Critical Thinking Training

Critical Thinking is an extremely important attribute for managers.  Critical thinking skills help ensure that decisions are on the basis of facts and sound evidence. 

Critical thinking helps to look at a problem dispassionately and factually.  It helps look at the problem in its proper context and to reach a solution in a logical manner.

Managers trained to critically view situations and problems are able to better see the outcomes of different solutions and make better decisions. 

Duration: 1 day

Mode: Classroom /  Online

Benefits to the organization

Critical thinking is a skill that is vital  in troubleshooting, investigation and in solving problems.  It is a necessary competency for managers, engineers and for others in decision making capacities.  Critical thinking training helps in solving problems and reducing downtime and losses.  It also enables to provide comprehensive and lasting solutions so that problems do not recur.

Course Objectives

At the end of the training program, the participants will be able to

• Apply structured thinking models to improve judgment and decision-making
• Distinguish between facts, assumptions, and interpretations in complex scenarios
• Use diagnostic techniques to evaluate options and predict consequences
• Identify and mitigate cognitive biases in team and strategic settings
• Foster a culture of questioning, evidence-based dialogue, and intellectual humility
• Strengthen stakeholder confidence through transparent, logical analysis
• Integrate critical thinking into project planning, risk management, and leadership
• Create scalable mental models for recurring challenges in business environments

Course Contents

• Module 1: Foundations of Critical Thinking

What Is Critical Thinking: Business relevance and benefits

Characteristics of a Critical Thinker in a leadership role

Thinking vs. Feeling: Balancing logic and intuition

Barriers to Thinking Clearly in corporate environments

• Module 2: Structured Reasoning & Thought Frameworks

Using the RED Model (Recognize assumptions, Evaluate arguments, Draw conclusions)

Ladder of Inference: Understanding how decisions are formed

Applying Critical Thinking to Strategic Planning

Avoiding Mental Traps in high-pressure environments

• Module 3: Distinguishing Facts, Assumptions & Interpretations

Breaking Down Business Problems into core components

Techniques to question assumptions effectively

Spotting Logical Fallacies in meetings and proposals

Separating Emotion from Analysis in team decisions

• Module 4: Cognitive Bias Identification & Mitigation

Overview of Common Biases (confirmation, anchoring, availability)

Bias Mapping in team and managerial decisions

Debiasing Techniques for individual and group contexts

Behavioral Nudges: Designing decision environments strategically

• Module 5: Critical Thinking in Decision-Making

Decision Trees and Consequence Mapping

Evaluating Alternatives using SWOT and Risk Filters

Managing Trade-offs in complex choices

Case Study: Fast vs. Deliberate Decisions in leadership

• Module 6: Problem Solving with Critical Thinking

Applying Root Cause Analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone)

Reframing Problems to uncover hidden opportunities

Logical Prioritization using Weighted Scoring

Real-World Practice: Solving operational or client challenges

• Module 7: Driving Critical Thinking in Teams

Facilitating Thoughtful Discussions and Disagreements

Using Socratic Questioning in meetings and reviews

Building a Feedback Culture focused on thought quality

Tools for Cross-Functional Thinking and Collaborative Analysis

• Module 8: Integration & Executive Application

Critical Thinking Audit: Reviewing live decisions

Embedding Thinking Habits into daily leadership practice

Personal Leadership Reflection & Thought Tracker

Developing Mental Models for recurring strategic challenges

Why choose us

At the Institute of Corporate Analytics and Training, we have trained over 5000 professionals on a wide range of corporate and management trainings from many organizations and companies, from diverse domains,  around the world.  We have a team of highly motivated and experienced team of trainers.  Our trainings are designed to blend theoretical concepts with field experience.  The concepts and techniques you will learn will be illustrated with case studies from the field, role plays and simulations.

Rest assured that at the end of the training programs, you will emerge confident and energized armed with skills and knowledge as well as the techniques of applying them.