Critical Thinking, Problem Solving & Decision Making, New Zealand

We can host this training at your preferred location. Contact us!

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.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Anyone who is required to problem solve on the job or make important project, department or organizational decisions or recommendations.

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

Introduction

Maximizing the power of your brain

Critical thinking and problem-solving: the key to effective decision making
The Iceberg Principle and the Understanding-Resolution Ratio

Critical Thinking

Definition of a Critical Thinker
Critical thinking behaviours: active listening, probing, Empty Your Bucket
Identify and evaluate issues and viewpoints
The 3 Cs: 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

Upcoming Trainings

Join our public courses in our New Zealand facilities. Private class trainings will be organized at the location of your preference, according to your schedule.

Classroom / Virtual Classroom

01 July 2024