In today’s international corporate environment, leaders face a daily barrage of information, time pressure, and complex decision-making structures. In such a context, how can one not only make the right calls but also find the courage to substantively challenge the status quo? At ETTA Go Global, we believe the key lies in combining the hard tools of Critical Thinking with the essential foundation of Psychological Safety.
In this article, we take a look behind the scenes of a project completed for a global financial organization, where we supported leaders in building confidence and a critical eye toward transformation processes.
The Challenge: Between Expertise and Hesitation
Our client operates in a matrix model, with teams from Poland, India, the USA, and Canada collaborating on key business and system transformations. The project participants included experienced managers, Master Black Belt experts, and professionals responsible for business solution design and portfolio management.
Despite their vast expertise and the strategic importance of the Polish unit, the team identified a need to strengthen “courage and confidence.” The primary challenges we addressed were:
Seniority Imbalance: Difficulty engaging in dialogue with highly experienced stakeholders at top levels.
The Stereotype Trap: The risk of making decisions based on “gut feeling” rather than a proven, structured process.
Lack of a Common Language: The need for a unified approach to problem analysis within a culturally and cognitively diverse team.
The Solution: Critical Thinking in Practice
To meet these needs, we designed a Critical Thinking training program delivered entirely in English for a 50-person international group. To maintain high energy and provide individual support, the project was led by a coaching trio: Magdalena Plewniak, Emilia Kovalscik, and Monika Chutnik.
The program focused on three pillars: decisions, consequences, and responding to others’ ideas. Participants worked on specific, practical skills:
Decision Awareness: Recognizing moments where deep thinking is non-negotiable.
Assumption Spotting: Questioning what is often taken for granted.
Constructive Challenge: Developing the ability to speak up and voice dissent without triggering conflict.
We utilized proven models such as the Ladder of Inference (to check personal biases), Consequence Mapping, and the Execute → Synthesize → Recommend roadmap.
Key Insight: Psychological Safety is the Fuel for Critique
A vital element of the workshops was the module on psychological safety. We introduced the concept of Challenger Safety—the belief that questioning others’ decisions is safe and desirable for the good of the organization.
Participants appreciated that a substantive “challenge” (even to someone more senior) requires not just personal grit, but above all, a supportive team culture. As one participant noted, realizing the weight of this topic was a “breakthrough” that changed their perspective on daily collaboration.
Results and Feedback
The impact of our work was reflected in the surveys and direct feedback:
100% of participants stated they would recommend the training to their colleagues.
The average workshop rating was 4.6/5 (with 63% of ratings being “excellent”).
Participants highlighted the value of real-life examples and the high energy and professionalism of the trainers. One manager summarized it perfectly: “The training helped us gain the confidence that what we’ve developed makes sense, because it’s based on a process, not just on ‘how it seems’.”
Summary for Leaders
In a VUCA world and global structures, critical thinking is no longer an option—it is a necessity. If your teams lack the courage to speak up about risks or question suboptimal solutions, start by building psychological safety and equipping people with systematic analytical tools.
At ETTA Go Global, we help leaders and HR professionals embed these competencies into daily practice using tools like Growth Zone and Global DISC to measure motivation and diverse cognitive styles.
Ready to strengthen Critical Thinking in your organization? Let’s connect!