Getting to the Root of a Problem
Solving problems requires strategic thinking. You need to ask the right people the right questions to get to the source of the issue and find the solution. In this course, you’ll learn about identifying stakeholders, gaining their input and trust, and using analysis techniques to get to the root cause of a problem.
0.4 Hours
- Identify different types of project stakeholders
- Effectively solicit stakeholder input on the impact of a problem by asking questions
- Recognize techniques for gaining trust from project stakeholders
- Match root causes of problems with the organizational level at which they typically occur
- Recognize how to investigate root causes of problems using 5 Whys analysis
- Recall the steps in using a fishbone diagram to investigate the root causes of a problem
- Use appropriate methods to get to the root cause of a problem
Defining Alternative Solutions to a Problem
Part of problem solving is creating alternative solutions. In this course, you’ll learn how to define ideal states and generate and evaluate problem solutions. You’ll also learn how to recognize and avoid common problem-solving pitfalls.
0.4 Hours
- Identify best practices for defining the ideal state
- Apply best practices for generating alternatives to problems
- Recall the steps for facilitating a group brainstorming session
- Distinguish between various techniques for evaluating alternative solutions
- Avoid common traps in the problem-solving process
- Recognize how to generate and evaluate alternative solutions to a problem
Choosing and Using the Best Solution
The time has come to make a final decision. In this course, you’ll learn how to make smart decisions based on key criteria and decision-making styles. You’ll also learn how to plan, manage, evaluate, and celebrate solution implementation.
0.4 Hours
- Recognize criteria that can help you select the best solution to a problem
- Choose the appropriate decision-making style for a situation
- Recall best practices for preparing for the implementation of a solution
- Recognize practices that can help make the implementation of a solution go smoothly
- Recognize the benefits of evaluating and celebrating an implementation
- Recognize how to make a decision and follow through with its implementation
Confronting Your Assumptions
Assumptions are necessary to help us make sense of our world. We are bombarded with so much information that we simply couldn’t function if we didn’t each have some basic premises to work from.
That said, the critical thinker knows assumptions can get in the way of rational decision making. When solving problems, it’s necessary to use strategic thinking to challenge our assumptions and find the right solutions.
This course defines what assumptions are, describes how different kinds of assumptions may be challenged, and covers the importance of seeking out other people’s perspectives.
0.4 Hours
- Define assumptions
- Use lines of questioning to identify assumptions
- Distinguish between different types of assumptions
- Recall questions to ask as you examine your assumptions to avoid faulty assumptions
- Seek perspectives of others when managing assumptions
- Recognize and challenge assumptions appropriately
Investigating Arguments
Debating an argument is part of reaching a logical conclusion and solving problems. In this course, you’ll learn to use strategic thinking to identify and judge arguments, recognize logical fallacies and persuasion techniques, and make effective arguments of your own.
0.4 Hours
- Distinguish statements that express arguments from those that do not
- Recall questions used to judge an argument
- Recognize types of logical fallacy
- Evaluate an argument for techniques of persuasion
- Understand the importance of preparing for an argument
- Choose the best argument to support a conclusion
- Recognize good arguments and strategies for making them
Reaching Sound Conclusions
When drawing conclusions, strategic thinking is needed to analyze and weigh the data and information you have to support taking action.
In this course, you’ll learn how to recognize the critical-thinking activities associated with reaching a sound conclusion. You’ll discover how to employ effective questions, use tools to help you conclude findings, and create an action plan for putting conclusions into practice when solving problems.
0.3 Hours
- Recognize the critical thinking activities associated with reaching a sound conclusion
- Recognize effective questions to double check conclusions
- Recall the value of visualizing data
- Use visual tools to help draw conclusions
- Identify essential elements of an action plan associated with a thoughtful conclusion
- Recognize how to draw sound conclusions
Developing a Growth Mind-set
In the workplace, there are two specific types of mindsets, or attitudes, that can either promote personal growth and resilience or hamper an employee’s performance.
People with a growth mindset achieve ever-higher levels of productivity and can help their organizations thrive; by contrast, people with a fixed mindset tend not to develop professionally, and may hinder an organization’s goals.
In this course, you’ll learn about the characteristics of a growth mindset, such as perseverance, and how to distinguish it from a fixed mindset. You’ll also explore methods of developing mindsets for success, and how professional growth can benefit you and your organization.
0.4 Hours
- Developing a Growth Mind-set
- Identify the characteristics of a growth mind-set
- Identify steps that help promote a growth mind-set
- Identify key habits that foster a long term growth mind-set
- Recognize key characteristics that signify a growth mind-set exists within the workplace culture
- Identify actions that encourage a growth mind-set in daily work life
- Knowledge Check: Developing a Growth Mind-s
Finding and Nurturing a Mentor Relationship
To help find your way through the numerous career choices available to you, you’ll need the guidance and experience of someone with the right skills and expertise – a mentor. Having a mentor means you can use the knowledge of a supportive professional to help you learn to work more efficiently and advance your career.
In this course, you’ll learn how to find a mentor who can aid you in your professional goals, and who can give you expert career advice on further education, networking, and interviews. You’ll also explore the qualities of a good mentor, and of an effective mentoring relationship.
0.5 Hours
- Identify what makes someone a mentor
- Identify key characteristics of an effective mentor
- Recognize ways of finding an appropriate mentor
- Recognize ways of maintaining a positive relationship with a mentor
- Identify actions that allow you to get the most from your mentor
- Knowledge Check: Developing a Mentoring Relationship
- Reflect on what you’ve learned
Learning from Failure
From the minor slip up to a full-blown catastrophe, failure is a part of life and business. It’s part of your self-development, and it’s part of developing talent. It should be embraced as an opportunity for continuous learning and growth. If you encourage organizational learning, you can start developing employees. And then those who embrace failure are more likely to achieve their goals.
In this course, you’ll learn how to embrace failure by developing an attitude of learning from setbacks. You’ll learn about the cycle of success when developing people, and you’ll also explore failure in greater detail, its potential benefits, as well as key strategies for embracing it.
0.3 Hours
- Identify the key stages of the success cycle
- Identify the common causes of three types of failure
- Identify key actions that foster an attitude of learning from failure
- Recognize the growth opportunities that can come from embracing failure
- Identify actions that help you shift from a failure to a learning opportunity
- Knowledge Check: Embracing Failure