S10 Ep 14: How to Encourage Critical Thinking with Dr. Arlene Egan

The Business of Being Brilliant

What does it really take to foster genuine critical thinking at work beyond just ‘debate’ or ‘criticism’ and why is it essential in today’s rapidly changing, AI-powered business world? In this episode, Helen talks to Dr. Arlene Egan, CEO of Roffey Park Institute and author of Confidence in Critical Thinking, to unpack how leaders and teams can cultivate curiosity, ask better questions, and build cultures where honest debate, openness, and even vulnerability fuel high performance.

Together, they explore:

⭐️ What ‘critical thinking’ actually means at work and why it’s not the same as being critical or negative

⭐️ Why asking the ‘right’ questions is the crucial starting point for productive thinking and decision-making

⭐️ Practical strategies and meeting tips for teams to surface assumptions, encourage curiosity, and ensure everyone’s solving the same problem;

⭐️ How to move from ‘automatic’ fast thinking to deeper, more effortful reflection, especially when making big decisions

⭐️ The difference between healthy challenge, debate, and unsafe criticism and how leaders can create psychologically safe environments for all perspectives to flourish

⭐️ The impact of generative AI on our capacity (and willingness) to think critically, and why it’s more important than ever to interrogate AI outputs

⭐️ The underrated power of reframing, perspective-switching, and even physically changing your environment to unlock fresh insights

⭐️ Simple tools, question frameworks, and reflection practices you can use right away to strengthen critical thinking in yourself and your team.

Tune in for a thought-provoking, practical discussion about building more open, resilient, and brilliant organisations, one question at a time.

About Dr. Arlene Egan

Arlene has twenty-five years-experience working in leadership and management development. Her experience in delivering development excellence spans executive education, higher education, sport, and local government sectors both in Ireland and internationally. Arlene was awarded a PhD from University College Dublin in Psychology for her work on designing, implementing and evaluating initiatives to enhance critical thinking. This work which built on her MLitt in Sport Psychology provides Arlene with a unique perspective on the link between thinking and performance and provides her with a deep understanding of how thinking can be optimised to promote focused performance.

Arlene has designed and delivered bespoke programmes to enhance leadership practice and organisational function. Her specialist areas include team development, leadership development and performance, motivation, change management, innovation, creativity and critical thinking and has recently released a book aimed at third level educators entitled ‘Confidence in Critical Thinking’. As a consultant, Arlene has worked with Boards, C-Suite, Senior and leadership teams. She specialises in strategic thinking and top team design. She advises on organisational performance and culture and identifies the right learning environment to promote engagement and development within organisations.

Links:

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

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Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers.

Connect with Arlene on Linked In.

Find out more about Roffey Park here.

Discover Arlene’s book ‘Confidence in Critical Thinking’ here.

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