MICHAEL KALLET founded HeadScratchers in 2004 to train business professionals and leaders in critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, and creativity. Through workshops, webinars, and keynote speeches, he teaches people to apply critical thinking techniques to real world business challenges. Mike has held leadership positions in business environments ranging from ten-person startups to a $500 million public company. www.headscratchers.com

Preface xi Acknowledgments xvii Section I Introduction and the Framework for Critical Thinking 1 1 What Is Critical Thinking? 3 2 When to Use Critical Thinking 10 3 The Framework and Tools 16 Section II Clarity 21 4 Empty Your Bucket 23 5 Inspection 28 6 Why? 33 7 So What? 43 8 Need 50 9 Anticipatory Thinking 57 10 What Else? 62 11 The Ingredient Diagram 65 12 Vision 71 13 The Thinking Coach 74 14 Summary of Clarity 79 Section III Conclusions 83 15 It's All about the Premise 85 16 Facts 90 17 Observations 94 18 Experiences 99 19 Beliefs 104 20 Assumptions 110 21 The Conclusion: Putting It All Together 114 22 Credibility 128 23 Consistency 132 24 Triangular Thinking 136 25 Change 141 26 Influencing and Persuading 147 Section IV Conclusions and Innovation 155 27 Outside-the-Box Thinking 159 28 Abductive Thinking 164 29 Impossible Thinking 172 30 Summary of Conclusions 176 Section V Decisions 179 31 Who, Need, and When 181 32 Criteria 186 33 Risk 189 34 Summary of Decisions 200 Critical Thinking Summary and Suggestions 203 About the Author 209 Index 211