Critical Thinking and Problem Solving for Effective Decision-Making
Mastering critical thinking and problem-solving skills can help you make better decisions or recommendations- an essential competency in today’s knowledge workplaces. Critical thinking helps you to examine and improve thought processes, ask the right questions, challenge assumptions and consider varying viewpoints. Effective problem-solving helps you to properly identify and systematically work through a problem in a comprehensive manner, ensuring clarity when it comes time to make decisions or recommendations.
This course will demonstrate how critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making work optimally together, and will provide hands-on practice with tools that you can apply to your everyday workday tasks, big or small.
- Define critical thinking and identify your critical thinking styles
- Work through the critical thinking process to build, analyze and evaluate varying viewpoints
- Improve key critical thinking skills, including active listening and questioning
- Analyze context and information to clearly understand and identify a problem
- Apply problem solving steps and tools
- Identify appropriate solutions using specific approaches
- Select the best technique for making decisions
- Avoid common decision-making mistakes
Anyone who is required to problem solve on the job or make important project, department or organizational decisions or recommendations
Maximizing the Power of Your Brain
- Critical thinking and problem-solving the key to effective decision making
- The Iceberg Principle and the Understanding-Resolution Ration
Critical Thinking
- Definition of a Critical Thinker
- Critical thinking behaviours: active listening, probing, Empty Your Bucket
- Identify and evaluate issues and viewpoints
- The 3 C’s: context, credibility, and consistency
- Critical thinking worksheet- practice it!
Problem Solving
- The problem-solving process- various models
- Obstacles and counterproductive approaches
- Problem-solving techniques for groups and individuals
- Applying a problem-solving model to a workplace scenario
Decision Making
- Individual and collective decision-making traps
- How to choose: criteria, goals and vision-based decision-making
- Individual and group decision-making tools and techniques
- Decision-making – practical application to a workplace scenario
There are no prerequisites for this course
This workshop addresses:
- Achievement and Results Oriented
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Analytical Thinking
- Change Management and Leadership
- Creative Thinking
- Decision Making and Decisiveness
- Engagement and Motivation
- Impact and Influence
- Innovation and Initiative
- Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Self Confidence and Self Esteem
- Strategic Thinking
- Teamwork and Cooperation
- Working with Others
To learn more about core competencies, click here.
Open to all members of the public.
$ 595 plus tax
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