CRITICAL THINKING & COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Leadership 101Modules One and Two
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Define critical thinking and effective communication skills
• Integrate skills into everyday decision-making and workplace interactions
• Be able to distinguish between fact and opinion
• Exhibit excellent interpersonal communication ability
1.2 Types of Thinking
Problem SolvingDecision Making
CriticalThinking
• Analyzing•
Evaluating•
Reasoning NewIdeas
CreativeThinking
RightLeft
What is Critical Thinking???
WARNING: THIS MAN IS NOT THINKING CRITICALLY!!
Source: http://profmulder.home.att.net/introwhatis.htm
Activity: “Don’t Be A Lame Brain”
Critical Thinking – QUICK Overview
Good Thinking Skills Are…
CLEAR……….....rather than........UNCLEAR
ACCURATE…....rather than…….INACCURATE
PRECISE……....rather than…….VAGUE
RELEVANT…….rather than…….IRRELEVANT
CONSISTENT….rather than……INCONSISTENT
LOGICAL……….rather than……ILLOGICAL
COMPLETE……rather than……INCOMPLETE
FAIR…………….rather than…....BIASED
I am probablythe greatestthinker since
Socrates!
Ask questions…be willing to wonder
Define the problem
Examine the evidence
Analyze assumptions and biases
Avoid emotional reasoning
Don’t oversimplify
Consider the interpretations
Embrace uncertainty
Case Study: Evaluating Facts
Let’s take a break…10 Minutes
Communication Skills
Definition: Communication skills is the set of skills that enables a person to convey information so that it is received and
understood.
Be aware of all three parts of the messages you send:
• Words
• Tone
• Body Language
Communication Notes
Clarifying and Confirming
Clarify : You are seeking information to help you understand what the speaker is saying and/or why he or she is saying it.
Clarifying and Confirming
Confirm : You are stating your understanding of what someone is saying and why he or she is saying it.
Note: Your confirmation is only successful when the other person agrees that you’ve understood them.
Activity: Do you see what I see?
Group Work & Individual Participation
Workplace Communication
Next Class…People & Resource Management
June 28-29, 2010
RESOURCES
1. Atwood, Christee. “Manager Skills Training” ASTD Press, VA 2008.
2. Bartholomew, R.E and Radford, B. “Hoaxes, Myths and Manias: Why We Need Critical Thinking.” Prometheus Books, NY 2003.
3. Decker, Bert. “Communication Skills for Leaders: Delivering a Clear Message” 3rd edition. Thomson Course Technology, MA 2006.
4. Gurchiek, Kathy. “Motivating Innovation” pp.31-35. HR Magazine, February 2009.
5. “Critical Thinking Skills: Success in 20 Minutes a Day.” Learning Express, NY 2010.
6. www.criticalthinking.com; www.youtube.com; www.bnet.com; www.astd.org; www.shrm.org
