What do you do if your leadership development program lacks critical thinking skills?

Assess Current Curriculum: Evaluate the existing leadership development program to identify areas where critical thinking skills are lacking or underemphasized. Review course materials, training modules, and learning objectives to determine the extent of the gap. Educate Stakeholders: Raise awareness among program stakeholders, including program designers, facilitators, and participants, about the importance of critical thinking skills in effective leadership. Highlight the value of critical thinking in decision-making, problem-solving, and innovation.

Desarrolla habilidades de pensamiento crítico alentando a los participantes a ser creativos e innovadores. Esto puede incluir la generación de nuevas ideas, la búsqueda de soluciones alternativas y el pensamiento fuera de la caja. Fomenta la resiliencia en los participantes, lo que puede implicar la acción reflexiva, la toma de decisiones informadas y la capacidad de adaptarse a situaciones cambiantes. Ayuda a los participantes a analizar la información disponible, comprender situaciones o problemas y dar respuestas a diferentes situaciones. Introduce prácticas de pensamiento crítico en el programa de desarrollo de liderazgo, como análisis de situaciones complejas, toma de decisiones basadas en evidencia y la resolución de problemas.

Consider incorporating activities and workshops specifically designed to enhance critical thinking abilities. You could also bring in experts or consultants to provide training and guidance on critical thinking techniques. Additionally, encourage participants to engage in reflective practices and provide opportunities for them to apply critical thinking in real-world scenarios.

Developing a leadership development program without critical thinking components poses a significant challenge for me. Throughout my two decades of participation in various leadership development initiatives, each program incorporated elements of critical thinking, be it through analytical reasoning for problem-solving, strategic planning, creative problem-solving techniques, etc. In my opinion, a leadership development program lacking any form of critical thinking would prompt me to evaluate all my programs. I consider the role of development programs, especially in leadership, critical to the advancement of organizations, and incorporating critical thinking is indispensable.

History as a foundation - study the good and bad in history. Understand mistakes and actions that may have changed the outcome. Understand successes and actions taken to ensure success. Get to know the key figures and their teams, of each specific event, know their strengths and weaknesses. What personality traits effected their actions? Evaluate your approach to critical thinking. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Evaluate your team. Is the primary goal and interim objectives reasonable and achievable? Have you identified outside influences that may affect your decisions? Do you trust yourself and your team? Developing skills to interpret history, in an honest way, parallels the skills of successfully thinking critically.

If critical thinking skills are not included in a leadership development program, consider supplementing your own growth. Seek out resources such as workshops, online courses, or books that specifically focus on enhancing critical thinking abilities. Additionally, engage in practical exercises, problem-solving scenarios, and discussions to actively apply critical thinking in your leadership role. Taking initiative to develop this skill independently can significantly contribute to your effectiveness as a leader.