Cognitive Readiness Boot Camp

Importance of Cognitive Readiness in an AI-Driven Workplace

“Cognitive readiness can be defined as the mental preparation that leaders develop so that they, and their teams, are prepared to face tomorrow’s dynamic, ill-defined, and unpredictable challenges for leaders to thrive in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) business environment which underpin the Fourth Industrial Revolution or better known as Industry 4.0.

Responding to these external changes, continuous internal transformations are necessary for businesses to be relevant in the increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. Leaders will have to visualize and anticipate these changes even before they occur, and it has to be reflective of the strategies they create. The speed with which the changes are occurring would also mean that they have to bring a high degree of rigour in execution, have strong self-belief and confidence, and build a high-performance culture comfortable with change and capable of driving change across all levels.”

-Sattar Bawany (2023)

Cognitive Readiness Boot Camp for the AI-Driven Workplace

“Thinking Smarter, Leading Stronger in the Age of AI”

Overview

In today’s AI-augmented world, human leaders are challenged not only by external complexity but by internal cognitive friction: overload, algorithmic influence, distraction, and diminishing reflection time. The Cognitive Readiness Boot Camp for the AI-Driven Workplace equips leaders with mental fitness to stay ahead—capable of thinking with clarity, resisting cognitive hijacks, and leading ethically and adaptively in AI-enhanced environments.

This immersive program applies the Paragon⁷™ Framework of Cognitive Readiness (see Figure 1)—metacognition, attentional control, sensemaking, intuition, problem solving, adaptability, communication—tailored for real-world hybrid human + AI workflows.

Participants will practice applying these competencies in AI-infused scenarios, manage algorithmic feedback loops, and design a personal “cognitive + AI” readiness playbook.

Figure 1: The Paragon7 Cognitive Readiness Competencies

This 2-Day Bootcamp provides a transformative learning experience that equips senior executives, policymakers, and high-potential leaders with the insights, tools, and frameworks from our Future-Ready Leadership Book Series (see Figure 2) necessary to lead with agility, resilience, and impact in disruptive times in today’s AI-driven workplace.

Figure 2: The Future-Ready Leadership Book Series

Business Case / Rationale

  • As AI systems increasingly shape attention, decisions, and workflows, human cognitive resistance and clarity become competitive differentiators
  • Cognitive overload, confirmation bias (amplified by AI), distraction by algorithmic cues, and illusory trust in AI can lead to poor decisions
  • Organizations whose leaders are cognitively ready in AI ecosystems are better at aligning human insight and machine support, avoiding automation traps, and leading resiliently
  • Investing in cognitive readiness is investing in the “soft foundation” that enables effective hybrid human–AI teams

Who Should Attend

  • Senior leaders, managers, or professionals working in AI-augmented or data-intensive roles
  • Decision-makers interfacing with algorithmic systems, AI-generated insights, or human + AI workflows
  • Innovation leads, product owners, data/analytics leads, transformation agents
  • Professionals seeking to sharpen mental clarity and resilience in AI-saturated settings

How You Will Benefit

Participants will:

  • Build metacognitive discipline to question assumptions and algorithmic inferences
  • Strengthen attentional resilience amidst AI-driven distractions and signals
  • Apply sensemaking tools to reconcile AI outputs with human context
  • Calibrate intuition when combining human judgment with machine suggestions
  • Use advanced problem solving, integrating human insight and algorithmic aid
  • Increase adaptability as AI tools evolve or change unexpectedly
  • Communicate complex human + AI decisions clearly and responsibly
  • Leave with a tailored “Cognitive + AI Readiness Toolkit” and roadmap for continuous growth

Learning Model & Methods

  • Instructor- and facilitator-led sessions
  • Small-group breakouts and peer coaching
  • AI-infused case studies and hybrid scenarios
  • Live simulations (human + AI decision tasks) under time constraints
  • Reflective journaling, focus drills, algorithm-awareness exercises
  • Action planning, feedback loops, post-programme challenge series

Program Agenda (2 Days)

Module Descriptions & Sample Activities

Module 1: Metacognition in AI Context

  • Recognize when your mind is being influenced by algorithmic cues or default suggestions
  • Practice “algorithmic awareness” — pause to interrogate AI outputs
  • Activity: Trigger journaling — map mental reactions to specific AI suggestions or feedback

Module 2: Attentional Control / Signal Filtering

  • Understand attention as limited and prone to algorithmic hijack
  • Techniques: “signal gating,” scheduled interruption windows, focus shifting
  • Activity: Notification lockdown exercise — simulate forced focus under AI feed

Module 3: Sensemaking + AI Outputs

  • Interpret AI outputs (e.g., predictions, recommendations) in the human context
  • Tools: hypothesis testing, backcasting, scenario reframing
  • Activity: AI case debrief — examine an AI-generated forecast and identify blind spots

Module 4: Intuition + Algorithmic Suggestion

  • Understand dual-process thinking when AI is in the loop
  • When to accept AI suggestions, when to override, how to spot bias
  • Activity: Rapid decision tests — participants pick or override AI “suggestions” and discuss

Module 5: Problem Solving in Hybrid Systems

  • Use human creativity + AI capabilities in tandem
  • Techniques: collaborative design loops, “human + AI co-pilot” workflows
  • Activity: Group challenge — solve a complex problem with AI assistance and justify human adjustments

Module 6: Adaptability to AI Evolution

  • Cultivate readiness to shifts in AI models, tool changes, data drift
  • Scenario planning, resilience stances, fallback strategies
  • Activity: Sudden AI update role-play — teams must reconceive their approach midstream

Module 7: Communicating Human + AI Decisions

  • Translate hybrid decisions to diverse audiences (non-technical, stakeholders)
  • Clarity, transparency, ethical framing
  • Activity: Impromptu brief — explain a hybrid decision (human + AI) to non-experts, handle pushback

Integrated Hybrid Simulation

  • A scenario with changing conditions and AI tools, requiring participants to deploy all
    seven competencies in tandem
  • Debrief: link behaviors to Paragon⁷ competencies, highlight decision inflection points

Action Planning & Future Growth

  • Self-assessment across Paragon⁷ in AI context
  • Goal-setting, micro-practice schedule (e.g., weekly algorithm reflection, focus challenges)
  • Accountability partners, peer coaching, reinforcement challenges

Learning Outcomes & Metrics

By program end, participants will:

  1. Demonstrate increased awareness of AI influence on their thinking
  2. Exhibit stronger attentional resilience in AI-rich workflows
  3. Interpret, question, and correct AI outputs in ambiguous contexts
  4. Calibrate intuition in human + AI decision loops
  5. Solve hybrid problems by combining human insight + AI support
  6. Pivot effectively when AI tools or models change
  7. Communicate hybrid decisions with clarity, confidence, and ethics
  8. Present a personalized “Cognitive + AI Readiness Roadmap”

Optional Post-Programme Reinforcement:

  • Micro-challenge series (e.g. weekly algorithm reflection prompts)
  • Accountability pods or peer check-ins
  • Booster sessions on particular competencies
  • Reflection journaling with AI feedback logs

Client Testimonials

Our distinguished team, each possessing a proven track record of enhancing leadership performance and fostering enduring organizational excellence, has earned widespread recognition for its 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 facilitators, faculty members, and coaches’ ability to rapidly build trust and rapport with the participants and their coachees, creating a safe and reflective environment for personal growth. Executives from multinational corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations have described our facilitators’ delivery and coaching styles and approaches as “life-changing,” noting that they 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 facilitators and coaches possess a rare ability to ask the right questions—those that provoke deep introspection and inspire meaningful change.

The original Testimonials can be found here.

Certificate Of Achievement Award Upon Completion

Listing of Suite of Cognitive Readiness and Critical Thinking Programs

Paragon7: Critical Thinking Transcended

The Paragon7 Program has never before been available to the corporate sector, but now business leaders can hone their decision-making skills, learn to take more rapid action, anticipate, adapt and be ready to expertly address whatever novel challenges they may face in the future. This training goes beyond traditional critical thinking training—it exponentially multiplies elite leaders’ mental potential so they can successfully confront ill-defined, high-intensity challenges in the complex, dynamic, and often-ambiguous modern business world.

Acuity follows readiness. Once leaders are ready for any challenge or situation, then they are open to new insights that will propel them forward by leveraging innovation, intuition, and creativity to shape reality.

Impact occurs when leaders cascade learning throughout their organizations. Paragon7 teaches leaders how to foster their teams’ cognitive capital, as well as implement processes for long-term sustainment.

Critical Thinking Boot Camp (CTBC)

The Critical Thinking Boot Camp (CTBC) is an intensive, 3-phase development process focused on learning practical skills that will have an IMMEDIATE impact on your bottom line. While there won’t be any push-ups or sprints, each attendee will be immersed in masters level, vigorous training on critical thinking. They will be assessed, will work on their real work-related issues and be kept accountable by a coach as well as your management team. Seventy-four per cent of participants say they applied new skills on the job!

Think RED Workshop

The Think RED Program introduces participants to critical thinking skills development through the presentation and application of the Pearson TalentLens RED Model: recognize assumptions, evaluate arguments, and draw conclusions based on an objective, clear-eyed appraisal of the available evidence. Multiple real-world examples and activities will be interwoven with content, enabling participants to immediately apply RED Model thinking skills to actual business challenges in problem-solving and decision making. This one day program is designed to serve as a stand-alone critical thinking tool, or as the foundation for further skills development through follow-up participation in our advanced critical thinking workshops.

Critical Thinking for Business Growth (CTBG)

The Critical Thinking for Business Growth (CTBG) is an interactive, results-focused program that teaches how to think logically and comprehensively about a situation and identify an appropriate course of action while preventing additional problems. Over fifty per cent of this workshop involves participants in experiential activities and on-the-job applications. The course utilizes a dynamic blend of instructor presentation and individual skill practice in each of the concepts presented, using personal work concerns brought by participants.

Applied Critical Thinking

Time is a valuable asset in today’s business world. The Applied Critical Thinking (ACT) workshop delivers powerful short-cut thinking tools in less time. The conceptual framework of this one-day workshop is built around critical thinking skills which provide more effective solutions to important business concerns.

The ACT processes give participants increased confidence to create and/or seize opportunities for improvement. Whether they are solving problems, creating new opportunities, making decisions with limited time and information or implementing plans, this action orientation will result in more profitable business results as participants confidently demonstrate a bias for action.

Problem Solving & Decision Making (PDSM)

Problem Solving & Decision Making (PSDM) is an interactive, outcome-focused workshop that blends team development with rational and creative critical thinking processes to create a comprehensive approach to problem-solving, decision making, and planning. Over sixty per cent of this program involves participants in learner-driven activities and on-the-job applications. The course offers a dynamic blend of instructor presentation, on-the-job application, and skill practice in each of the PSDM processes using work-related concerns brought by participants. Principles of teamwork and effective meeting management are practised by participants throughout the workshop.

For more information about these programs, please contact us today.

Selected Videos on Cognitive Readiness and Critical Thinking Boot Camps

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.