INTRODUCTION FOR UNLEASHING PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS: CREATIVITY AND CRITICAL THINKING THE KEY TO SUCCESS
In a world marked by complexity, rapid change, and uncertainty, effective decision-making demands approaches that unveil the genuine problems and their underlying causes. This necessitates challenging assumptions and fostering creativity and critical thinking skills. These skills not only enhance problem-solving but also elevate work-related outcomes, steering organizational success. Critical thinking, as a cognitive process, involves refining one’s thinking by dissecting the inherent structures and subjecting them to intellectual standards.
Contrary to common misconceptions, creativity and critical thinking are not exclusive talents; rather, they are trainable skills accessible to all. This training program aims to demystify the process, unveiling how, why, and when creativity can be harnessed efficiently. By providing concrete steps, the course facilitates a shift in perspective to explore new possibilities and solutions using critical thinking skills, whether at operational or managerial levels. It not only illuminates the expectations from the creative and critical thinking process but also equips participants with tools to foster a supportive culture within their organizations.
The ultimate outcome is an enhanced ability for individuals, teams, and organizations to recognize and develop innovative opportunities for problem-solving and decision making. Drawing from case studies, personal experiences, and extensive research, the course stimulates an awareness of participants’ unique creative selves and cultivates their critical thinking abilities. In a world defined by disruptions and diversity, this training empowers individuals to unfold their creativity and critical thinking in a purposeful manner.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
- Discover Your Super Creative Self: Unlock Your Imagination: Unleash the power of your imagination and explore the creative nooks within yourself.
- Embrace Uniqueness: Recognize and celebrate your unique creative style, understanding that creativity comes in various shapes and forms.
- Playful Exploration: Engage in playful exercises and activities that ignite your creativity, making the learning process enjoyable.
- Techniques Toolbox: Acquire a toolbox of techniques to stimulate creative thinking, transforming ordinary situations into opportunities for innovation.
- Jump Over Smart Thinking Hurdles: Learn how to question assumptions and overcome mental roadblocks that hinder smart thinking.
- Adaptable Mindset: Cultivate an adaptable mindset, allowing you to navigate uncertainty and complexity with resilience.
- Critical Thinking Tools: Master practical thinking tools that enhance critical analysis, enabling you to evaluate information and make informed decisions.
- Strategic Thinking: Develop strategic thinking skills, allowing you to see the bigger picture and make decisions that align with organizational goals.
COURSE OUTCOMES
- Participants will gain a deeper understanding of their creative potential, unlocking their imagination and accessing the latent creative ideas within themselves, boosting their ability to think outside the box.
- Participants will leave the session with a practical set of creative thinking techniques that they can apply to everyday challenges, transforming routine situations into opportunities for innovation and growth
- Participants will learn how to challenge assumptions and dismantle mental barriers, enabling them to think more freely and engage in smart, innovative problem-solving
- Participants will cultivate an adaptable and flexible mindset, empowering them to navigate uncertainty, complexity, and change with greater resilience and creativity
- Participants will master critical thinking tools, enhancing their ability to analyze and evaluate information objectively, leading to better decision-making and problem-solving
- Participants will develop the skills to think strategically, allowing them to see the broader context, make informed decisions, and align their creative efforts with organizational goals for long-term success
TARGET AUDIENCE
Team Leaders, Supervisors, Managers, Executives
METHODOLOGY
Highly Interactive Lectures, Videos, Group Discussion, Games, Case Studies, Personal Reflection.
COURSE CONTENT
DAY 1
MODULE 1: CREATIVITY IS A CORE LEADERSHIP SKILL! – ACTIVATING CREATIVITY
- Crafting Creativity: Recognizing creativity as a learnable skill, understanding the creative process, and exploring our innate ability to be creative.
- Traits and Skills: Unpacking personality traits crucial for creativity and identifying the skills essential for fostering a creative environment.
- Creative Odyssey: Embracing creativity as a journey, emphasizing the importance of persistence, and exploring processes to build and strengthen our creative muscles.
- Psychological Influences: Examining how past experiences shape our beliefs and impact our reasoning abilities
Activity: Engage in a variety of creativity exercises, including the whimsical Pet Drawing, Story-telling, and a moment of Personal Reflection.
MODULE 2- THE CREATIVE TOOLBOX- (HOW TO DO GUIDE PART 1)
- Brainstorming Brilliance: Initiating a brainstorming session with basic rules and benefits.
- Techniques Treasure Chest: Exploring various brainstorming techniques, including Alphabet Brainstorming, Brainwriting, The Charette Procedure, Crawford’s Slip Writing Method, Role-Storming, Reverse Brainstorm, and Circle Brainstorming.
- Pros and Cons Debrief: Reflecting on the pros and cons of each technique through participant experiences.
Activity: Engage in Alphabet Brainstorming, Brainwriting, and Role-Storming sessions to unleash creativity and critical thinking.
MODULE 3- EVALUATING OUR THINKING SKILLS- FROM CREATIVE TO CRITICAL THINKING MODE
- The Critical Edge: Understanding why thinking critically is a valuable cognitive skill, with a focus on better decision-making and enhanced problem-solving.
- Intellectual Values: Exploring the attributes of a good thinker, including attentiveness, curiosity, and being a motivated learner.
- The three step critical thinking process: Unpacking Analytical, Systemic and Metacognition thinking skills
- The Six Thinking Hats Strategy: A tool to view problems from different perspective
Activity: Participate in a Group Discussion, complete an Individual Exercise, and reflect personally on the insights gained.
DAY 2
MODULE 4- THE ANALYTICAL MIND- ZOOMING IN ON PROBLEMS
- The importance of objective data in decision-making.
- Methods for collecting data: surveys, research, observations, etc.
- Tools and techniques for data analysis (e.g., statistical tools, spreadsheets).
- Differentiating between qualitative and quantitative data
- Exploring the Logic Tree Model for problem analysis
Activity: Gathering and analysing relevant data, Logic Tree practical excersize
MODULE 5- THE 5 STEP PROCESS TO PROBLEM SOLVING & DECISION MAKING
- Problem Decoding: Unveiling the 5-step problem solving process using critical thinking, starting with problem identification through asking fundamental questions: Who? What? Why? When? Where? How?
- Reframing Magic: Transforming problem statements into goal-oriented frames.
- Solution Crafting: Analyzing advantages and disadvantages, seeking feedback, and creating viable solutions.
- Exploring Decision Making Frameworks
Activity: Group Activity, Case Studies
MODULE 6: PRACTICAL SESSION ON THE 5 STEP PROCESS TO PROBLEM SOLVING (HOW TO DO GUIDE PART 2)
- Dive into the realm of crafting solutions, analyzing advantages and disadvantages, seeking feedback, and sculpting viable solutions that stand as monuments of critical thought using actual problem in the workplace
Activity: Engage in a dynamic Group Activity applying the 5-step process to real-case scenarios.