Workshop:
Thinking Productively
Tools for Sharper, More Profitable Business Thinking
Abraham Maslow observed that "if the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to treat everything as if it were a nail." A skilled craftsman chooses from a broad range of tools the one best suited for the job at hand. Similarly, a manager must master and have ready for use a range of thinking tools. This course will increase your level of mastery in those types of thinking at which you are already strong. It will also provide you with new, powerful thinking skills to add to your "thinking toolbox."
Who Should Attend?
The interactive workshop is designed for managers at all levels. It will be of particular benefit to those managers who:
- are key decision-makers in their organizations
- are concerned with identifying and exploiting new markets, products or business opportunities
- are often involved in problem-solving or troubleshooting activities
- manage or participate in project teams, committees or other organizational groups
Optimal group size is 12-20 participants.
Course Objectives:
By attending this workshop, participants will:
- learn how the human mind absorbs, interprets and stores incoming information
- have a range of tools for identifying and exploiting opportunities of which you were previously unaware
- know and have practiced thinking skills which are appropriate for a wide range of business situations
- be more productive in group and team problem-solving, both as a team member as well as team leader
Course Content
Exploring the World of Thinking
- How the mind processes and stores information
- Patterns, pathways and maps
Thinking Creatively
- When and why?
- Divergent and convergent styles
- Tools for stimulating breakthrough thinking
- Shaping and harvesting new ideas
Strategic and Conceptual Thinking
- How we form and use concepts
- Thinking backwards from the future
- Thinking in metaphors
- Reframing
Rational and Non-rational Thinking
- How human logic differs from formal logic
- Common sources of bias in human thinking
- The role of intuition and hunches
Thinking Analytically
- Weighting systems
- Dealing with probabilities
- Impact analysis
- Choosing between many alternatives
Systems Thinking
- When is a whole more than the sum of its parts?
- Components and characteristics of human systems
- System interactions
- Systems thinking as a change management tool
Positive Thinking
- The placebo effect and the self-fulfilling prophecy
- Recent findings on optimism and pessimism
- Managing expectations and explanations for greater success
- Avoiding the trap of wishful thinking
Thinking in Groups
- Common barriers to effective group problem-solving
- Norms and skills for effective group process
- Techniques for optimizing thinking in groups
- Planning your negotiation future
Course Duration:
Two to three days.