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9781118729830

Think Smarter Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills

by
  • ISBN13:

    9781118729830

  • ISBN10:

    1118729838

  • Edition: 1st
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Copyright: 2014-04-07
  • Publisher: Wiley

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Supplemental Materials

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Summary

Train your brain for better decisions, problem solving, and innovation

Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills is the comprehensive guide to training your brain to do more for you. Written by a critical thinking trainer and coach, the book presents a pragmatic set of tools to apply critical thinking techniques to everyday business issues. Think Smarter is filled with real world examples that demonstrate how the tools work in action, in addition to dozens of practice exercises applicable across industries and functions, Think Smarter is a versatile resource for individuals, managers, students, and corporate training programs.

Thinking is the foundation of everything you do, but we rely largely on automatic thinking to process information, often resulting in misunderstandings and errors. Shifting over to critical thinking means thinking purposefully using a framework and toolset, enabling thought processes that lead to better decisions, faster problem solving, and creative innovation. Think Smarter provides clear, actionable steps toward improving your critical thinking skills, plus exercises that clarify complex concepts by putting theory into practice. Features include:

  • A comprehensive critical thinking framework
  • Over twenty-five "tools" to help you think more critically
  • Critical thinking implementation for functions and activities
  • Examples of the real-world use of each tool

Learn what questions to ask, how to uncover the real problem to solve, and mistakes to avoid. Recognize assumptions your can rely on versus those without merit, and train your brain to tick through your mental toolbox to arrive at more innovative solutions. Critical thinking is the top skill on the wish list in the business world, and sharpening your ability can have profound affects throughout all facets of life. Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills provides a roadmap to more effective and productive thought.

Author Biography

MICHAEL KALLET founded HeadScratchers in 2004 to train business professionals and leaders in critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, and creativity. Through workshops, webinars, and keynote speeches, he teaches people to apply critical thinking techniques to real world business challenges. Mike has held leadership positions in business environments ranging from ten-person startups to a $500 million public company.

www.headscratchers.com

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Section I: Introduction and the Framework for Critical Thinking

Chapter 1: What is Critical Thinking?

Benefits of Critical Thinking

Chapter 2: When to Use Critical Thinking

Chapter 3: The Framework and Tools

Clarity

Conclusions

Decisions

Section II: Clarity

Chapter 4: Empty Your Bucket

The Bucket

Getting Started with Emptying Your Bucket

Chapter 5: Inspection

Inspection

Getting Started with Inspection

Chapter 6: Why?

Why Why?

Ask why to get to I don’t know

Getting Started with Why

Chapter 7: So What?

So What?

So What: Your Company or Product

YOUR So What?

Getting Started with So What

Chapter 8: Need

What is the Necessity?

Great Teams and Need

Need and Survival

Getting Started with Need

Chapter 9: Anticipatory Thinking

What’s Next?

Getting Started with Anticipatory Thinking

Chapter 10: What Else?

What Else Could This Be?

Getting Started with What Else

Chapter 11: The Ingredient Diagram

Ingredients of Your Headscratcher

Getting started with the Ingredient Diagram

Chapter 12: Vision

What is Your Vision?

Getting Started with Vision

Chapter 13: The Thinking Coach

The Role of a Thinking Coach

Why Be a Thinking Coach?

Examples of a Thinking Coach

If You Have the Experience, Why Not Communicate That?

Ten Rules of a Thinking Coach

Getting Started with Being a Thinking Coach

Section III: Conclusions

Chapter 14: Summary of Clarity

Clarity - Getting Clear about Your Headscratcher

Getting Started

Practice

Clarity - Not About Solving the Problem, but Generates Solutions

When Am I Done with Clarity?

Can I Use Critical Thinking by Myself and Not with a Group?

Chapter 15: It’s all about The Premise

Deduction

Induction

It’s All About the Premise

Chapter 16: Facts

Facts are Absolute Truth

Use so what with facts

Fact or Not Fact

Chapter 17: Observations

Observations are Abundant

Chapter 18: Experiences

Your Experiences

So What?

Chapter 19: Beliefs

Beliefs - Your Value System

When Beliefs Are Different

Chapter 20: Assumptions

Assumptions are Key

Chapter 22: Credibility

How Credible is the Premise?

Credibility of Facts and Observations

Why Do People Lose Credibility?

Getting Started with Credibility

Chapter 23: Consistency

The Consistency of Your Premise Components

Getting Started with Consistency

Chapter 24: Triangular Thinking

Triangular Thinking: Estimating the Unknown

Getting Started with Triangular Thinking

Chapter 25: Change

The Premise and Change

Helping People Get Over Change

Getting Started with Change

Chapter 26: Influencing and Persuading

Influence and Persuasion

Using the Premise to Influence

Using the Premise to Persuade

Maybe you need to be persuaded?

Getting Started with Influencing and Persuading

Section: IV Conclusions and Innovation

Chapter 27: Outside-the-Box Thinking

Ask What If and What Other

Getting Started with Thinking Outside-the-Box

Chapter 28: Abductive Thinking

Abductive Thinking

Old Dog Thinking

Knowledge with No Experience

Old Dog Thinking Cures

Getting Started with Abductive Thinking

Chapter 29: Impossible Thinking

Thinking How to Accomplish the Impossible

Getting Started with Impossible Thinking

Exercises for Impossible Thinking

Chapter 30: Summary of Conclusions

Conclusions – Creating Solutions

Getting Started

Conclusions – Sorry, You’re Not Quite Done!

Section V: Decisions

Chapter 31: Who, Need and When

Whose Decision Is This, Anyway?

Need, Again!

When Does This Decision Need to Be Made?

Getting Started with Who,  Need and When

Chapter 32: Criteria

Without Criteria, Nothing Is Decided

Getting Started with Criteria

Chapter 33: Risk

Eleven Risk Factors

Using the Eleven Factor Model

What Is Too Risky?

Getting Started with Risk

Chapter 34: Summary of Decisions

Decisions – Taking Action

Getting Started

Are we done yet?

Chapter 35: Critical Thinking: Summary and Suggestions

Critical Thinking Summary

Critical Thinking – Let’s Begin

Supplemental Materials

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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