Logical Thinking

and Communication

Improving the Two Key Skills

needed for Business Success

Staff who can’t think

logically or communicate making decisions giving instructions
clearly will have trouble...
solving problems presenting ideas
creating plans asking questions
analyzing choices explaining situations

The 3-day Logical Thinking and Communication workshop teaches students to respect
the quality of information and of proof, and the value of discussion, disagreement and
clear communication. Topics covered include:

• how thinking affects communication

• how Chinese culture affects Chinese communication
• communication needs of modern business: open, honest, clear and accurate
• how to concentrate on the communication needs of the audience
• how to make communication clear
• how to ask good questions and offer good answers
• how to make all information relevant, accurate and true
• how to add all information needed to achieve communication success
• how to make, defend and analyze logical arguments
• logical argument structures common in business: decision making, cause and
effect (planning and problem solving), benchmarking, persuading

www.treasuremountain.com

looking at business through Chinese glasses [email protected] 寶山企管咨詢公司

 If you think education
is expensive,
try ignorance.
Derek Bok

the more
evaluating results There is no overnight success. Do not ex-
pect dramatic or immediate improvement.
you use it

The good news is that it is a cumulative positive

the easier it the more
skill: once you understand and use it a is to use
feedback useful it is
positive feedback loop is created. Students loop
begin to see the real benefits a few months
the more
after the course, and it just grows from
you use it
then on. You never forget logic.

The workshop was designed and is taught by Greg

Bissky. After an MA in modern Chinese politics Greg
the instructor moved to Taiwan in 1985, his home for the next 14
years. In 1998 Greg moved back to Canada but kept
his Asia roots, traveling frequently and often working
Chinese time zone hours.

Greg also teaches Westerners how to do business in

Chinese Asia, and leads performance enhancement–
type projects in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The Logical Thinking and Communicating workshop lasts 3 full days.

course details Offsite locations work far better than onsite classes.
• classes conducted in English and Mandarin: best if students
have a basic grasp of spoken English
• course materials are in English and Chinese
• class size limited to 20 participants (12-16 is best)
• students work hard (homework and difficult subject material)
so employers are asked to limit normal work for the 3 days
• cell phones that ring during class are confiscated
• classes are difficult but fun; students who laugh forget how
hard they are working

www.treasuremountain.com

looking at business through Chinese glasses [email protected] 寶山企管咨詢公司

workshop objectives
• given a set of statements, be • given any persuasive argu-
better able to separate facts ment, be better able to decide
from opinions, and relevant if the facts prove the conclu-
from irrelevant facts, and to sion; or know what facts are
be able to explain why needed to prove it

• given any message to trans- • given any opinion to offer, • given any problem to solve,
fer, be better able to use the be better able to use the atti- decision to make or plan to
audience’s needs and expec- tude, “If I think it is impor- form, be able to see key
tations to tailor how to com- tant then I should clearly say cause and effect relationships
municate the message it” to speak out
• given any question to ask, be • given any management skill • given any message to com-
better able to focus on the to learn , be better able to municate, be better able to
key needed information and participate actively in the do so in a clear, brief and
to ask clearly for it learning process straightforward manner

workshop outline
Class 1a
• the effect of thinking on communication
• should you “sell” or “market” your message
• how culture creates unique Rules of Communication; differences between Chinese, Western
and modern-business Rules of Communication
methodology: mostly lecture, some question and answer (QA)
break for lunch

Class 1b
• what is needed to make a persuasive argument
• the analytic process: description of the steps and how to follow them
• relevant is not the same a true: what makes one fact relevant and another irrelevant
• the limitations of one-statement or one-fact generalizations
• introduction of basic “salesman’s” argument format (persuasive argument)
• how relevance can depend upon culture; how to explain to Westerners that “X” is relevant
in Chinese Asia
• how to separate useful facts from the words, sentences and paragraphs they hide in
• how to add missing facts to an argument to make it complete
methodology: lecture, small problem-solving groups, big group discussion
class finishes for the day

www.treasuremountain.com

looking at business through Chinese glasses [email protected] 寶山企管咨詢公司

 It is only the wisest and most stupid
who can not change.
Confucius, Analects
workshop outline
Class 2a
• how to focus on the point when asking questions
• when to use, and when not to use, logic or modern business communication
• the only four relevant answers when you’ve done something wrong/made a mistake
• different ways things can be made irrelevant
methodology: lecture, small problem-solving groups, big group discussion
break for lunch
Class 2b
• why one fact can be “believable” with no proof, and why another fact needs proof
• what is difference between facts and opinions, truths and beliefs
• guidelines for the Acceptability of facts
• how to judge when to trust, and not to trust, “expert opinions”
• need for facts to be clear; a “good” fact can have only one meaning
• standardized format for a “push-pull” argument (basic decision making)
• standardized format for “benchmarking” arguments
• guidelines for student presentations (for Class 3b)
methodology: lecture, small problem-solving groups, big group discussion
class finishes for the day

Class 3a
• introduction to analyzing cause-and-effect relationships
• standardized format for cause-and-effect arguments
• principles about how to tell if an argument has included enough proof (sufficiency)
methodology: lecture, small problem-solving groups, big group discussion
break for lunch

Class 3b
• students present the argument they wrote (and prepared on an overhead transparency) to
the class, then defend it against criticisms from the class and the instructor
• how to fix “bad” arguments (using student presentations as examples)
• general summary of points covered
• fill out course evaluations
methodology: each student presents an argument; big group discussion about
each presentation; can the argument be fixed; summary
class finishes

www.treasuremountain.com

looking at business through Chinese glasses [email protected] 寶山企管咨詢公司

 argument templates
Argument templates are very useful. They teach students how to:
• organize information logically and clearly
• include all the information needed to “prove” a conclusion
• have confidence in their presentation of information, opinions and ideas

decision to take action

PUSH:
PUSH an argument that proves some action (called “action X”) must be taken
PULL
PULL: an argument that proves that one alternative is better than the rest

Every decision to take action is a “Push-Pull” argument. To be correct it must follow this format:

Push: “. . . (therefore) we must do [x]”

Pull: P1: we must do [x]

P2: these are the criteria we will use to make a decision
P3: we could do [a] to achieve [x] (it meets the criteria)
P = premise (reason) P4: we could do [b] to achieve [x] (it meets the criteria)
C = conclusion
P5: we could do [c] to achieve [x] (it meets the criteria)
P6: proof only options that meet the criteria are [a], [b] & [c]
P7a: plus/minus analysis of [a]
P7b: plus/minus analysis of [b]
P7c: plus/minus analysis of [c]
P7: (therefore) option [a] is superior to options [b] and [c]
C: we should do [a] to achieve [x]

analysis
Decisions are made every day about what action to take. Business success depends upon
making good decisions. Common problems in decision making are:
• trying to prove what to do (C) without first proving something must be done (P1)
• not defining the criteria (P2) used to make the decision (often using different criteria
for each option)
• not showing that all possible choices are being examined (P6)
• using different methods to analyze possible choices (P7a, b and c)
These problems lead to bad decisions and wasted time. When students use this template
managers can easily understand why an action must be taken and can quickly evaluate the
reasons why doing X is the best choice. This leads to better staff input and better decisions.

www.treasuremountain.com

looking at business through Chinese glasses [email protected] 寶山企管咨詢公司

argument templates

basic “change” argument

Change arguments are used to prove or show why something should happen or change. A few
examples would be trying to change a method, policy or action. To be correct and clear, change
arguments should follow this format:

P1: this is the current situation (or method used)

P2a: fact about the current situation (method)
P2b: fact about the current situation (method)
P2c: fact about the current situation (method)
P2: the current situation is bad (method won’t work)
C: we should change the current situation (change the method)

SIMPLE EXAMPLE
P1: Department D is not following the Quality Guidelines
P2a: Department D’s scrap and waste percent is too high
P2b: shipping dates are often missed because of waiting for Department D’s products
P2c: 72% of customer complaints are caused by mistakes made by Department D
P2: by not following the Quality Guidelines Department D is hurting the company
C: Department D should be made to follow the Quality Guidelines

analysis
Business is all about managing change, and change arguments are very common. Problems
happen when people only offer a conclusion with no proof or give reasons in a confused
way. By using the change argument template a person:
• tells the audience what the point is, or what to focus on (P1)
• offers proof in a clear way (P2a, b and c), proving the current situation is bad (P2)
• gives enough information to prove the conclusion (C)
Very simple, but also very clear and convincing. And useful. Change arguments are used in
all areas of business, and can even be used to show that no change is needed!

business communication
Besides orders (do this), there are six basic types of persuading describing
business communication (right). If staff do not com- You should do this What this is
municate these clearly and properly, business is hurt. requesting explaining
The argument templates, logic and other workshop I want this Why this happened
skills help staff make business communication clear instructing questioning
and orderly, with all necessary detail added. How to do this What is this?

www.treasuremountain.com

looking at business through Chinese glasses [email protected] 寶山企管咨詢公司