Kritikos
Kritikos
Discover the power of critical thinking
Simple strategies that will help you think more clearly and confidently, delivered by a renowned expert in the field. Critically assess ideas, information, theories, strategies, proposals, models. Share your thinking more effectively with others.
swiftly handle and confidently evaluate new or unusual ideas, complex or confusng information
Pressure-test thinking: reveal and challenge biases, blindspots, assumptions
Present ideas with more confidence so tha they land better with others
challenge and defend viewpoints in ways that are both powerful yet non-confrontational
challenge and defend viewpoints in ways that are both powerful yet non-confrontational
Maximise our individual as well as our collective intellgence
Whether you are at an early stage in your career, or looking to take on greater responsibility in your role, the ability to think clearly and confidently will support you in your journey. Our workshops provide simple strategies to help you to swiftly evaluate ideas and information, form confident judgments and decisions, and present your own ideas to others with greater assurance.
"I learned a lot about thinking, and critical thinking, that I had never thought about before. ... It was a great workshop that I definitely will be using both in my professional and private life"
Juliana
TODAY'S BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
We live in a world where the currency is ideas, data, information, yet we are not trained how to evaluate it. We are sold ideas without the skills to properly assess them. As for generating new content, this is no longer a challenge. The challenge is deciding if it is any good. Then there is the information we use to base our thinking on. How do we know if it is even reliable? As for data itself, it is next to useless unless we can assess its significance. The pressure to evaluate ideas, informationion data at speed means we become increasinghy susceptible to the deep biases that our fast-thinking is prone to.​
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Why KRITIKOS is the solution!
At KRITIKOS, we draw on our experience in critical thinking to provide simple yet effective strategies designed to help you quickly make sense of new ideas and information, judge its significance; and to then share your judgments more confidently and effectively with others. The aim is to provide a basis for clear thought and action.
Who benefits?
We believe everyone benefits from improving thinking; moreover, critical thinking skills are expected to be increasingly valued, as well as being a requisite component of AI literacy. In fact, the importance of making our own choices, exercising our own (individual, human) judgment, according to our own deeply held values, could well become the most crucial thing we can do! Nevertheless, in terms of professional development our trainings are particularly valuable for the following:
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- those who are anxious about or who are entering roles where there is a greater need for own judgment and decision-making
- those whos roles require them to present to others, and/ or influence the judment of others
- those whose roles require them to evaluate ideas or information
- those who are seeking for greater stretch/ challenge/ growth opportunities
"I found the session very powerful. It has left me a lot to go and reflect on!"
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Nick
Thinking effectively - individually and collectively!
Besides our focus on effectve thinking our apprach to critical thinking is unique in the way it emphasises the shared nature of thinking - after all, we don't think in a vacuum, but amongst other people who may or may not think differently!
"I applied some of my learning when dealing with a really upset parent yesterday. It really helped me to see things much more from their perspective and be more considerate with what I said and did in the moment. I can see how this will help with parents, students, staff and at home."
Claire Ward, Senior Leader, Waingels College
"It really helped me to see things much more from their perspective and be more considerate with what I said in the moment...
Claire
Value to individuals AND organisatons!
Because we look at both how to think well and also how to share/ communicate thinking better (a vital components of good thinking) benefits not just individual intelligence, but collective ntelligence - most valuable resource any organisation possesses!
"The workshop has given me the confidence to think critically before making importaqnt decisions about a company product."
Daniel, Graduate Training Programme, Stibo Systems
"The workshop has given me the confidence to think critically before making important decisions about a company product."
Daniel
Welcome
to Our Site
What you learn
There are 3 skills areas we focus on in tranings
Evaluating ideas and information
Swiftly and confidently evaluate the sgnificance or worth of nfomaton - whether ideas, clams, theories or models, strategies, proposals, recommendation be able to ask not just what is the information saying but how seriously should it be taken? What should I take away from it? What exacfly should I do? Form confdent, well-reasoned judgments, as the basis of action and belief.
Pressure-test thinking
​ldentfy biases, blindspots assumptions ; consider alternative hypotheses; strengthen ideas and proposals; find their areas of wealness and stregnthen or adapt as necessary.
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Sharing thinking
Ensure your ideas land effectively with others; andticipate and respond to objections; challenge ideas and defend your own without alienating others, and keeping those who disagree with you onside
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How we support you
We can provide training on any or all of the primary skills focus areas. We have generic packages, but our usual approach is to discuss with groups or organisations to help them establisj what their trraning needs are/ what will best support them, and then create bespoke training accordngly. (See case studies)
Essential critical thinking skills (2-3 hours)
A more introductory programme, selecting some of the most readily applicable skills and concepts/ strategies
All-round crtical thinking programme (5-6 hours)
All the main skills, with thorough opportunity for applcation(can be done as a sngle day or splt into two or more sessions)
Bespoke training
Focused workshops that target the particular challenges or needs identified - whether to build the skills needed for current roles, or provide opportunities for personal; or career growth
All our trainings can be delivred face-to-face or virtually/ remotely.
Our Clients Say
“The critical thinking course has made me more conscious of my thinking and equipped me with practical and easily applicable points for critical thinking. The refresher documents on the four principles provided after the course were particularly helpful, reinforcing my memory and awareness of these key points. It's heightened my awareness of biases in communication, enabling me to communicate more effectively. I feel more confident and empowered in my thinking and this course has truly helped me in my ways of communicating, both professionally and personally.”
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Anne-Sofie, Graduate Training Programme, Stibo Systems, Aarhus, Denmark
background
Our Mission
KRITIKOS was established in 2016 by Joe Chislett, due to his passion for sharing the skills of critical thinking and for brining them to the real world. He began by running workshops and talks in schools, but since 2022 he has taken KRITIKOS workshops into the world of business. It was his belief that many of the existing resources for supporting or developing thinking skills were too dry or technical, and ignored the important dimensions of pepole - namely their creativity, and emotional intelligence. Central to his approach is the belief that thinking is not a purely silent or individual process, but on the contrary, a social and dynamic process. He has subsequently developed an approach to CT that is unique, that links it to action, that takes into acccount all aspects of us, our psychology and sociology, and that works in real sitautions and real time.​
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See below for more on the KRITIKOS approach and Joe's philosophy about teaching critical thinking.
Our Mission
A unique approach to critical thinking
We have a unusually dynamic approach to critical thinking. Not only do we see the urgency of acquiring this skill, but we are unique in the way that we link thinking to action. Better thinking means better choices of action, performed with greater conviction. It can be summarised in the idea of effective thinking.
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Not just critical, but effective
We are not interested in thinking for its own sake, but for how it supports and gives strength to our actions. Below are the ways we help ensure this.
Not just questions, but answers
Not just finding fault, but seeking to make things better. We show you how to use critical thinking skills not just to identify problems or weaqknesses, but put forward solutions!
Not just how to think, but when
Thinking stops being effective if it inhibits us from action. Our trainings are unique in that they show you not just how to think, but when. Whenit might be better to operate on instinct or gut feeling. Critical thinking without over-thinking. Thinking stops being effective if it igets in the way of action. ​ We consder not merely how to thn but when - and how much - to thn. Our strategies are inspired by work on thinking skills tests that test both quick and accurate judgments. They are designed to be quick and easy to apply and work in real situations, in real time.​
Allow room for creativity
​Another area where we need to be careful is when thinking creatively. Thinking stops being effective if it inhibits the generation of ideas. Sometimes it's better to turn off our rational, critical selves/ minds. At the same time, ideas can often be improved and our creativiity sparked when problems are exposed, or assumptions revealed and questioned. We look at the interplay between critical and creative thinking, and how each can be maximidsed wtihout impairing the other. (all seen episodes of the Apprentice when they get carried away with their own creaton and perhaps a but pf critcal thought might have happened. We look at what artists and creatives have to say and lessons can apply here... - too much detail for here, have separately for training pitches/ outlines...
Sharing our thinking
It's no good forming good judgements or having good ideas if you do not have the confiene to put them forward, or defend them where necesary.
We don't think in a vacuum, etc... / Thinking is interactional/ don't think in a vacuum etc. Our trainings teach you not just to have confdence on own thnng but also how to be able to SHARE thnng ; learn the psych not just of how to evaluate ideasx, but how other ppl respond to them, how to frame them efc so they land successfully (BIG FOCUS ON THIS!)Look at the principles for sharing thinking as well, the obstacles that get in the way when sharinig new or unfamilar ideas, how to make thngs land better, psychology etc
The 4 Cs
|Because of the way we see CT as lnng to acton. groundng ur belefs and acton; because ot the importanec of sharing thingking etc, we define effective thinking in terms of the 4Cs: ... /
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Alll our training/ content delivered wth a view to strengthening not just Critical thinking, but all four Cs!
Practical application
real stuatons just the most useful real ppl real tme etc... / We have made it our mission for the skills we deliver to have practical real world benefits. Our trainings tae real world situations to show how the slls and strateges can be easly appled.
Think clearly and confidently as an indvidual
Share your thinking more effectively wth others
Joe Chislett
Our Mission
Joe has over 20 years working as a teacher, educator, coach, assessor, consultant, and author in the field of Critical Thinking. He has been writing and designing high stakes thinking skills tests for nearly 20 years. From 2007-2015 he was a Senior Examiner for the UK's A level in Critical Thinking, and advises on a number of international qualifications. He has worked on behavioural interventions, such as projects to prevent radicalisation in vulnerable regions of Africa and on initiatives to help people make more confident and accurate assessments of claims surrounding medicine and health. He has co-authored textbooks on Critical thinking, and contributed articles to Nature magzine and the Times newspaper. Before working in education where he taught English, Drama and Philosophy he worked in radio.​
Our Mission