Critical Thinking for Managers Assignment: Career Analysis

This assignment, completed for MPM732 Critical Thinking for Managers, focuses on applying critical thinking tools to analyze career options and skills. The first stage involves creating a career dashboard, comparing potential career paths based on skills, qualifications, and salary expectations. The assignment then utilizes the Superstrong evaluation tool to identify the student's key skills, such as listening and empathy. A significant portion of the assignment includes a speech analysis, examining a speech about the future of the counseling profession. The analysis uses Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Dilts’ logical levels to understand the speaker's arguments, language use, and persuasive techniques. The speech addresses challenges facing the counseling profession and proposes solutions, emphasizing the importance of a unified professional identity. The assignment demonstrates the application of critical thinking to assess career choices and evaluate persuasive communication.

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CRITICAL THINKING FOR MANAGERS
By (Name)
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date

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Introduction
Critical Thinking tools act as essential components which must be considered when
dealing with issues that require specific answers. Normally, the analysis tools depend on
information such as my career profile, which provides guidelines in determining inclusive and
conclusive solutions. Importantly, this critical assessment of my experiences and skills will assist
me in taking vital career decisions that may not have been possible while using other tools.
Stage 1
My career dashboard will be developed such that it provides me with guidance on my
current skills and abilities that l possess. There are three career aspirations that will require to be
filled depending on my technical skills on the subject and other factors.
Career Dashboard
Obvious Career Related Career Open Career
Position title Teaching and
education
Counseling and
assisting
Healthcare services
Technical skills
needed
Teamwork,
communication, and
leadership
Integrated
communication skills
and basic empathy
Relationship
management and
communication skills,
technical
proficiencies, and
enterprise acumen.
Transferrable skills
needed
Oral and written
communication skills,
time management,
Boundary setting,
critical thinking,
listening skills, and
Analytic and
communication skills.

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and adaptability. social skills.
Standard Salary 50,000 dollars per
year
43,000 dollars per
year
99,000 dollars per
year
Job Growth 3 percent growth rate 23 percent growth
rate
20 percent growth
rate
Qualifications
required
A bachelor’s degree
is mandatory with the
completion of a
tutor’s education
program. Besides, the
teacher must have
successfully passed
writing and reading
skill tests.
One may require a
bachelor’s degree in
counseling, or a
connected field.
Master’s degree in a
particular nursing
field and a state or
national license
showing that the
holder is a certified
medical practitioner.
Primary job tasks Teachers are required
to nurture and mentor
the students to
become role models
in society.
Counselors provide
support to individuals
experiencing
emotional hardships
by assisting them to
identify and work
through their
problems.
Healthcare
practitioners are
responsible for
providing primary
healthcare services to
any ill patient.
Stage 2

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According to the results obtained from Superstrong evaluation tool, my main three skills
include listening, empathy, and concreteness skills. My listening skills have been gained through
orienting myself physically by attending various seminars and hospital programs (Bridges,
Davidson, Soule Odegard, Maki, and Tomkowiak, 2011, p.6035). As a result, l can maintain eye
contact, encourage verbalization, and monitoring body language and postures, which has boosted
my communication skills. Through listening and observing people’s conduct, l am capable of
understanding the nonverbal and verbal information communicated by a person (Bambaeeroo,
and Shokrpour, 2017, p.51).
Stage 3
The Speech: The Future and Resolutions to Challenges Facing the Counseling Profession
“Good morning.”
“Welcome to the quarterly report of counseling programs, its future, and contributions to
challenges facing the industry.”
“For over a decade now the counseling profession has been actively planning its future through
various initiatives, for instance, the 20/20 “A Vision for the Future of Counseling.” When the list
first emerged, the delegates generated at least 22 problems, which needed to be resolved to
enhance the future of counseling profession” (Kaplan, Tarvydas, and Gladding, 2014, p.366).
“The list was classified into several sections that include; firming identity, offering ourselves as a
unified profession; enhancing public acknowledgment and promoting for professional problems;
developing licensure compactness; promoting and expanding the research ability of professional
therapy; and stimulating customer well-being.”

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“These areas provided the framework for the Principles for Unifying and Strengthening the
Profession” (Kaplan and Gladding, 2011, p.367).
“Notably, the future of professional counseling might be anybody’s assumption, although David
Snyder has taken time in his profession to make accurate predictions about what looms ahead of
the counseling career. The latter who is a consulting futurist suggests that he thoughts are based
on the long-term effect of its future, and has a few ideologies regarding what may be in store for
the counseling in next ten years. Snyder is prominent editor of The Futurist, which is a bimonthly
magazine of the ‘World Future Society’ (World Future Society, 2017). He predicts that by 2020,
most individuals especially those access to computers will be highly privileged. This is because
their computers will have a software that will enable the users to ask its machines, and providing
verified information to its users. Notably, most of these questions are what clients spent most of
their time visiting counselors for. This will be a credible technological advancement that will
improve the counseling career.”
“As l focus taking a look at the future of the counseling in the next ten years, l realize that though
there are numerous steps the profession has taken in developing its base, it still has a lot to
correct. This is mainly because there are different counseling professional depending on the
environment.”
“As ACA turns 60 years old since its inception, various leaders have done their level best to
predict the future of the profession, which is mainly over ten years (Erwin, and Brownson, 2017,
p.395). Currently, we have attained licensure in most states, although there are multiple titles for
professional counselor trainees and licensees.”

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“One evident step that the industry is bond to take in the future is creating a unified career, and
promoting a one identity as a counselor (Lile, 2017, p.13). Secondly, we must understand the
challenges that counseling may encounter in future. To tackle these hardships, the authorization
of counselor learning initiatives, and credentialing and certifying of counselors is fundamental is
the profession is bound to take a step into the future (Foster, 2012, p.3)”
“Perhaps the greatest challenge to expert unison is occasionally within it. Personally, l have
worked with various clients such as kids, teenagers, and even their families in school, to provide
mental care services in a private setting. Besides, l have had a chance to educate and train the
next generation certified counselors in my present duties in university.”
“Although most of these positions were referred to using various titles such as an academic
counselor and verified counselor, it is essential to know that we are generally counselors.”
“I happen to be fortunate enough to work in multiple counseling settings doing different roles,
but my main purpose always has to be an expert counselor. Unfortunately, some divisive
counselors are currently opposed to the unison of the career to which most of us have dedicated
their lives on.”
“Typically, these individuals put their personal and political agendas above the similar interests
of the therapy profession under the semblance of counseling specialisms.”
“When we have an opportunity to go to legislators to present the counseling career, we need to
speak with one voice for it to have listened. This will ensure that our objectives are respected and
realized. Importantly, some professionals like physicians, social workers, psychologists, and
dentist realized this strategy a while back. As a result, their views and inquiries are considered,
as they present themselves as professions.”

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“Presently, counseling is being considered even in the global scene, which is a proof that the
future is bright for the profession. Most governments have understood the essence of providing
mental care to its citizens. Due to this fact, multiple counseling firms have sprung to life both in
the national and global scene in search of help related to authorization, credentialing, and their
development.”
“Besides, we as counselors need to re-establish our scientific grounds of counseling efficiency.”
“Currently, there are at least 400 authorized counseling approaches, although the output literature
only aids the utilization of a small portion of these assisting theories. This is only restricted to
clinical and developmental applications” (Counseling Today, 2012, p.36).
“In the future, our counseling examiners and various journal tabloid boards need to considerably
elevate efforts to authenticate therapy applies, and assessing its outputs. Notably, it is easier to
get support for the profession from representatives and other public administrators, only if we
have credible evidence on how to boost our services.”
“As l conclude, l would like everyone to come together and unify counseling as a dependable
and legitimate profession as we wait for the greener pastures in the future. Thank you.”
Stage 4
Analysis of the Speech
The above speech incorporates the “Critical Discourses Analysis” (CDA) course to
establish a base on which the counseling profession is exhaustively discussed, particularly its
future and how the members can tackle issues facing it. The tool explores the attributes of the
language used by the speaker to communicate to the audience by laying out the main agenda of

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having the meeting. Notably, CDA analyzes the real context of the language used in a speech,
and how it reveals the speech’s ethnic backgrounds. The tool is a determining factor of how the
audience listening to speech will automatically connect with it from the start. Thus, the
introduction of the speech is important to ensure that evert participant is on board with what is
being discussed.
According to Van Dijk (1995, p.17), this tool provides a distinct approach in evaluating
speeches and texts that develop from crucial linguistics, and the investigation of language and
communication. Alternatively, the speech utilizes the overarching approach of Dilts’ logical
levels to establish the purpose of calling on the audience’s attention. Importantly, this tool acts as
representation of hierarchy, which is based on six levels; identity, behavior, environment, values,
standards, and spiritual. The speech focus on at least four levels. First, the speaker understand
his audience, which is the identity and environment in which the speech is being presented. He
understand the purpose of the meeting is to see into the future of counseling and challenges
affect it, and the people in attendance are professionals like him. Secondly, he understands the
behavior and values his colleagues cherish. Thus, the speech goes directly to identify the purpose
of meeting as the members are eager to listen as they also cherish their profession.
There are various argumentative statements used in speech; for instance, those that
provide introduce members to the expected changes in the counseling profession. When the
addresser says “One evident step that the industry is bond to take in future is creating a unified
career…….” he presents the idea that in spite of the challenges the industry encounters there is
still hope. Conversely, assessing the language used throughout the speech is essential in
redefining the future of professional counseling. For instance, which when the speaker talks

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about David Snyder and his prediction of the industry’s future, it is presented in a sure or certain
tone that uploads his views.
Alternatively, multiple steps have been used in the speaker to link with his audience
using language tricks. The speaker understands that his audience comprises of various counselors
who occupy various occupations. This tool is evident at the beginning of the speech where the
speaker tries to connect with his audience by welcoming every member to the counseling
initiative, which will address the future and contributions to hardships facing their profession.
Thus, he identifies a common ground that every counselor present can relate to. Conversely, the
speaker understands what is on their mind as he mentions that the counseling profession has been
planning on resolving various hardships it has faced for a while. As a result, he lists the various
concerns identified by the 20/20 “A Vision for the Future of Counseling.”
The speech is effective as it focuses on the main agendas of having the meeting. That is,
looking at the future of counseling and the contributions on challenges facing the profession. The
speaker states that according to Snyder, a futurist, the profession may get some technology
upgrades as computers will be loaded with a software that can act as a consultant to their
respective owners. He further suggests that for the industry to establish itself properly, the
counselors need to be unified such that they can have one identity, which will assist them in
presenting issues they face.
The speech provides a resolution to the challenge of disunity that has prevented the
company from merging as one entity. The speaker says that the profession may need to certify
counselors through holding education programs and licensing them to improve their image as
verified and professional people. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the speech in addressing
the future of counseling, and how to address the hardships facing it. Notably, the speaker

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understands that he is addressing professionals like him, which means he must communicate
professionally. For instance, he mentions the several issues mentioned by the “20/20 A Vision
for the Future of Counseling,” and identifies the specific framework made to resolve such issues;
the “Principles of Unifying and Strengthening the Counseling Profession.”
The main critical thinking tool used throughout the article is the logic of the argument.
The tool assesses the ability of the speaker to arrive at a good judgment. Importantly, a person’s
judgement depends on how he or she evaluates a specific situation, and the evidence that is
available to support it. Hence, the speaker’s ability to effectively discuss his thought concerning
the future and his contributions to the challenges facing the counseling profession demonstrate
good reasoning. For instance, the speech begins with salutations, which are basic for a speech,
and it identifies the purpose of having the quarterly report read during the meeting. It further
provides listeners with a base of the main issues facing the future of counseling and a framework
that was previously provided to handle them.
The introduction of the speaker tries to have the attention of the listener by noting issues
that affect them generally. Besides, the speaker talks about Snyder’s thoughts on the future of
counseling as credible since he is a re-known editor of the “World Future Society.” According to
Snyder, the future of counseling is bright as computers will have a software that can act as a
consultant to their users. As a result, the industry will grow as technology will assist in
improving the mental health of clients.
In the body of the speech, it demonstrates its logical concept as it identifies the major
concern about the future of counseling is getting unified professionally. The speech argues that
the importance of the unifying the profession is to have one identity, which will boost its
operation as a professional career. Fortunately, the speech provides solutions to address this

Critical Thinking for Managers 11
challenge; the resolutions relate to every member of the nursing profession such as the
certification of counselor education initiatives, and licensing them to improve their profile as
professionals.
The speech demonstrates further why lack of unity is a primary concern for the future of
counseling. It clarifies that the threat to the unity of counselors comes from within as there are
different types of counselors who work in various setting such as school counselors and mental
health counselors. As a result, such professionals place their personal and political agendas
above the common interest of other counselors. This argument provides a logical approach to the
challenges facing the counseling career, which adheres to the purpose of the speech as
introduced earlier.
The speech also explains further the importance of unifying the profession, especially
when presenting their concerns to legislators. It further mentions that other professionals have
understood the essence of unity, such as dentists, psychologists, and physicians, which has
boosted their image as professionals. Therefore, the arguments presented throughout the speech
adhere to its purpose as it demonstrates the challenges that affect the counseling profession
currently, which may impact its future.
Notably, the speaker uses a formal style to address its audience. Normally, the purpose of
such a speech is to provide information, persuade the audience, and mention any concerns that
need to be discussed. Consequently, the speech uses a colorful language to present its ideas
because no visuals can be used to demonstrate the same. In the speech, it is evident that these
factors have considered as it introduces its audience, and provides a purpose for attending the
meeting. It mentions the achievements made as the counseling career peers into the future. The

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speaker states that they have attained licensure in each state, although various professional
counselor trainees and licensees are required.
Conclusion
The article covers various sections; the first stage that focuses on my career dashboard,
which consists of three careers that have different technical skills. Nevertheless, the first section
covers my three career interests, and their salaries are presented annually. In the second phase, l
chose to counsel and helping as my career as it comprises my top three skills; listening, empathy,
and concreteness skills. Throughout this section, l was able to explore the challenges that l
encounter, such as counselor self-disclosure, enterprising, and eradicating obstacles to change.

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References
Bambaeeroo, F., and Shokrpour, N 2017. The impact of the teachers’ non-verbal communication
on success in teaching. Journal of advances in medical education & professionalism, 5(2), p.51.
Bridges, D., Davidson, R.A., Soule Odegard, P., Maki, I.V., and Tomkowiak, J 2011.
Interprofessional collaboration: three best practice models of interprofessional
education. Medical education online, 16(1), p.6035.
Counseling Today 2012. A look into counseling’s future. Counseling Today. Available from
https://www.counseling.org/resources/library/Counseling%20Today/March2012CTOnline.pdf
(Accessed 19 September 2019).
Erwin, P.C. and Brownson, R.C., 2017. Macro trends and the future of public health
practice. Annual review of public health, 38, pp.393-412.
Foster, L.H., 2012. Professional counselor credentialing and program accreditation in the United
States: A historical review. Journal for International Counselor Education, 4(1), p.3.
Kaplan, D.M., and Gladding, ST 2011. A vision for the future of counseling: The 20/20
principles for unifying and strengthening the profession. Journal of Counseling &
Development, 89(3), pp.367-372.
Kaplan, D.M., Tarvydas, V.M., and Gladding, ST 2014. 20/20: A vision for the future of
counseling: The new consensus definition of counseling. Journal of Counseling &
Development, 92(3), pp.366-372.
Lile, J.J., 2017. Forming a professional counselor identity: The impact of identity processing
style. The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 9(2), p.13.
Van Dijk, TA 1995. Aims of critical discourse analysis. Japanese discourse, 1(1), pp.17-28.

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World Future Society 2017. The futurist, January –February 2012. Issuu. Available from
https://issuu.com/worldfuturesociety/docs/the_futurist_2012_jan-feb (Accessed 19 September
2019).