Leading New Thinking and Practical Problem Solving
A practical program for leaders who need to solve complex problems, make better decisions and get people behind the solution. Participants work on their own real challenges and leave with a plan they can act on. When delivered with Monash University, participants can also earn a Monash Digital Badge.
- 3 phases
- 2 in-person days
- Built around your own cases
- Optional Monash University Digital Badge
- From AUD 7,500 per day
Most problems leaders face aren't complicated. They're complex.
A complicated problem has a right answer that an expert can find. A complex problem involves people, competing priorities and no single correct solution. That's where most leaders get stuck: the idea might be good, but it stalls because stakeholders see the problem differently, decisions get made on autopilot, or the team never quite buys in.
This program gives leaders the tools to reframe the problem, find better ideas and turn them into action that sticks.
What your leaders will be able to do
- Break down a business problem into its constraints and opportunities, using a multi-stakeholder analysis
- Apply structured ideation techniques to cross-functional challenges
- Spot the cognitive biases and mental shortcuts that shape their own decisions
- Design leadership practices that encourage adaptability and new thinking in their teams
- Build a persuasive case for an initiative and handle the objections that block a yes
- Justify a strategic initiative to key stakeholders based on organisational priorities
Built for leaders who have to make change happen
Middle and senior managers, team leaders and heads of department who are expected to solve problems across silos, lead change and win support for new ideas. It works best when a group from the same organisation takes part together, so they build a shared language for solving problems.
Three phases, designed for learning that lasts
Online pre-learning
Short videos on problem framing and decision fatigue, and a one-page brief on a real challenge from each participant's own work.
Two in-person days
Day 1: Rethinking problems and generating new thinking. Complexity versus complication. Decision making, cognitive biases and mental shortcuts. Reframing problems and understanding stakeholders. How ideas gain traction through persuasive arguments. Testing ideas on peers.
Day 2: From ideas to action. Connecting strategy, ideas and everyday work in one narrative. Change communication that creates pull rather than push. Motivation versus behaviour: micro actions and nudging. Overcoming the barriers that stop stakeholders saying yes. Workshop and peer feedback on each participant's own case.
Online application session
Participants report back on what they tried, what worked and what to do next, so the learning turns into practice.
Your cases, not ours
Every session is built around the challenges participants bring with them: a change meeting resistance, a process nobody follows, a stakeholder who won't budge. The frameworks come from rhetoric, behavioural science and decision research, and they're tested on real problems the same day. The program follows Napica's change flow model, so it connects directly to how change works in your organisation. Read about the model →
Recognised by Monash University
Participants who successfully complete the program can be awarded a Digital Badge from Monash University (Optional), recognising their achievement and demonstrated capability in leading new thinking and practical problem solving. This credential provides a verifiable and shareable record of learning that can be displayed on professional platforms such as LinkedIn, reinforcing both individual development and organisational investment in capability building. The Digital Badge signals the application of practical skills in a real-world context, aligning with Monash's commitment to industry-relevant, high-quality professional learning.
Napica delivers this program as an associate of Monash University's Enterprise Education.
Delivered for leaders at a Victorian TAFE institute
Together with Monash University's Enterprise Education, Napica has delivered the program to two groups of leaders at a Victorian TAFE institute, with up to 15 participants in each group, on the institute's own campus. Each participant brought a real challenge from their own work.
Read the TAFE institute case →
[Testimonial from a participant or sponsor – to come]
Tailored to your organisation
The program runs in-house for groups of up to 20 participants per group, in person at your premises anywhere in Australia or Asia-Pacific, or internationally. We adapt the cases, examples and emphasis to your organisation's priorities.
Frequently asked questions
Can we run it for a single team?
Yes. It works for one leadership team or several cohorts across an organisation.
Do participants need to prepare?
About two hours: two short videos and a one-page description of a real challenge.
Can the program be shortened or extended?
Yes. We can run a one-day version or add coaching and follow-up sessions.
Does everyone receive the Monash Digital Badge?
Only if the program is delivered together with Monash University and only the participants who successfully complete all three phases receive it.
Bring new thinking to your leadership team
Tell us about your leaders and the challenges they're facing. In 30 minutes we'll show you how the program could be tailored to your organisation.
Prefer email? contact_ap@napica.com
Napica ApS is the parent company of Rhetorica, communication and rhetorical training.