creative problem solving and effective decision making

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The SkillsYouNeed Guide to Interpersonal Skills

Making decisions and solving problems are two key areas in life, whether you are at home or at work. Whatever you’re doing, and wherever you are, you are faced with countless decisions and problems, both small and large, every day.

Many decisions and problems are so small that we may not even notice them. Even small decisions, however, can be overwhelming to some people. They may come to a halt as they consider their dilemma and try to decide what to do.

Small and Large Decisions

In your day-to-day life you're likely to encounter numerous 'small decisions', including, for example:

Tea or coffee?

What shall I have in my sandwich? Or should I have a salad instead today?

What shall I wear today?

Larger decisions may occur less frequently but may include:

Should we repaint the kitchen? If so, what colour?

Should we relocate?

Should I propose to my partner? Do I really want to spend the rest of my life with him/her?

These decisions, and others like them, may take considerable time and effort to make.

The relationship between decision-making and problem-solving is complex. Decision-making is perhaps best thought of as a key part of problem-solving: one part of the overall process.

Our approach at Skills You Need is to set out a framework to help guide you through the decision-making process. You won’t always need to use the whole framework, or even use it at all, but you may find it useful if you are a bit ‘stuck’ and need something to help you make a difficult decision.

Decision Making

Effective Decision-Making

This page provides information about ways of making a decision, including basing it on logic or emotion (‘gut feeling’). It also explains what can stop you making an effective decision, including too much or too little information, and not really caring about the outcome.

A Decision-Making Framework

This page sets out one possible framework for decision-making.

The framework described is quite extensive, and may seem quite formal. But it is also a helpful process to run through in a briefer form, for smaller problems, as it will help you to make sure that you really do have all the information that you need.

Problem Solving

Introduction to Problem-Solving

This page provides a general introduction to the idea of problem-solving. It explores the idea of goals (things that you want to achieve) and barriers (things that may prevent you from achieving your goals), and explains the problem-solving process at a broad level.

The first stage in solving any problem is to identify it, and then break it down into its component parts. Even the biggest, most intractable-seeming problems, can become much more manageable if they are broken down into smaller parts. This page provides some advice about techniques you can use to do so.

Sometimes, the possible options to address your problem are obvious. At other times, you may need to involve others, or think more laterally to find alternatives. This page explains some principles, and some tools and techniques to help you do so.

Having generated solutions, you need to decide which one to take, which is where decision-making meets problem-solving. But once decided, there is another step: to deliver on your decision, and then see if your chosen solution works. This page helps you through this process.

‘Social’ problems are those that we encounter in everyday life, including money trouble, problems with other people, health problems and crime. These problems, like any others, are best solved using a framework to identify the problem, work out the options for addressing it, and then deciding which option to use.

This page provides more information about the key skills needed for practical problem-solving in real life.

Further Reading from Skills You Need

The Skills You Need Guide to Interpersonal Skills eBooks.

Develop your interpersonal skills with our series of eBooks. Learn about and improve your communication skills, tackle conflict resolution, mediate in difficult situations, and develop your emotional intelligence.

Guiding you through the key skills needed in life

As always at Skills You Need, our approach to these key skills is to provide practical ways to manage the process, and to develop your skills.

Neither problem-solving nor decision-making is an intrinsically difficult process and we hope you will find our pages useful in developing your skills.

Start with: Decision Making Problem Solving

See also: Improving Communication Interpersonal Communication Skills Building Confidence

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How to Be a More Creative Problem-Solver at Work: 8 Tips

• 01 Mar 2022

The importance of creativity in the workplace—particularly when problem-solving—is undeniable. Business leaders can’t approach new problems with old solutions and expect the same result.

This is where innovation-based processes need to guide problem-solving. Here’s an overview of what creative problem-solving is, along with tips on how to use it in conjunction with design thinking.

Access your free e-book today.

What Is Creative Problem-Solving?

Encountering problems with no clear cause can be frustrating. This occurs when there’s disagreement around a defined problem or research yields unclear results. In such situations, creative problem-solving helps develop solutions, despite a lack of clarity.

While creative problem-solving is less structured than other forms of innovation, it encourages exploring open-ended ideas and shifting perspectives—thereby fostering innovation and easier adaptation in the workplace. It also works best when paired with other innovation-based processes, such as design thinking .

Creative Problem-Solving and Design Thinking

Design thinking is a solutions-based mentality that encourages innovation and problem-solving. It’s guided by an iterative process that Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar outlines in four stages in the online course Design Thinking and Innovation :

• Clarify: This stage involves researching a problem through empathic observation and insights.
• Ideate: This stage focuses on generating ideas and asking open-ended questions based on observations made during the clarification stage.
• Develop: The development stage involves exploring possible solutions based on the ideas you generate. Experimentation and prototyping are both encouraged.
• Implement: The final stage is a culmination of the previous three. It involves finalizing a solution’s development and communicating its value to stakeholders.

Although user research is an essential first step in the design thinking process, there are times when it can’t identify a problem’s root cause. Creative problem-solving addresses this challenge by promoting the development of new perspectives.

Leveraging tools like design thinking and creativity at work can further your problem-solving abilities. Here are eight tips for doing so.

8 Creative Problem-Solving Tips

1. empathize with your audience.

A fundamental practice of design thinking’s clarify stage is empathy. Understanding your target audience can help you find creative and relevant solutions for their pain points through observing them and asking questions.

Practice empathy by paying attention to others’ needs and avoiding personal comparisons. The more you understand your audience, the more effective your solutions will be.

2. Reframe Problems as Questions

If a problem is difficult to define, reframe it as a question rather than a statement. For example, instead of saying, "The problem is," try framing around a question like, "How might we?" Think creatively by shifting your focus from the problem to potential solutions.

Consider this hypothetical case study: You’re the owner of a local coffee shop trying to fill your tip jar. Approaching the situation with a problem-focused mindset frames this as: "We need to find a way to get customers to tip more." If you reframe this as a question, however, you can explore: "How might we make it easier for customers to tip?" When you shift your focus from the shop to the customer, you empathize with your audience. You can take this train of thought one step further and consider questions such as: "How might we provide a tipping method for customers who don't carry cash?"

Whether you work at a coffee shop, a startup, or a Fortune 500 company, reframing can help surface creative solutions to problems that are difficult to define.

3. Defer Judgment of Ideas

If you encounter an idea that seems outlandish or unreasonable, a natural response would be to reject it. This instant judgment impedes creativity. Even if ideas seem implausible, they can play a huge part in ideation. It's important to permit the exploration of original ideas.

While judgment can be perceived as negative, it’s crucial to avoid accepting ideas too quickly. If you love an idea, don’t immediately pursue it. Give equal consideration to each proposal and build on different concepts instead of acting on them immediately.

4. Overcome Cognitive Fixedness

Cognitive fixedness is a state of mind that prevents you from recognizing a situation’s alternative solutions or interpretations instead of considering every situation through the lens of past experiences.

Although it's efficient in the short-term, cognitive fixedness interferes with creative thinking because it prevents you from approaching situations unbiased. It's important to be aware of this tendency so you can avoid it.

5. Balance Divergent and Convergent Thinking

One of the key principles of creative problem-solving is the balance of divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is the process of brainstorming multiple ideas without limitation; open-ended creativity is encouraged. It’s an effective tool for generating ideas, but not every idea can be explored. Divergent thinking eventually needs to be grounded in reality.

Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is the process of narrowing ideas down into a few options. While converging ideas too quickly stifles creativity, it’s an important step that bridges the gap between ideation and development. It's important to strike a healthy balance between both to allow for the ideation and exploration of creative ideas.

6. Use Creative Tools

Using creative tools is another way to foster innovation. Without a clear cause for a problem, such tools can help you avoid cognitive fixedness and abrupt decision-making. Here are several examples:

Problem Stories

Creating a problem story requires identifying undesired phenomena (UDP) and taking note of events that precede and result from them. The goal is to reframe the situations to visualize their cause and effect.

To start, identify a UDP. Then, discover what events led to it. Observe and ask questions of your consumer base to determine the UDP’s cause.

Next, identify why the UDP is a problem. What effect does the UDP have that necessitates changing the status quo? It's helpful to visualize each event in boxes adjacent to one another when answering such questions.

The problem story can be extended in either direction, as long as there are additional cause-and-effect relationships. Once complete, focus on breaking the chains connecting two subsequent events by disrupting the cause-and-effect relationship between them.

Alternate Worlds

The alternate worlds tool encourages you to consider how people from different backgrounds would approach similar situations. For instance, how would someone in hospitality versus manufacturing approach the same problem? This tool isn't intended to instantly solve problems but, rather, to encourage idea generation and creativity.

7. Use Positive Language

It's vital to maintain a positive mindset when problem-solving and avoid negative words that interfere with creativity. Positive language prevents quick judgments and overcomes cognitive fixedness. Instead of "no, but," use words like "yes, and."

Positive language makes others feel heard and valued rather than shut down. This practice doesn’t necessitate agreeing with every idea but instead approaching each from a positive perspective.

Using “yes, and” as a tool for further idea exploration is also effective. If someone presents an idea, build upon it using “yes, and.” What additional features could improve it? How could it benefit consumers beyond its intended purpose?

While it may not seem essential, this small adjustment can make a big difference in encouraging creativity.

8. Practice Design Thinking

Practicing design thinking can make you a more creative problem-solver. While commonly associated with the workplace, adopting a design thinking mentality can also improve your everyday life. Here are several ways you can practice design thinking:

• Learn from others: There are many examples of design thinking in business . Review case studies to learn from others’ successes, research problems companies haven't addressed, and consider alternative solutions using the design thinking process.
• Approach everyday problems with a design thinking mentality: One of the best ways to practice design thinking is to apply it to your daily life. Approach everyday problems using design thinking’s four-stage framework to uncover what solutions it yields.
• Study design thinking: While learning design thinking independently is a great place to start, taking an online course can offer more insight and practical experience. The right course can teach you important skills , increase your marketability, and provide valuable networking opportunities.

Ready to Become a Creative Problem-Solver?

Though creativity comes naturally to some, it's an acquired skill for many. Regardless of which category you're in, improving your ability to innovate is a valuable endeavor. Whether you want to bolster your creativity or expand your professional skill set, taking an innovation-based course can enhance your problem-solving.

If you're ready to become a more creative problem-solver, explore Design Thinking and Innovation , one of our online entrepreneurship and innovation courses . If you aren't sure which course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals.

About the Author

• Cognitive Psychology
• Creative Problem Solving

Creative Problem Solving for Managers: Developing Skills for Decision Making and Innovation

• October 2018
• ISBN: 9780429458255

• University of Chester

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Effective Decision Making Techniques for Every Situation

In this guide, we will explore effective decision-making techniques to help you make better decisions in various aspects of your life. Whether you’re facing personal dilemmas, professional challenges, or ethical quandaries, these techniques will provide you with the tools you need to navigate through any situation with confidence and clarity.

What is a Decision Making Technique?

A decision-making technique is a method or approach used to help people make better decisions. These techniques provide step-by-step processes or tools to consider options, weigh their pros and cons, and choose the best course of action. Examples include listing the advantages and disadvantages of each option, visualizing potential outcomes, or prioritizing based on key factors. These techniques help people make clearer, more informed decisions in different situations, like personal choices or business strategies.

6 Decision Making Techniques for Better Decisions

Here are 6 decision-making techniques that can be applied in various contexts, including personal decision-making, professional decision-making, strategic planning, problem-solving, and more. These techniques help individuals and organizations make better choices by providing structured approaches to analyze options, mitigate risks, and achieve desired outcomes.

​​1. Pugh Matrix

What it is : The Pugh Matrix, also known as the Decision Matrix, is a structured technique for comparing multiple alternatives against a set of criteria. It helps objectively evaluate options by assigning scores based on predefined criteria.

How to use it in decision-making :

• Identify the decision to be made and the alternatives available.
• Determine the criteria for evaluation, such as cost, time, quality, etc.
• Assign weights to each criterion based on its importance.
• Compare each alternative against the criteria and assign scores.
• Calculate the total scores for each alternative to determine the best option.
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Brainstorming

What it is : Brainstorming is a creative technique used to generate a large number of ideas or solutions to a problem in a short amount of time. It encourages free thinking and idea generation without criticism.

How to use it in decision making :

• Gather a group of participants with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Clearly define the problem or decision to be addressed.
• Set a time limit and encourage participants to generate as many ideas as possible.
• Record all ideas without judgment or evaluation.
• After brainstorming, evaluate and refine the ideas generated to identify potential solutions.

The Heuristic Method

What it is : The heuristic method involves using practical rules or shortcuts to make decisions quickly, often in situations with limited information or time.

• Identify the decision to be made and any constraints or limitations.
• Use heuristics, or mental shortcuts, to simplify the decision-making process .
• Examples of heuristics include the “satisficing” approach (choosing the first option that meets the minimum criteria), the “availability heuristic” (relying on readily available information), or the “anchoring and adjustment heuristic” (starting with an initial estimate and adjusting based on new information).

Tiered Voting

What it is : Tiered voting is a decision-making technique where participants vote on options in multiple rounds, with the lowest-ranking options eliminated in each round until a consensus is reached.

• Present the options to be voted on to the participants.
• In the first round of voting, each participant ranks the options from best to worst.
• Eliminate the options with the lowest rankings and proceed to the next round of voting.
• Repeat the process until only one option remains, or until a predetermined threshold for consensus is reached.

SWOT Analysis

What it is : SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning tool used to identify the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of a decision, project, or organization.

• Identify the decision or project to be analyzed.
• List the internal Strengths and Weaknesses, such as resources, capabilities, or limitations.
• Identify external Opportunities and Threats, such as market trends, competition, or regulatory changes.
• Analyze the SWOT factors to inform decision-making and develop strategies to capitalize on strengths, address weaknesses, exploit opportunities, and mitigate threats.

Game Theory

What it is : Game Theory is a mathematical framework used to analyze decision-making in situations where the outcomes depend on the choices of multiple parties, or “players.”

• Identify the decision or interaction involving multiple parties with conflicting interests.
• Define the players, their available strategies, and the possible outcomes.
• Use mathematical models to analyze the potential strategies and outcomes, considering factors such as payoff, risk, and utility.
• Determine the optimal strategy for each player, considering the potential responses of others, to achieve the best possible outcome or equilibrium.

Scenario Planning

What it is : Scenario planning is a technique used to make decisions in the face of uncertainty about the future. It involves creating multiple plausible future scenarios and analyzing their potential impact on the decision at hand.

• Identify the decision to be made and any uncertainties or future factors that could influence the outcome.
• Develop multiple scenarios, each depicting a different plausible future based on various combinations of key uncertainties.
• Evaluate each scenario’s potential impact on the decision, considering factors such as risks, opportunities, and challenges.
• Assess the robustness of the decision under each scenario and identify strategies to mitigate risks or capitalize on opportunities.
• Make the decision based on an understanding of how it would perform across different possible futures.

Priority Matrix

What it is : A Priority Matrix, also known as an Eisenhower Matrix or Urgent-Important Matrix, is a tool used to prioritize tasks or decisions based on their urgency and importance. It helps individuals or teams focus their efforts on the most critical tasks or decisions, thereby improving productivity and effectiveness.

• Identify the decisions or tasks that need to be prioritized.
• Create a prioritization grid with four quadrants: Urgent and Important, Important but Not Urgent, Urgent but Not Important, and Neither Urgent nor Important.
• Place each decision or task into one of the quadrants based on its level of urgency and importance.
• Focus on addressing tasks in the Urgent and Important quadrant first, as they require immediate attention.
• Delegate or schedule tasks in the Important but Not Urgent quadrant for later action, to prevent them from becoming urgent.
• Consider whether tasks in the Urgent but Not Important quadrant can be delegated or deferred, as they may distract from more critical priorities.
• Minimize or eliminate tasks in the Neither Urgent nor Important quadrant, as they contribute little value to achieving goals.

Effective decision making is a skill that can be honed through practice and awareness. By understanding the decision-making process, utilizing proven decision making techniques, and adapting to different contexts, you can navigate through life’s challenges with confidence and clarity. Remember, every decision you make shapes your future, so choose wisely.

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How to Make Great Decisions, Quickly

• Martin G. Moore

It’s a skill that will set you apart.

As a new leader, learning to make good decisions without hesitation and procrastination is a capability that can set you apart from your peers. While others vacillate on tricky choices, your team could be hitting deadlines and producing the type of results that deliver true value. That’s something that will get you — and them — noticed. Here are a few of a great decision:

• Great decisions are shaped by consideration of many different viewpoints. This doesn’t mean you should seek out everyone’s opinion. The right people with the relevant expertise need to clearly articulate their views to help you broaden your perspective and make the best choice.
• Great decisions are made as close as possible to the action. Remember that the most powerful people at your company are rarely on the ground doing the hands-on work. Seek input and guidance from team members who are closest to the action.
• Great decisions address the root cause, not just the symptoms. Although you may need to urgently address the symptoms, once this is done you should always develop a plan to fix the root cause, or else the problem is likely to repeat itself.
• Great decisions balance short-term and long-term value. Finding the right balance between short-term and long-term risks and considerations is key to unlocking true value.
• Great decisions are timely. If you consider all of the elements listed above, then it’s simply a matter of addressing each one with a heightened sense of urgency.

Like many young leaders, early in my career, I thought a great decision was one that attracted widespread approval. When my colleagues smiled and nodded their collective heads, it reinforced (in my mind, at least) that I was an excellent decision maker.

• MM Martin G. Moore is the founder of Your CEO Mentor and author of No Bullsh!t Leadership and host of the No Bullsh!t Leadership podcast. His purpose is to improve the quality of leaders globally through practical, real world leadership content. For more information, please visit, www.martingmoore.com.

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Creative Problem Solving and Decision Making

We are constantly faced with problems that require us to make decisions that are mostly reached without a complex decision-making process: are we hungry? We decide to eat. But some problems are more complex, such as prioritizing or determining why a process fails and what to do. These issues require a rational approach to resolving them. Sometimes, things get more complicated, or our decisions can significantly affect our lives, jobs, or those around us. Other times the problem is so unusual that it challenges rational and critical thinking; here lies the importance of objectively analyzing to formulate a decision, and here is when creative problem-solving and decision-making become invaluable tools.

This course covers the most important creative problem-solving and decision-making approaches. By understanding the mechanisms of thinking and providing the relevant methods and tools practiced during the sessions, participants will become more confident in solving problems and making decisions at work or in life, from simpler situations to more difficult or complex ones.

Course Methodology

The course uses interactive techniques, such as brief presentations by the consultant and the participants, role plays (rehearsed and impromptu), Video clips with detailed debriefs, and individual and group feedback.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Build and expand decision making, critical thinking, and creative problem solving skills
• Apply rational approaches to solving problems and making decisions
• Utilize traditional and creative techniques for identifying causes and generating solutions
• Practice essential tools for proper decision making
• Employ creativity and lateral thinking as business tools

Target Audience

Managers, supervisors, and administrators who will benefit from better problem-solving and decision-making, and business professionals who want to take their critical thinking to the next level by using their experience and intuition to make the right moves and decisions,

Target Competencies

• Attention to details
• Decision making 
• Creative thinking
• Practical and proactive thinking
• Situation analysis
• Problem-solving ability and anticipating potential problems
• Definition of problem,  problem-solving, and decision-making
• The relationship between creative problem-solving and decision-making
• The helicopter view
• The six-step method in problem-solving
• Team problem solving
• The link between causes and symptoms
• Defining the problem
• Writing a problem statement
• Techniques for recognizing problems
• Six critical questions to clear out
• The rational approach
• Kepner & Tregoe's approach to problem-solving 
• Root cause analysis
• Corrective actions
• The five-why process
• The cause and effect diagram
• Pareto analysis
• Effective decision-making
• The How-How method
• The decision analysis worksheet
• Approaches to team decision-making
• Uses of creativity as a business tool 
• Lateral thinking
• Mental blocks to creative thinking and ways to overcome them
• Brainstorming
• The six thinking hats

2024 Schedule & Fees

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2025 schedule & fees.

Meirc reserves the right to alter dates, content, venue, trainer, and to offer courses in an integrated virtual learning (IVL) format whereby face to face classroom participants and virtual learners participate simultaneously in the same course in an interactive learning experience.

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• Executive Development »
• Course Detail

Creative Problem Solving and Decision Making NEW

Introduction

The new mantra of today’s successful organization is to “innovate or die an untimely death.” Flipping through the newspapers, it is obvious that being a large and well-established firm does not ensure survivability. The key to longevity is being able to constantly and consistently innovate around the disruptions that occurs both tangibly and intangibly. Competition is abundant and to survive you need to learn come up with new and innovative ideas to avoid becoming redundant.

This workshop is designed to help you acquire the knowledge, skills and attitude for greater innovation, and to follow a systematic approach to make the right decision relating to the possible solutions.

Filled with experiential activities, role-plays and case studies, you will be immersed in a conducive environment to disrupt and create, debate and improve. By attending this workshop, participants will be equipped with a toolbox packed with problem solving tools, and start helping your organisation to continually innovate in every aspect.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

● The significance of innovation: why it’s the core of business ● Understanding our brain and creativity: nature or nurture? ● The 6 main roadblocks of creativity ● Improving creativity through Tina Seelig’s Innovation Engine ● 3 powerful tools for problem analysis ● 3 effective tools for results definition ● 3 innovation techniques for creative problem solving ● Systematic approach to decision making and selecting the best solution to implement

Course Content

Module 1: Helping the participants to tune in mentally

Module 2: Why is learning to innovate critical for business?

Case studies of successful companies ● Video case studies ● Group discussion ● Trainer debrief

Module 3: Understanding our brain and creativity: nature or nurture?

Creativity is not something intangible, it’s tangible and can be improved with practice, much like language, sports and music ● Trainer sharing ● Physical exercises

Module 4: Roadblocks of creativity Understanding the 6 main roadblocks of creativity as a starting point

● Group discussions and presentations ● Trainer sharing

Module 5: Tina Seelig’s Innovation Engine Learning about the Innovation Engine and how to apply it to overcome the roadblocks

● Video demonstration ● Group discussion ● Trainer sharing

Module 6: Problem analysis 3 tools to analyse problems correctly ● Inter-group creative competition

● Trainer-facilitated group debrief ● Lecture on the 3 tools ● Practising to use the 3 tools   Module 7: Innovation techniques 3 innovation techniques for creative problem solving ● Experiential learning

● Trainer-facilitated group debrief ● Lecture on the 3 techniques ● Practising to use the 3 tools

Module 8: Making the right decision to select the best solution to implement

Understanding and applying a systematic approach to selecting the best solution among all options generated

● Personal hands-on exercise ● Group presentation ● Trainer-facilitated debrief

Module 9: Closing Answering final questions ● Participant sharing: greatest takeaway

● Crafting an action plan ● Certificates and group photo

Methodology:

This is a highly interactive and result-oriented workshop with hands on activities to stimulate the thinking process of the participants and hone their creative problem skills. There will be short and energetic group discussions, video demonstration and lots of practical hints and tips provided by the trainer.

Trainer Profile

Charlene Teo

Charlene Teo  has been engaged in diverse people-related industries for more than 30 years ranging from the hospitality industry to education and psychotherapy.

She spent 14 years with the Singapore Airlines, and she conducted many training programmes for new crew on how to conduct service on board flights as well as how to handle difficult situations.

Charlene  was selected to participate in the tri-partite alliance of Singapore Airlines, Swissair and Delta Airlines, where she was posted to Zurich to promote the alliance on board Swissair flights. She attended comprehensive training on Swissair in-flight service operations and had an invaluable insight into the makings of a competitive top airline - Swissair. As part of the SIA outreach programme, she also conducted career guidance talks in various Secondary Schools

Understanding and anticipating passenger’s needs is an integral part of the SQ Service. Her experiences with Singapore Airlines has equipped her with the skill to provide the highly acclaimed Service with Quality.

As a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Charlene has adopted the practices of NLP in her psychotherapy work as well as in her training programmes. She has conducted workshops introducing NLP to parents in family education and to  working professionals for NLP at the workplace. She empowers her clients in fostering better relationships through an understanding of neuro-linguistics.

Charlene is a certified in various Mindfulness programmes, she received extensive training from the various trainers from University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre, UK as well as from Steve Hickman of the Centre for Mindfulness-Self Compassion, USA. She had also attended various Summer School programmes in Oxford under the tutelage of Professor Mark Williams and Professor Willem Kuy

As a clinician, Charlene is a registered Clinical Supervisor with the Singapore Association for Counselling. She is also a certified Transactional Analysis Advanced Practitioner with the US Transactional Analysis Association (USTAA).

As an Adult Educator, Charlene conducts training in Service Excellence as well as Service Leadership and Management (Certificate, Advanced Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Degree Programme – BathSpa University, UK), Transactional Analysis, Mindfulness-Based Programmes, Neuro-Linguistic Programming in Relationship Building, Counselling and Clinical Supervision.

At the onset of COVID-19, Charlene was the first trainer to kickstart the conversion of training to the online platform fora local training agency   She is also involved in courseware development and training programmes for the Social Service Institute.

Charlene holds the CELTA certification and is able to teach English to students of foreign languages especially in the context of Workplace English or Business English.

The class offers in-class or virtual learning

• Time: 9am - 5pm
• MIS Member enjoy 10% Discount
• Register for 8 or more participants to enjoy 10% Group Discount

More From Forbes

The power of critical thinking: enhancing decision-making and problem-solving.

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Dr. Ron Young, Founder and Board Chair of Trove, Inc . Ron specializes in psychological coaching & transition consulting.

Critical thinking is a fundamental cognitive process that enables individuals to objectively analyze, evaluate and interpret information to make informed decisions and solve complex problems. It involves employing reasoning and logic, questioning assumptions, recognizing biases and considering multiple perspectives. It requires self-monitored, self-directed, self-disciplined and self-corrective thinking. Critical thinking is essential in a world of information and diverse opinions. It helps us see things more clearly and avoid being misled or deceived.

Importance Of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is crucial in various aspects of life, including education, professional endeavors and personal decision-making. In academic settings, it allows students to comprehend and engage with complex subjects while discerning valid arguments from fallacious ones. In the workplace, critical thinking empowers individuals to analyze problems, devise creative solutions and make informed judgments. In everyday life, it helps individuals navigate an increasingly complex world by making sound choices and avoiding cognitive biases. It is our primary defense against misleading or "spun" information.

Benefits Of Critical Thinking

There are many benefits of critical thinking.

Enhanced Decision-Making

Critical thinking helps us trust our gut feelings and think independently. It enables individuals to make logical and well-reasoned decisions based on evidence and objective analysis. It encourages the consideration of all relevant factors and the evaluation of potential consequences, leading to more informed choices.

Effective Problem-Solving

Critical thinking facilitates the identification of underlying issues, the generation of innovative solutions and the evaluation of their viability. It encourages individuals to approach problems from different angles and consider various perspectives, increasing the likelihood of finding effective resolutions.

Reduction Of Cognitive Biases

Critical thinking supports self-reflection. It helps individuals recognize and challenge cognitive biases that hinder clear judgment. Individuals can better overcome confirmation bias, groupthink and the availability heuristic (judging the likelihood of an event based on recall of similar events) by understanding and questioning their assumptions and beliefs. It requires a commitment to overcoming the tendency to see the world from a narrow, self-centered perspective.

Enhanced Communication Skills

Practicing critical thinking fosters effective communication by enabling individuals to articulate and defend their ideas with logical reasoning and evidence. It encourages active listening, empathy and the ability to evaluate and respond to counterarguments, leading to more constructive and meaningful discussions.

More United Citizens

Using critical thinking enables citizens to see the whole picture by better protecting against biases and propaganda. It reduces partisanship and a “we/they” mentality.

Cultivating Critical Thinking

How can you cultivate critical thinking?

Be curious and inquisitive.

Foster a mindset of curiosity and an eagerness to explore and understand the world. Talk with people from different backgrounds, cultures, political affiliations or religions. Ask probing questions, seek new perspectives and engage in active learning. Learn from people who hold different viewpoints.

Develop analytical skills.

You can do this by learning to break down complex problems into manageable parts, recognize patterns and identify cause-and-effect relationships. Remember, not all opinions are equal, and some are flat-out wrong.

Evaluate information.

Develop skills to evaluate the credibility and reliability of information sources. Be aware of bias, assess evidence and differentiate between fact and opinion. Guard against "swallowing information whole" or believing that "If it's on the internet, it must be true."

Practice reflection.

Engage in reflective thinking by evaluating your thoughts, beliefs and assumptions. Consider alternative viewpoints, and be open to changing your perspective based on new information.

Embrace intellectual humility.

Be humble and aware that you could be wrong. Knowledge is an ongoing process; be open to admitting mistakes or gaps in understanding. Embrace a growth mindset that values continuous learning and improvement.

Develop your sense of belonging.

The third tier in Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a sense of belonging. One aspect of belonging is connection. All humans have this need. Without critical thinking, we are vulnerable to making our group's beliefs our own rather than evaluating which beliefs align with our values.

Align your view and your values.

Rather than defining yourself by a particular view, ask whether a different view aligns with your values. When we identify ourselves by the beliefs of our reference group (religious, political, etc.), we look for ways to justify our ideas. In doing so, we deny ourselves access to critical thinking.

Evidence Of Critical Thinking

When you practice critical thinking, it will be evident in several areas:

Evidence-Based Decision-Making

Rely on facts rather than emotions or personal biases. Follow five distinct steps, called the five A’s : ask, access, appraise, apply and audit. Gather relevant information, evaluate the evidence objectively and consider different perspectives before making decisions. Then reevaluate them as you learn new information.

Problem-Solving

Approach problems systematically by defining the issue, gathering relevant data, brainstorming potential solutions and evaluating feasibility. Engage in collaborative problem-solving to benefit from diverse perspectives. Open-mindedly consider alternative systems of thought. Recognize assumptions, implications and practical consequences, then adjust as needed.

Effective Communication

Solve complex problems by clearly and effectively communicating with others. Utilize critical thinking skills to articulate your thoughts clearly, listen actively and engage in respectful and constructive dialogue. Challenge ideas through logical arguments and evidence rather than resorting to personal attacks. Respecting people with different views does not mean you agree with their opinions. Evaluate, formulate and communicate questions with clarity and precision.

Continuous Learning

Apply critical thinking to ongoing personal and professional development. Seek opportunities for further education, engage in intellectual discourse and actively challenge your beliefs and assumptions.

Using Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a powerful cognitive tool that empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of the modern world. Critical thinking enhances decision-making, problem-solving and communication abilities by fostering logical reasoning, analytical skills and an open mindset. It enables individuals to overcome cognitive biases, evaluate information effectively and make informed choices. Cultivating and applying critical thinking skills benefits individuals and contributes to a more thoughtful and rational society. Embracing critical thinking is essential for fostering intellectual growth, facilitating progress and addressing the challenges of the 21st century.

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Creative problem solving and decision making, scheduled dates.

Mercer County Community College 1200 Old Trenton Rd West Windsor, NJ 08550

Cost per Person: $159

Pre-Requisite: None

Length: 6 hours

Class Time: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

Course Description

Employees who excel in crafting creative solutions and making informed decisions are in high demand and are significantly valued in any team or organization. In fact, thinking critically to reach good decisions not only results in increased job satisfaction, but personal fulfillment. During this course, you will take part in engaging activities to develop rational decision-making skills, uncover common barriers to solving problems, and explore several techniques to generate innovative ideas.

Learning Objectives :

• Define key aspects of problem solving and decision making
• Differentiate between routine and non-routine problems that occur in the workplace
• List the steps of an effective problem-solving process model
• Identify common barriers to problem solving
• Identify current decision-making strengths and weaknesses
• Describe an effective decision-making strategy
• Identify group decision-making techniques
• List the steps in effective decision making
• Identify the pros and cons of individual and team decision making

Registration

Learning Management System Users:   Please login into your Learning Management System account and navigate to “Now Enrolling” from the “Browse” drop-down menu.  Select the training you wish to register for and click “Enroll.” This will initiate the required approval process.   

External participants,  can click  here  to complete the HR-1 Training Authorization Form. Your direct supervisor, departmental training coordinator, and fiscal officer must approve the form. HR-1's received without proper approval will be returned to the Department's Training Coordinator.

Please note:  You are not scheduled for the requested classroom training until you receive an official email confirmation from CLIP.

If you have any questions about the program or the registration process, you can reach a customer success representative by calling (609) 777-2225 or emailing  [email protected]. 

A $20 administrative  fee will apply to learners who do not have Learning Management System (LMS) platform accounts.

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11 Most effective decision-making games for work

A thriving business empowers employees to make smart decisions since these directly impact daily operations. What can leaders do to help their teams make better decisions?

One thing that smart managers and leaders do is facilitate effective decision making techniques , and you can do this with fun decision making games in the workplace. Such games encourage critical thinking and problem solving while instilling a culture of accountability. They’re the perfect addition to your next team-building retreat or company meeting. Let’s take a look at some of the most entertaining decision making games out there. 

11 Decision making games for your workplace

1. phone booth.

This game is great for small teams of 4-6 people, so if you have larger groups you’ll want to break them up. You also need to create separate “phone booths” for each team, where they won’t be in direct contact with each other. You can do this with various partitions or cardboard pieces. Ideally, the booths should fit everyone, and they won’t hear or be able to chat with the other groups. Set a timer for about 20 minutes, and give the teams a problem to solve. For example, you might want to say “Find some new ways to increase customer satisfaction.” Each team will spend some time on this problem (remember, while not speaking to other teams). At the end of the designated time, have the teams come together and discuss their strategies. Then hold a discussion for everyone where you talk about what worked well and what didn’t. How did everyone work together? Did the best ideas float to the top? Did a natural leader emerge in discussions? If you want to enhance the team-building aspect of this game, you can have the teams work together to build their phone booth before getting started. 

2. Shout Out

In this game, members collaborate and contribute by shouting out some ideas. You’ll need some sort of white board or flip chart, and plan for 3 - 10 people in a group. First come up with a problem that you want to discuss. For example, “How can we reduce waste in our production process?” or “How can we bring that new product to market one week faster?” Give each person the opportunity to yell out an idea so that the whole group can hear. Once everyone has had a chance to speak, ask the group to come to a consensus on the best option, and then hold a discussion about it. Why is it the best idea? What makes it workable, etc? Also, did everyone feel listened to? How did the results from this process differ from just speaking to each other? This gives your employees a chance to learn more about problem solving processes and cooperation, in addition to potential solutions to real business issues. For more communication games and activities, visit our blog .

3. Desert Survival

The ability to make quick decisions (that are actually good) is highly coveted in most businesses. You want people around you who can quickly understand a situation and make choices, all while cooperating with others. This activity is a good first step toward honing those skills. To start, you’ll need to make a list of items necessary for survival. In your list, include anything you think you would want if stranded on a desert island - no item is too small or unimportant, just brainstorm everything a person might need. Then, divide larger groups into teams of 10 or less. Hand out the list and tell them they need to narrow down the list to only 5 items. They must come to a consensus on these items. Set a timer for just 5 minutes so they feel some pressure. At the end of the exercise, you can hold a discussion about how each group reached their consensus. This is also a great opportunity for management to observe the natural leaders in each group, which can be really helpful knowledge for delegation down the road. 

4. Trading post

Understanding pricing and its effects on supply and demand is a natural skill in the business world. This game can help your employees to focus on this area in new ways. You can do this game for any length of time, so it’s perfect for fitting into most agendas. Start with two groups, a pile of fake money, and some simple items to trade like paper clips or pencils. Each group should have their own money and supply of items. The groups will need to decide what things cost and come up with trade terms. Then, they should get busy buying, selling, and trading. At the end of the exercise, bring everyone together and see who came out ahead. Why did one group do better than the other? What did everyone learn? Supply and demand are pretty simple economic concepts that most people know, but this is a fun reminder and refresher. 

5. Resource scramble

In this game, teams will have the opportunity to practice some critical thinking and problem solving skills (as well as collaboration). Put people into groups of no more than 8, and give everyone a basket of simple supplies. For example, markers, paper clips, glue, and clay - things you have around the office are fine. Provide each team with a problem and have them use their set of resources to solve it. Obviously this game works better if the resources could actually be applied to the problem, so you might want to suggest something like “Design a new logo” or “build a prototype of a new seasonal product”. Ideally, the group will come up with a few solutions and decide on their favorite, but they may only produce one if everyone is in agreement and timing is tight. 

6. Ranking race

Thinking critically - and quickly - is a highly coveted skill in the professional world. This game calls for creating a ranking system, which is a natural way of thinking through information and categorizing it. It’s a really versatile exercise since no materials and very little prep time are required. Start by getting people into groups of no more than 10. Then, set a timer and give each group a list of items to rank, such as the best local restaurants or top movies of the year. Task each group with coming up with their own ranking system. When the timer goes off, everyone should present their final rankings. They can describe to the group how they came up with their ranking system and why the items are weighted the way that they are. Have teams make notes if they find a certain ranking system particularly helpful - maybe that’s a matrix that more people can use in the workplace going forward. For more team-building games with no materials , quick office games , or indoor team-building activities, make sure to follow our blog . 

7. Traffic light project management

Anyone who has managed a project before - or even worked as part of one - understands the importance of deadlines and status check-ins. This activity helps to drive those points home and give everyone practice on sorting through tasks and understanding progress. Teams can have any number of people, but it is a good idea to break large groups into smaller, more workable ones. Come up with a certain goal that you want them to meet. For example, hitting a certain sales quota within a quarter, or finding a less expensive office space to lease. The team should start by documenting all of the tasks that need to be done in order to meet the goal. When all of their tasks are written down, they should go through them and assign them a red, yellow, or green traffic light. The light colors represent things that are not done (and need to be done), the yellow represents items that are already in progress but not finished, and green means that task is already completed. Then they should use this light system to prioritize tasks. This provides a powerful visual when managing projects and can be applied to most initiatives that have multiple phases or tactics. 

8. Six thinking hats

If you want your team to focus on coming up with more creative solutions, this activity can help. You’ll need to organize people into groups of no more than 10, and have several different color paper hats. Each hat represents a different perspective. Here are some sample colors and what they correlate to: 

• White: Facts and information
• Red: Emotions and feelings
• Black: Critical analysis
• Yellow: Benefits and positives
• Green: Creativity and alternatives
• Blue: Big picture thinking

Give each group a problem to solve and tell them to approach the issue from their unique “hat” perspective. Using these different philosophies, the group should come up with a solution that works for everyone and takes all of these positions into account. You can have a debrief where everyone discusses the process and what they found most challenging. If you have time, you can always add a second or even third round where people switch their hats and approach a new issue from a different perspective. This is also a great exercise for managers to observe closely. It’s a great way of seeing how people think and where their strengths lie. 

9. SWOT analysis

This is more of an activity than a game, but still a really helpful one in most corporate environments. You’ll need space for taking notes, like a whiteboard or note pads. You can have any number of people on a team, so just divide groups according to what works for your event. Give each group a problem or project to analyze. They should complete a proper SWOT analysis, which consists of documenting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Each team can present their analysis following their work. This is a great way to brush up on some broad business and analysis skills that can be used in any workplace. 

10. Dot voting

Does your team tend to go off on tangents and get into circular discussions when talking about projects or issues? Meetings that devolve into unrelated conversations are a big challenge in many workplaces. You can practice these skills with this exercise, dot voting. To do it, all you need to do is present the issue and then have everyone suggest ideas for a solution. Write them down on the white board so everyone can see. Then, hand out sticky notes and have everyone place their papers under the ideas they like best. You might let them choose only one, or up to 3. Once everyone has had their turn, you will have an obvious visual that shows which of the ideas was most popular. This is a great tactic that can be used in many different meetings, discussion, and brainstorming sessions. 

11. Effort and impact scale

This is another exercise that can be applied in so many ways in most workplaces. It provides a strong visual of the effort required and the potential impact of various solutions. You’ll start by drawing a matrix on a white board that everyone can see clearly. Create four quadrants by drawing lines from the mid-point of each scale. Have everyone write their ideas or solutions on a sticky note. They should have a single sticky note for each entry. Next, collect the sticky notes and read them out loud to the group, one by one. Then hold the sticky note over the quadrant you made, and ask the larger group “Is the effort required to implement this idea higher or lower?” Depending what the group says, move the paper along the scale. Then, ask them if the potential impact could be higher or lower. Repeat this process until all of the sticky notes are placed somewhere on the matrix. At this point, you’ll have a visual of which ideas can make the most impact, with the lowest effort - and those are your winners. You can also take things a step further and prioritize the ideas, too. 

Include decision making games in your next team retreat

Work retreats and team-building events are the perfect opportunities to bring out some decision making games. Many of these ideas require very little preparation and don’t need a lot of people, so they are perfect for filling that empty 30-minute slot in your agenda. Or, you can put more thought into this portion of your event and broaden the time allotted for these activities. Either way, decision making games are perfect for improving collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking on your team.

If you’re not sure where to start in putting together a powerful agenda for your next team-building retreat , let us help. 

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