FUTURE-READY WORKFORCE: DEVELOPING ADVERSITY QUOTIENT IN STRENGTHENING MENTAL TOUGHNESS AND RESILIENCE

COURSE INTRODUCTION

In today’s fast-paced and complex world, the ability to think creatively, solve problems effectively, and make sound decisions is more valuable than ever. This 2-day interactive workshop is designed to help participants unlock their creative potential, tackle challenges with confidence, and choose the best course of action in any situation.

Through a blend of hands-on activities, real-world case studies, group work, and practical tools, participants will learn how to approach problems from new angles, generate innovative ideas, and make decisions that drive meaningful results. Whether you’re a team leader, entrepreneur, student, or professional, this course will equip you with the mindset and methods to thrive in uncertainty and lead with clarity.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Enhance Creative Thinking Skills:

Participants will explore and practice various creative thinking techniques to generate innovative ideas and solutions.

Understand and Apply Problem-Solving Frameworks:

Learn structured methods (like Root Cause Analysis, 5 Whys, and PDCA) to identify, analyze, and resolve problems effectively.

Strengthen Decision-Making Abilities:

Develop the ability to make informed, logical, and timely decisions using tools such as SWOT analysis and Decision Matrices.

Identify and Overcome Cognitive Biases:

Recognize common mental traps and biases that affect creativity and decision-making, and learn strategies to minimize their impact.

Reframe Problems to Discover Opportunities:

Practice techniques for rephrasing and redefining problems to unlock more innovative and effective solutions.

Collaborate and Communicate Ideas Effectively:

Work in teams to ideate, solve problems, and present decisions clearly, fostering collaboration and influencing outcomes.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Generate creative ideas using techniques like mind mapping, SCAMPER, and lateral thinking in both individual and group settings.
• Analyze problems systematically by identifying root causes and applying structured problem-solving models.
• Make informed decisions using frameworks such as decision matrices, SWOT analysis, and cost-benefit evaluations.
• Recognize and mitigate cognitive biases that impact creative thinking and decision-making processes.
• Effectively reframe challenges into opportunities through techniques like “How Might We…” and reverse thinking.
• Collaborate in teams to solve real-world problems and present clear, well-structured solutions with justifiable decision paths.

COURSE CONTENT

Unlocking Creative Thinking & Structured Problem Solving

Welcome & Icebreaker

• Introduction to the course & objectives
• Creativity self-assessment activity

Session 1: Foundations of Creative Thinking

• What is creativity? Myths vs. reality
• Left vs. right brain thinking
• Divergent vs. convergent thinking
• Barriers to creativity
• Activity: “Mind Map Your Mind” – visual thinking exercise

Session 2: Creative Thinking Techniques

• Brainstorming dos and don’ts
• CREATIVE Technique
• Random word stimulation
• Reverse thinking
• Activity: Idea generation on a common business challenge using 2 techniques

Session 3: Structured Problem Solving Frameworks

• What is a problem?
• Types of problems (simple, complicated, complex)
• Problem-Solving models:

Þ PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act)

Þ 5 Whys

Þ Root Cause Analysis (Fishbone/Ishikawa)

• Activity: Group case study using RCA

Session 4: Reframing Problems Creatively

• Problem framing vs. solution jumping
• “How Might We…” technique
• Lateral thinking (Edward de Bono)
• Activity: Reframe a dull problem into an exciting challenge

Strategic Decision Making & Applied Creative Problem Solving

Session 5: Decision Making Essentials

• Intuitive vs. rational decision making
• Common decision-making biases (confirmation bias, overconfidence, anchoring)
• Risk and uncertainty
• Decision-making styles
• Activity: “Desert Survival” group simulation (decision-making under pressure)

Session 6: Decision Making Tools & Techniques

• SWOT Analysis
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Decision Matrix/Grid
• Activity: Solve a real-world scenario using Decision Matrix

Session 7: Integrating Creativity in Decision Making

• Balancing creativity and logic
• Scenario planning
• Intuition vs. data-driven choices
• Group decision-making dynamics
• Activity: Team challenge – Build a creative solution pitch with decision rationale

Session 8: Applied Problem Solving Lab

• Teams work on a challenge of their choice
• Apply full cycle: creative ideation → analysis → decision-making
• Prepare short presentations

Closing & Reflection

• Team presentations
• Reflection: What will I take away?
• Final Q&A
• Feedback & certificates