The current business landscape can most accurately be characterized as a swiftly moving, data-laden realm, fraught with elevated levels of uncertainty. The ability to diagnose and solve problems through critical thinking is more important to team leaders and business success than ever. According to Forbes Magazine, the World Economic Forum and businesses across a wide range of industries, critical thinking is among the top three skills most in demand in the workforce. The Broad College of Business offers Critical Thinking for Team Leaders to help meet this demand. During these two-day, in-person work sessions, individuals and teams are challenged to identify cognitive bias and expand their thinking to improve problem prevention and problem-solving. Participants are provided a toolkit of practical decision-making strategies and research-based reasoning models, all of which can be immediately applied on the job.
Register and Schedule Details
- Critical Thinking for Team Leaders Fall 2026
Cost: $2395.00
Description: Program fee includes instruction, meals, all educational materials and certificate of completion.
Start Date: Oct 21, 2026
End Date: Oct 21, 2026
Days of Week: WednesdayStart Time: 8:30am
End Time: 5:00pm
Start Date: Oct 22, 2026
End Date: Oct 22, 2026
Days of Week: ThursdayStart Time: 8:30am
End Time: 5:00pm
Notes:
Outline
During this two-day, in-person work session, individuals and teams are challenged to expand their thinking abilities to improve problem prevention and problem-solving. Participants are provided a toolkit of practical decision-making strategies and research-based reasoning models, all of which can be immediately applied on the job.
Developing a culture of critical thinking produces many organizational benefits, including:
- The agility to change and adapt to new environments or procedures
- A broader perspective for preventing problems and effective strategic planning
- Less waste of resources - including time, and broader levels of employee engagement.
Critical Thinking Skills for Team Leaders gives managers a key competitive advantage. It enables participants to avoid common thinking pitfalls such as “instinctive thinking,” navigate “group think,” and prevent problems from building. The two-day exchange also explores “ingenious thinking,” typically recognized in successful innovators, scientists, strategists, and Nobel Prize winners.
Faculty and Speakers
Michael Rip, Ph.D., M.Sc.(Med), is the founding director of MSU’s Healthcare Management Program and an Assistant Professor of Management for the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. He has collaborated extensively with the School of Criminal Justice to strategize a critical thinking and problem-solving framework for intelligence analysts and law enforcement offices within the FBI and the United States Department of Homeland Security. Rip has integrated problem prevention science and critical thinking for innovation leaders in major corporations such as Microsoft, Amway, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. He is the founder of MindLeap, a consulting firm offering training around the world for improved decision-making, problem-solving, and innovation.
Key Learning Objectives
After attending this program, participants will:
• Understand and apply the two modes of thinking - instinctive and critical
• Identify and avoid the pitfalls of common sense
• Apply a disciplined and structured process for critical thinking
• Practice and employ problem prevention
These learning objectives will be achieved through faculty instruction, group discussions, and interactive exercises.
Who Should Attend
The Critical Thinking for Team Leaders program is for those who are responsible for anticipating and addressing problems that may hinder business productivity and outcomes. Former participants include senior leaders and front-line managers who are helping others analyze and resolve problems in both the short and long term. Critical thinking is essential to strategic planning success.
Additional Information
This program is offered In-Person at the James B. Henry Center for Executive Development at Michigan State University located at 3535 Forest Road, Lansing MI 48910. For traveling guests, hotel accommodations are available at the adjoining hotel, Candlewood Suites East Lansing.
Cancellation within 15 days of the program start date will be limited to emergency situations and may result in a 10 percent cancellation fee. Participant substitutions are welcome at any time prior to the start of the program. If a registered participant does not attend and does not notify us in advance, they will be charged the full fee.
For more information, please visit our FAQ Page or contact the Program Director, Keith Groya by email groyakei@msu.edu.