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Critical Thinking for Professionals
Think clearly, spot what’s wrong and make better decisions in the age of AI.
In early 2024, a finance employee at global engineering firm Arup transferred about US$25 million after a video call with his “CFO”, who turned out to be an AI deepfake. In 2023, two New York lawyers were fined after submitting a court filing that cited six legal cases invented by ChatGPT. Smart, experienced professionals, fooled because something looked and sounded right.
It’s no surprise the World Economic Forum ranks analytical thinking, a cornerstone of critical thinking, as the number one skill employers want, with nearly 70% rating it essential. Yet research by Microsoft found that the more people trust AI, the less critically they think.
This practical, eye-opening one-day workshop is built around one simple habit: before you decide, P.A.U.S.E. It isn’t about ignoring your gut. It’s about knowing when to check it. Using real-life cases, news stories and scams, participants learn to:
•Pause and catch themselves jumping to conclusions
•Ask the questions that reveal the full story
•Uncover faulty reasoning, bias and manipulation
•Scrutinise sources, evidence and AI output
•Evaluate options from every angle and decide with confidence
The result: fewer costly mistakes, better decisions and professionals who use AI wisely instead of blindly.
In early 2024, a finance employee at global engineering firm Arup transferred about US$25 million after a video call with his “CFO”, who turned out to be an AI deepfake. In 2023, two New York lawyers were fined after submitting a court filing that cited six legal cases invented by ChatGPT. Smart, experienced professionals, fooled because something looked and sounded right.
It’s no surprise the World Economic Forum ranks analytical thinking, a cornerstone of critical thinking, as the number one skill employers want, with nearly 70% rating it essential. Yet research by Microsoft found that the more people trust AI, the less critically they think.
This practical, eye-opening one-day workshop is built around one simple habit: before you decide, P.A.U.S.E. It isn’t about ignoring your gut. It’s about knowing when to check it. Using real-life cases, news stories and scams, participants learn to:
•Pause and catch themselves jumping to conclusions
•Ask the questions that reveal the full story
•Uncover faulty reasoning, bias and manipulation
•Scrutinise sources, evidence and AI output
•Evaluate options from every angle and decide with confidence
The result: fewer costly mistakes, better decisions and professionals who use AI wisely instead of blindly.
Objective
- The P.A.U.S.E. Method, a simple five-step habit for thinking clearly before any important decision
- 6 types of probing questions and the 5 Whys, so they can uncover the facts and assumptions that change the story
- A guide to 15+ common biases and logical fallacies, so they can recognise faulty reasoning in meetings, proposals and the media
- Red-flag spotting skills, so they can protect the organisation from fraud, scams and misinformation
- A 5-question source check, so they can verify information and AI output before using or sharing it
- Insight into their decision-making style, so they know when to trust their intuition and when to slow down
- The Six Thinking Hats, so they can weigh decisions from every angle as a team
- A personal action plan for applying critical thinking in their own role
Outline
Opening: Would You Jump to Conclusions?
•Real-life case challenge: who’s right?
•The surprising facts most people never ask about
•Introducing P.A.U.S.E.
Module 1: P – Pause
•Why our brains rush to judgement
•Common biases: confirmation bias, anchoring, availability bias and authority bias
•Groupthink and echo chambers: when the team thinks alike
Module 2: A – Ask
•The 6 types of Socratic probing questions
•The 5 Whys: finding the root cause
•Interrogate the Offer: question a too-good-to-be-true deal
Module 3: U – Uncover
•Logical fallacies at work, across industries
•Survivorship bias and the sunk cost trap
•How fraudsters and con artists make lies believable
•Red flags in fraud, scams and misinformation
•Fallacy quiz and Scam or Legit? challenge
Module 4: S – Scrutinise
•The 5-question source check
•What AI does well, and where it gets things wrong
•Real cases where trusting AI went badly wrong
•Real or AI? Spotting fake images, headlines and content
•Hands-on: fact-check an AI-generated report
Module 5: E – Evaluate and Decide
•Your decision-making style: a quick self-check
•When to trust your gut, and when to slow down
•The Six Thinking Hats, including the Red Hat for intuition
•Hat Stations: analyse a fun case from every angle
•Team decision: reach it, then defend it
Closing: P.A.U.S.E. in Action
•Revisit the opening case: how would you think about it now?
•Personal action plan: one decision at work to P.A.U.S.E. on
•Real-life case challenge: who’s right?
•The surprising facts most people never ask about
•Introducing P.A.U.S.E.
Module 1: P – Pause
•Why our brains rush to judgement
•Common biases: confirmation bias, anchoring, availability bias and authority bias
•Groupthink and echo chambers: when the team thinks alike
Module 2: A – Ask
•The 6 types of Socratic probing questions
•The 5 Whys: finding the root cause
•Interrogate the Offer: question a too-good-to-be-true deal
Module 3: U – Uncover
•Logical fallacies at work, across industries
•Survivorship bias and the sunk cost trap
•How fraudsters and con artists make lies believable
•Red flags in fraud, scams and misinformation
•Fallacy quiz and Scam or Legit? challenge
Module 4: S – Scrutinise
•The 5-question source check
•What AI does well, and where it gets things wrong
•Real cases where trusting AI went badly wrong
•Real or AI? Spotting fake images, headlines and content
•Hands-on: fact-check an AI-generated report
Module 5: E – Evaluate and Decide
•Your decision-making style: a quick self-check
•When to trust your gut, and when to slow down
•The Six Thinking Hats, including the Red Hat for intuition
•Hat Stations: analyse a fun case from every angle
•Team decision: reach it, then defend it
Closing: P.A.U.S.E. in Action
•Revisit the opening case: how would you think about it now?
•Personal action plan: one decision at work to P.A.U.S.E. on
Who should attend
• Professionals who use AI tools for research, writing or analysis
• Managers and leaders who make decisions or approve recommendations
• Finance, admin and operations staff who handle payments, approvals or sensitive data
• Staff who handle complaints, investigations, claims or disputes
• Teams who solve problems together and want sharper discussions
• Anyone who wants to think more clearly in a world full of information
• Managers and leaders who make decisions or approve recommendations
• Finance, admin and operations staff who handle payments, approvals or sensitive data
• Staff who handle complaints, investigations, claims or disputes
• Teams who solve problems together and want sharper discussions
• Anyone who wants to think more clearly in a world full of information
Profile of Dianna Lane
Recognized for her innovative training methods, Dianna Lane has received multiple awards for excellence in training delivery. She is known for her ability to engage and motivate participants, ensuring they gain practical skills and knowledge. Dianna’s star quality in class is her ability to foster an environment of openness, fantastic engagement, and great participation and networking.
With 23 years of training experience, Dianna has conducted various trainings for government bodies, MNCs, SMEs, and public workshops. Her expertise lies in teambuilding and psychological profiling, and she has had the privilege of working with esteemed organizations such as Jurong Health, HBO, Unity Technologies, and iWOW.
Dianna runs the whole gamut of soft skills training, inspiring and guiding teams for enhanced collaboration with her highly adaptable and creative approach, specializing in areas such as effective communication, Emceeing, Voice Training, leadership, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, time management, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and conflict management. Additionally, she excels in ChatGPT and AI tools for content creation, offering cutting-edge techniques and insights that revolutionize the way participants approach digital marketing and communication. Dianna equips participants with powerful tools and techniques to boost productivity, enabling them to work 3-5 times faster and more efficiently. Her training methods are designed to enhance both professional and personal growth, ensuring lasting, impactful improvements in their lives.
Trainer’s Academic and Professional Qualifications / Credentials
• Degree in Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore (NUS)
• Degree in Human Physiology, NUS
• 2nd Upper Honours in Human Physiology, NUS
• ACTA Qualification
