Critical Thinking
We know that what and how people think about important issues is an important driver of how they act. While critical thinking has been defined by many, one of the simplest definitions of critical thinking is the “reasonable and reflective thinking that is focused upon deciding what to believe or do” (Norris & Ennis, p. 18). Identifying individual critical thinking style is the first step in understanding how we, as individuals, process information. It also assists us in identifying similarities and differences as we operate in teams. Critical thinking training offered by LR Brand includes participants taking the UF Critical Thinking Inventory (UFCTI), individualized scoring and results, and personalized discussion of the results including activities designed to assist in broader understanding of differences while building stronger teams for the future.
Problem Solving
Problem solving training using an associated psychometric instrument (KAI) will provide you with insight into how people solve problems and interact while decision-making. Using this insight, you can improve the dynamics and cohesion of your teams. You can show that individuals within a team approach problems differently and that this very difference can be used to strengthen the team. This understanding should lead to the differences not only being tolerated, but welcomed. In addition, it will help you to reduce stress within the team, by reducing individuals’ stress.
Learning Styles
We all learn differently, which impacts our approaches and perspectives when dealing with new and different situations or need to adopt new skills. Through a discussion of different learning styles, tendencies related to identified styles can be discovered, and activities can be designed to assist us in understanding how to learn new skills or adapt to new situations based on our own learning process. Learning style training offered by LR Brand includes taking the Kolb’s (2007) Learning Style Inventory, personalized discussion of the results, and the development of activities designed to assist in broader understanding of learning styles and their applicability to the creation of strong professional development efforts as individuals strive to learn new skills and deal with change.
Global Competence in a Changing World
The world is changing – its getting smaller as we have stronger and more reliable access to one another through the phone and internet. The boundaries between countries and continents has begun to fade as companies blur these lines with international teams designed to build partnerships and programs as a unified front. However, research has shown that cultural competence plays a huge role in how these teams operate and function. Members of different cultures have diverse rituals, beliefs, handle stress differently, and work collaboratively in diverse manners. Through an understanding of diversity and the establishment of global competence, you can increase awareness and productivity among your team members. LR Brand offers training that digs deep into cultural differences, how differences can be recognized and overcome, and how teams need to build respect for their differences rather than expectations of congruence.