Critical Thinking

Feeling overwhelmed? What if you could learn a process for thinking to make better decisions and create better solutions? Learn hands-on techniques to generate breakthrough ideas and solve your most pressing problems. In this course, you’ll discover how to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and see others’ viewpoints with clarity.

You’ll learn how to:

• Translate abstract ideas into tangible results
• Evaluate ideas objectively
• Solve problems more effectively
• Make dramatically better decisions

You’ll also receive:

• The My Thinking Styles Assessment, which looks at your thinking style preferences
• A personalized development report with your individual results and areas for development
• An action plan for implementing critical thinking and decision-making skills back at work
• Pre- and post-seminar assessments
• Tune-up materials to review what you’ve learned after the event
• And a toolkit on a flash drive or mobile resource application

• Explore real-world examples of why critical thinking is so important in business
• Learn to use critical thinking skills when making business decisions
• Choose the right techniques to recognize assumptions, evaluate arguments and draw conclusions
• Discover 7 ways to spot a weak argument 
• Know how to translate an abstract idea into something tangible
• Identify 8 barriers to effective critical thinking 
• Minimize the impact of job pressures on your thinking processes
• React with curiosity instead of emotion
• Get a roadmap for developing your critical thinking skills

Recognizing the Value of Using Critical Thinking in Business

• Defining critical thinking
• Characteristics of effective critical thinkers
• The role of critical thinking in meeting business challenges

A Critical Thinking Process

• Using a framework to relate critical thinking to business challenges
• Describing critical thinking using the RED (Recognize assumptions, Evaluate arguments, Draw conclusions) Model
• Positioning the RED Model within a critical thinking framework

Obtaining Feedback on Your Critical Thinking Skills

• Recognizing the value of gaining insight into one’s critical thinking skills
• Relating critical thinking skills to other business skills
• Uses for the "My Thinking Styles" assessment 
• "My Thinking Styles" Development Report
• Your personal "Thinking Styles" Development Report 

A Context for Critical Thinking

• Identifying personal situations where critical thinking has been and could be used
• Selecting techniques for using critical thinking skills and the RED model
• Relating insight from your "Thinking Styles" report and feedback to a personal critical thinking situation

Applying Critical Thinking Tools and Skills in Business Situations

• Practicing using critical thinking skills and techniques in a real business situation
• Initial action plan for development of critical thinking skills 

 Learning Objectives

• Promote Critical Thinking as a Valuable Process in the Workplace
• Use Critical Thinking Skills When Making Business Decisions and
  Taking Action
• Select Specific Tools to Use When Conducting Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking in Business

• Define Critical Thinking
• Describe the Characteristics of Effective Critical Thinkers
• Relate the Role of Critical Thinking in Meeting Business Challenges

The RED Method of Critical Thinking

• Identify the Skill Areas of the Critical Thinking Process
• Recognize and Use Skills That Support the Critical Thinking Process

Appraising Your Critical Thinking

• Recognize the Value of Gaining Insight into Your Critical Thinking Skills
• Review Feedback on Your “My Thinking Styles” Inventory
• Understand the Connection Between Your Individual Thinking Style and the RED Approach to Critical Thinking

Context for Critical Thinking: Organizational Awareness and Managing Relationships

• Understand the Attributes Associated with Organizational Awareness and Managing Relationships
• Anticipate Interpersonal Strategies You Will Need to Implement Critical Thinking at Work

Applying Critical Thinking Skills and Tools

• Practice Using Critical Thinking Skills and Techniques in a Real Business Situation
• Identify Personal Situations Where Critical Thinking Can Be Used
• Select Tools for Using Critical Thinking Skills

Implementing Your New Knowledge and Skills

• Anticipate Pitfalls You May Encounter as a Critical Thinker
• Create an Action Plan for Development of Critical Thinking Skills

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Learn to Use Critical Thinking Skills to Arrive at Better Decisions More Confidently and Determine What Matters Most in Meeting Business Challenges
• Learn to Use Critical Thinking Skills and Tools to Examine the Information Knowledge You Have, Accurately Understand Situations from Multiple Perspectives, and Take Appropriate Action

LESSON ONE

Critical Thinking in Business

• Define Critical Thinking
• Describe Characteristics of Effective Critical Thinkers
• Relate the Role of Critical Thinking in Meeting Business Challenges

The RED Model of Critical Thinking

• Identify the Skill Areas of the Critical Thinking Process
• Recognize and Use Skills That Support the Critical Thinking Process

LESSON TWO

Appraising Your Critical Thinking Skills

• Recognize the Value of Gaining Insight into Your Critical Thinking Skills
• Review Feedback on Your “My Thinking StylesTM” Assessment
• Understand the Connection Between Your Individual Thinking Style and the RED Approach to Critical Thinking

Applying Critical Thinking Skills and Tools

• Practice Using Critical Thinking Skills and Techniques in a Real Business Situation
• Identify Personal Situations Where Critical Thinking Can Be Used
• Select Tools for Using Critical Thinking Skills

LESSON THREE

Applying Critical Thinking Skills and Tools (cont’d)

• Practice Using Critical Thinking Skills and Techniques in a Real Business Situation
• Identify Personal Situations Where Critical Thinking Can Be Used
• Select Tools for Using Critical Thinking Skills

Developing Organizational Awareness and Managing Relationships

• Understand the Attributes Associated with Organizational Awareness and Managing Relationships
• Anticipate Interpersonal Strategies You Will Need to Implement Critical Thinking at Work

Implementing Your New Knowledge and Skills

• Anticipate Pitfalls You May Encounter as a Critical Thinker
• Create an Action Plan for Development of Critical Thinking Skills