, enrollment and approval.
    •  Think through 11 risk factors and how they weigh in
    •  Leave the day knowing how to ask questions to get yourself and others to think critically
    •  Identify where you can apply Critical Thinking in your job and create a next steps plan

Topics Covered:
    •  Distinguishing “Automatic” Thinking from “Manual Thinking”
    •  Benefits of Critical Thinking
    •  Empty your bucket
    • 

Clarity

- “Get Clear” on a problem to solve or decision to make, and the Clarity Thinksheet
             •  Inspecting the problem statement
             •  The tools of Socratic Questioning; Why, So What, Anticipatory Thinking
             •  Need vs. Want
             •  A Family of HeadScratchers
    • 

Conclusions

- Create Solutions and the Conclusion Thinksheet
             •  Applying Inductive & Deductive thinking.
             •  Understanding the Premise that leads to a conclusion and how personality affects this.
             •  How facts, assumptions, experiences, beliefs, and observations affect your thinking
             •  Why people come to different conclusions and what to do about it.
             •  Credibility and Consistency - Increasing the strength of your premise
             •  Triangular Thinking – When you can’t know exactly
             •  Using Critical Thinking to Influence and Persuade
             •  Argument Analysis – Review for and against arguments as elements of conclusions
             •  Presenting your solutions
             •  Role Play
    • 

Innovation

- Creating an environment and stimulating creativity and innovation
             •  Thinking Outside-the-Box - Challenging the Premise (What if?, What other?)
             •  Abductive Thinking - Thinking beyond your experience
             •  Impossible Thinking -To generate Breakthrough ideas
    • 

Decisions

- Taking action and the Decision Thinksheet
             •  The Elements of Decision; Who, When and Criteria
             •  Preeminent Metrics – What can be measured that can act as an early warning system and
                gives you the time to change direction and the outcome
             •  Risk Criteria – A 11-point Risk model that helps you evaluate the risk and your personal
                 risk level w/exercises (Downsides, Downside Probability, Upside, Upside Probability,
                 Downside, Absorption Capability, Ignoring Statistical Downside, Controllability,
                 Necessity of Upside,
                Reversibility, Mitigation, Strategy, Preeminent Metrics)
             •  Fuzzy Criteria – Not all the criteria of a decision are black and white.  This topic looks at
                the grey ones
    • 

Thinking Coach

             •  Introduction
    •  Next Steps - Your plan to implement your learning (for yourself and your team)