Critical Thinking Masterclass

“True leadership in disruptive times depends not just on vision, but also on the power of the mind to navigate uncertainty. The Paragon⁷ Framework—mental cognition, focus, sensemaking, intuition, problem-solving, adaptability, and communication—forms the cognitive backbone of critical thinking. It equips leaders not only to discern complexity, but to act decisively, with clarity and confidence.”
Sattar Bawany (2023)

About The Critical Thinking Masterclass

Introduction

In today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous, and disruptive (VUCAD) business environment, the ability to think critically is no longer an optional leadership skill—it is a strategic imperative. Leaders and professionals are constantly confronted with conflicting information, hidden biases, incomplete data, and high-stakes decisions that demand clarity of thought and precision in judgment.

The 2-Day Critical Thinking Masterclass is designed to equip participants with the mindset, tools, and practical strategies needed to make sound, evidence-based decisions under pressure. Built around the RED Model of Critical Thinking—Recognize Assumptions, Evaluate Arguments, and Draw Conclusions—this highly interactive program provides a structured, repeatable approach to thinking clearly and avoiding the cognitive traps that undermine decision quality.

Complementing the RED Model is the Paragon⁷ Cognitive Readiness Framework, a suite of seven high-impact competencies—Mental Cognition, Attentional Control, Sensemaking, Intuition, Problem-Solving, Adaptability, and Communication—that prepare leaders to respond effectively to dynamic, fast-changing environments. Together, these two frameworks empower participants to analyze situations with depth, filter out noise, and act with confidence and agility.

Over two immersive days, you will engage in high-impact simulations, real-world case studies, and peer-to-peer problem-solving exercises that transform theory into actionable capability. You will learn to identify hidden assumptions, assess the strength of arguments, and draw logical, evidence-based conclusions that stand up to scrutiny.

Whether you are a senior executive, an emerging leader, or a professional in a decision-critical role, this masterclass will give you the cognitive edge to lead with clarity in uncertainty, inspire confident action in your teams, and deliver results in high-stakes contexts.

By the end of the program, you will walk away not only with sharper thinking skills but also with a personal action plan to embed critical thinking and cognitive readiness into your daily leadership practice.

Business Case for Attending

In today’s disruptive, high-stakes environment, leaders must navigate complexity, ambiguity, and rapid change. The ability to think critically—recognizing assumptions, evaluating arguments, and drawing sound conclusions—is no longer optional. It’s a strategic imperative.
This masterclass equips leaders with the RED Model of Critical Thinking and the Paragon7 Suite of Cognitive Readiness Competencies to achieve the following:

  • Strengthen Decision Quality: Learn to identify hidden assumptions, assess argument validity, and draw evidence-based conclusions.
  • Boost Strategic Agility & Resilience: Activate Paragon⁷ competencies for heightened adaptability, situational awareness, and mental readiness
  • Build a Culture of Cognitive Preparedness: Multiply your mental potential—and that of your organization—promoting smarter, decentralized decision-making.

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for:

  • C-Suite Executives, Board Members, and Senior Leaders
  • Strategy, Risk, and Transformation Officers
  • HR, L&D, and OD Professionals
  • High-Potential Leaders preparing for next-level roles
  • Managers who aim to sharpen critical thinking and improve judgment
  • Executive Coaches and Masterclass Facilitators

How You Will Benefit

  • Apply the RED Model to real-world leadership dilemmas
  • Strengthen cognitive readiness for high-stakes decision-making
  • Enhance strategic agility and mental resilience
  • Improve team sensemaking and collaborative problem-solving
  • Build a personal toolkit for critical thinking under pressure

The Learning Model

This Masterclass adopts DLI’s High-Impact Experiential Learning Model, blending:

  1. Master Coach-led sessions for expert insights and frameworks.
  2. Interactive group work to apply concepts in real time.
  3. Role-play and simulation exercises to build skill confidence.
  4. Case study analysis to learn from real-world best practices and failures.
  5. Action planning to ensure practical application post-training.

Case Study Methodology

Participants engage with curated case studies drawn from leadership crises, strategic dilemmas, and organizational transformation efforts. Each case is dissected using the RED Model and Paragon7 competencies, enabling participants to:

  • Diagnose root causes
  • Evaluate competing arguments
  • Draw actionable conclusions
  • Reflect on cognitive biases and emotional triggers

Cases will include both success stories and critical failures, enabling participants to learn from contrasting examples.

Program Agenda

Day 1: Foundations & Recognize Assumptions

Module 1: Mastering the RED Model

  • Introduction to Recognize – Evaluate – Draw.
  • Why structured critical thinking matters in disruptive contexts

Experiential Activity: “Assumption Detective”

  • Participants unpack statements, identify assumptions, and challenge validity from multiple angles.

Module 2: Paragon⁷ Foundations

  • Overview of the seven competencies: Mental Cognition, Attentional Control, Sensemaking, Intuition, Problem-Solving, Adaptability, Communication

Activity: Self-Assessment & Peer Calibration

  • Reflect on each competency; share past dilemmas as case prompts.

Module 3: Recognize in Action

  • Apply assumption recognition in structured business or crisis case studies.

Experiential Activity: RED-Role Play

  • Teams tackle ambiguous scenarios—practice identifying faulty premises and gaps.

Wrap-up: Debrief & integration of Day 1 insights.

Day 2: Evaluate, Draw Conclusions & Cognitive Readiness in Action

Module 4: Evaluating Arguments with Objectivity

  • Techniques to evaluate argument strength, suspend bias, and systematic analysis.

Activity: Argument Evaluation Clinic

  • Small groups assess live business argument samples against RED criteria.

Module 5: Drawing Conclusions Strategically

  • Synthesizing information, updating judgments when new evidence arises

Activity: Rapid-Conclusion Simulation

  • Teams process data under time pressure, deliver evolving conclusions & adapt in real-time.

Module 6: Integrating Paragon⁷ in Complex Decision-Making

  • Use sensemaking, adaptability, and communication to support the RED application.

Activity: Critical Incident Workshop

  • Real-world leadership dilemmas where participants apply both models to navigate complexity.

Module 7: Planning Personal Action & Sustaining Learning

  • Set deliberate plans to embed RED and Paragon⁷ into day-to-day leadership practice.

Wrap-up: Reflect on learning, share commitments.

Client Testimonials

Our distinguished team of highly experienced and seasoned senior-level executive coaches, each possessing a proven track record of enhancing leadership performance and fostering enduring organizational excellence, has earned widespread recognition for their transformative impact on leaders across diverse industries. Our clients consistently express appreciation for our panel of coaches’ insightful coaching style, deep expertise in leadership development, and unwavering commitment to empowering executives to lead with authenticity, resilience, and strategic clarity.

Many of our clients’ testimonials highlight our panel of coaches’ ability to rapidly build trust and rapport with their coachees, creating a safe and reflective environment for personal growth. Executives from multinational corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations have described our coaches’ coaching styles and approaches as “life-changing,” noting that it not only enhanced their leadership capabilities but also strengthened their emotional intelligence and decision-making skills. A common sentiment shared by clients is that our coaches possess a rare ability to ask the right questions—those that provoke deep introspection and inspire meaningful change.

The original and complete Testimonials, extract of which is appended below, can be found here.

Certificate Of Achievement Award Upon Completion

Contact

Let us be part of your success story. Contact us and see how our leadership development consultants and executive coaches can transform your leadership team from ‘good to great’!

For further information, please contact us via email or send us a WhatsApp message at +65 9002 3848.