Critical Thinking

What if you had a reliable, repeatable process for generating better ideas and solving your most difficult problems? In this seminar, you will learn and practice concrete techniques for critical thinking and creative problem-solving that will transform how you approach complex challenges. You will also discover how to ask better questions, challenge assumptions with rigor, and see other people's viewpoints with greater clarity and nuance.

You'll Learn How To:

• Translate abstract ideas into concrete, actionable outcomes
• Evaluate ideas systematically and test assumptions with care
• Ground decisions in credible, well-analyzed evidence
• Make better decisions with greater confidence and consistency

You'll Also Receive:

• The "My Thinking Styles" assessment, which identifies your thinking style preferences and tendencies
• A personalized development report with your individual results and areas for growth
• AMA's Critical Thinking Model, with a concrete action plan for bringing these skills back to your workplace
• Pre- and post-seminar assessments to track your growth
• Tune-up materials to reinforce your learning after the event
• A skill-enabling toolkit available for download from the AMA Learning Portal

Who Should Attend:

Business professionals across functions and levels who want to sharpen their thinking processes and make better, more well-grounded decisions.

Note: Before attending, you will receive a link to the online "My Thinking Styles" assessment, which must be completed to participate fully in the seminar.

What You Will Learn:

The Mindset for Critical Thinking

• Understanding the neurological and psychological processes involved in effective critical thinking
• Discovering the mental habits that characterize skilled critical thinkers

Clarifying Problems Using Critical Thinking Techniques

• Gathering and rigorously assessing relevant data
• Analyzing situations to identify the core problems at hand
• Recognizing your assumptions and cognitive biases
• Identifying and countering persuasion and manipulation techniques
• Identifying and managing the role of emotions in your reasoning
• Framing and translating issues into formulated, actionable items

Developing Solutions and Solving Problems

• Applying counterfactual thinking to assess and refine proposed solutions
• Using diagrams to assess data, identify gaps, and communicate solutions clearly
• Seeking alternative viewpoints for constructive critique and course correction

Understanding Your Mindset for Critical Thinking

• Interpreting your feedback from the "My Thinking Styles" assessment
• Gaining insight into your critical thinking strengths and areas for development
• Selecting specific aspects of your mindset to develop further

Organizational Context and Awareness

• Analyzing power relationships, values, and the formal and informal structures within your team or organization
• Developing interpersonal and communication strategies to strengthen professional relationships

Implementing Your New Knowledge and Skills

• Anticipating the pitfalls you may encounter as a critical thinker in your organization
• Creating a concrete action plan for the ongoing development of your critical thinking skills

Learning Objectives

• Use Critical Thinking Skills to Make Better Decisions with Greater Confidence and Clarity
• Apply Critical Thinking Tools to Examine What You Know, Understand Situations from Multiple Perspectives, and Take Effective Action