May 4, 2025 • 12 mins
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Have you ever believed something so completely—only to discover it was entirely wrong? Christopher Mifsud shares a transformative childhood story about confidently misidentifying cows as kangaroos, thanks to his family's playful misinformation. This seemingly simple misunderstanding becomes a powerful metaphor for how easily we accept narratives without verification, even from trusted sources.
Leadership excellence demands more than accepting information at face value. This episode delves into practical strategies for fostering environments where critical thinking thrives—from implementing structured verification processes to conducting productive red teaming sessions that challenge assumptions without undermining team cohesion. Christopher outlines how leaders can develop decision-making frameworks that encourage analytical thinking, scenario simulations that prepare teams for complex challenges, and reflection practices that deepen problem-solving capabilities.
The most innovative organizations don't just tolerate questioning—they actively encourage it. Discover how establishing dedicated innovation labs, training critical thinking advocates throughout your organization, and measuring the impact of these practices can transform your team's performance. Whether you lead a small development team or a large studio, these actionable approaches to cultivating critical engagement will help you avoid the pitfalls of misleading information while unlocking new avenues for growth and creative breakthrough. Ready to transform how your team thinks? Your journey from kangaroos to cows—and from assumption to verification—starts now.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Press Start Leadership.
Hey there, press Starters andwelcome to the Press Start
(00:23):
Leadership Podcast, the podcastabout game-changing leadership,
teaching you how to get the mostout of your product and
development team and become theleader you were meant to be
Leadership coaching and trainingfor the international game
industry professional.
Now let me introduce you toyour host, the man myth the
(00:49):
legend christopher mifsud.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Hey there, press starters and welcome back to
another awesome edition of thepress star leadership podcast.
On this week's episode we'll bediscussing cows versus
kangaroos revisited, embracingcritical thinking to challenge
accepted narratives, a strategicguide to implementing
analytical practices forenhanced team dynamics and
innovation.
(01:10):
When I was a kid, my fathertaught me one of the best
lessons of my life.
It was about cows.
I lived in New Jersey as achild and if you ever drove any
distance through Jersey, youcouldn't do it without passing
several cow farms.
Every time we passed thesefarms, my father would point out
the window excitedly sayinglook, chris cows.
I would get excited too,pointing at the black and white
(01:33):
creatures, calling them by name.
My mom joined the narrative too.
The whole family pointed andexclaimed every time we drove by
a farm.
This was all well and gooduntil I got to school and my
teacher presented me with animage of a cow, asking what is
this?
In my fullest sense of knowingI probably stated a kangaroo,
expecting to be rewarded withpraise.
(01:55):
Instead, all the kids laughedand the teacher reprimanded me
for joking around.
I was crushed.
You see, on those long familydrives past the farms, my
parents hadn't actually saidlook Chris cows.
They said look Chris kangaroos.
And I believed the narrativewithout ever questioning it.
Over the years we came to laughabout this experience as a
family, but in the moment thelesson learned was clear Don't
(02:17):
simply believe what you're told,even by someone you trust.
Take the time to find your owntruth and be cautious of the
narrative.
In an era dominated by rapidinformation flow and influential
narratives, the ability tocritically evaluate the stories
we're told has never been morecrucial.
The tale of cows versuskangaroos isn't just a humorous
(02:38):
family anecdote.
It serves as a profound lessonin questioning the narratives
presented to us, from childhoodmisconceptions to complex
professional scenarios.
This comprehensive guideexplores the importance of
skepticism, verification and therobust analysis of accepted
truths, particularly within thedynamic realm of leadership and
innovation.
The Lesson of the KangaroosQuestioning the Familiar.
(03:02):
The story begins with a simplefamily tradition that led to an
embarrassing yet enlighteningclassroom moment.
This anecdote underlines thefoundational lesson Narratives,
especially those reinforced bytrusted sources, shape our
perceptions and can lead usastray if not critically
examined.
Now how to do something aboutthis?
(03:22):
All right, encourage curiosity.
Foster an environment, whetherat home or in the workplace,
where questioning is encouraged.
Promoting a culture of inquiryhelps individuals challenge the
status quo and prevents theacceptance of inaccuracies.
Educate on fact verification.
Implement training sessionsthat teach teams how to verify
(03:43):
facts and check sources.
This skill is invaluable,particularly in professional
settings, where decisions basedon incorrect assumptions can
lead to significant consequences.
Trust but verify Buildingreliable relationships.
Trust but verify is a principlethat, while rooted in
skepticism, does not advocatefor cynicism.
A principle that, while rootedin skepticism, does not advocate
(04:06):
for cynicism.
Instead, it encourages abalanced approach where trust in
individuals or institutions iscoupled with a systemic
confirmation of their claims.
And here's how to do thatEstablish verification processes
In professional settings.
Set up processes that requireevidence or second opinions
before major decisions are made.
This could involve multiplelayers of data validation or
peer reviews.
(04:27):
Transparent communicationEncouraged transparent
communication practices whereclaims or statements, especially
those that could have largerimplications, are backed up with
clear evidence and open toscrutiny.
Dissecting the narrative theimportance of being open.
The ability to dissectnarratives critically is a
crucial skill in all aspects oflife, particularly in leadership
(04:48):
and management roles.
Being open to everything andattached to nothing allows for a
flexible mindset that isessential for adaptive
leadership.
Here's ways to go about thatPromote diverse perspectives.
Actively seek out and encouragediverse viewpoints within your
team.
Diversity in thought andbackgrounds can provide
alternative insights andchallenge prevailing narratives.
(05:10):
Regular brainstorm sessionsConduct regular sessions where
team members can discuss anddissect current projects and
ideas openly.
These sessions should welcomecontrarian views and
constructive criticisms tofoster a broader understanding
and innovation.
Red teaming Critical analysisand practice.
Red teaming is a strategy usedto improve organizations and
(05:33):
projects by assuming anadversarial role to critique and
refine ideas and processes.
While beneficial, it should beused judiciously to maintain a
healthy team environment.
Ways to go about this Implementstructured red teaming sessions
.
Integrate red teaming into yourproject cycles, particularly
for significant initiatives.
Ensure these sessions arestructured and focused to
(05:55):
prevent them from becomingcounterproductive.
Feedback and follow-up Afterred teaming sessions provide
clear feedback and actionablesteps to address the critiques
raised.
This helps convert criticisminto constructive paths forward.
Ensuring that these sessionscontribute to positive outcomes.
Cultivating a culture ofcritical engagement.
Developing a culture wherenarratives are routinely
(06:17):
examined and not just acceptedat face value is beneficial for
continuous growth and adaptation, especially in industries like
video game development, whereinnovation is key.
Some ways to go about thisLeadership workshops.
Organize workshops that focuson critical thinking and
narrative analysis.
These should cover techniquesin logical reasoning, bias
recognition and strategicquestioning.
(06:38):
Incentivize critical thinking.
Recognize and reward teammembers who demonstrate
exceptional critical thinkingskills.
This not only motivatesindividuals, but also sets a
precedent for others to emulate.
Integrating critical thinkinginto daily operations To ensure
that critical thinking becomesan integral part of your
organization, it needs to bewoven into the fabric of
(07:00):
everyday activities andoperations.
Some ways to go about thisDaily critical checks Encourage
team members to perform dailycritical checks on their work,
questioning the routineprocesses and the rationale
behind ongoing projects.
This practice helps identifypotential improvements and
prevent complacency.
Critical thinking toolkitsDevelop and distribute toolkits
(07:23):
that include checklists,guidelines and questions
designed to prompt criticalthinking.
These tools can help staffapproach problems more
analytically and maintain a highstandard of scrutiny.
Enhancing decision-makingprocesses Effective
decision-making is at the heartof successful leadership and
project management.
Incorporating structuredcritical thinking can greatly
(07:43):
enhance the quality of decisionsmade within your team or
organization.
Some ways to go about thisStructured decision frameworks
Implement decision-makingframeworks that require a
step-by-step analysis of allavailable options, risks and
outcomes.
Techniques such as SWOTanalysis assessing strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities andthreats can provide a structured
(08:05):
way to critically assess eachdecision.
Scenario simulation Regularlyconduct scenario simulation
exercises that challenge yourteams to think through complex
situations and make decisionsunder various hypothetical
conditions.
This not only improvesanalytical skills, but also
prepares a team for unexpectedchallenges.
Fostering a sustainable cultureof innovation and scrutiny.
(08:28):
To maintain a competitive edge,particularly in industries like
video gaming, where technologyand consumer preferences evolve
rapidly, fostering a culturethat embraces innovation through
a critical lens is essential.
Some ways to go about thisInnovation labs Establish
dedicated spaces or times whereteam members can experiment with
new ideas without the pressureof immediate results.
(08:50):
These labs should encouragechallenging existing paradigms
and exploring unconventionalsolutions.
Encourage reflective practices.
Promote practices such asjournaling or reflective
discussions that allow teammembers to contemplate and
assess their work and thoughtprocesses critically.
This reflection can lead topersonal growth and better
(09:10):
problem solving skills.
Scaling critical thinking forlarger projects or organizations
.
As organizations grow, thechallenge often lies in
maintaining a consistent levelof critical engagement across
all levels and departments.
Some ways to go about thatTrain the trainers.
Develop a train-the-trainersprogram where key team members
become advocates and instructorsof critical thinking.
(09:31):
This approach helps disseminatecritical thinking skills
throughout the organizationsmore effectively.
Organizational auditsthroughout the organizations
more effectively.
Organizational auditsPeriodically conduct audits to
evaluate how well.
Critical thinking is integratedinto various departments and
projects.
These audits can identify areaswhere further intervention or
support may be necessary.
(09:52):
Measuring the impact of enhancedcritical thinking To validate
the effectiveness of integratingcritical thinking into your
organizational practices, it'simportant to measure its impact
on performance, innovation andculture.
Some ways to go about thatPerformance metrics Establish
clear metrics that can evaluatethe impact of critical thinking
on project outcomes, such as thenumber of innovative solutions
(10:15):
implemented, the efficiency ofproblem resolution or
improvements in teamproductivity.
Feedback systems Set upcomprehensive feedback systems
that allow team members toprovide insights on how critical
thinking practices haveaffected their work and
interpersonal dynamics.
This feedback can be invaluablein fine-tuning your approach.
Final thoughts by embracing thepower of intention and
(10:40):
fostering a culture that valuescritical thinking, leaders can
significantly enhance theinnovative capacity and
decision-making prowess of theirteams.
The strategies outlined in thisguide are designed to empower
leaders in the video gameindustry and beyond to cultivate
environments where questioningthe status quo becomes the norm
and where every narrative isscrutinized for accuracy and
(11:01):
potential.
In doing so, organizations cannot only avoid the pitfalls of
misleading or incompleteinformation, but can also unlock
new avenues of growth andsuccess.
All right, and that's thisweek's episode of the Press
Start Leadership Podcast.
Thanks for listening and, asalways, thanks for being awesome
(11:21):
.
Bye.
Press Start Leadership.
Hey there, press Starters andwelcome to the Press Start
(00:23):
Leadership Podcast, the podcastabout game-changing leadership,
teaching you how to get the mostout of your product and
development team and become theleader you were meant to be
Leadership coaching and trainingfor the international game
industry professional.
Now let me introduce you toyour host, the man myth the
(00:49):
legend christopher mifsud.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Hey there, press starters and welcome back to
another awesome edition of thepress star leadership podcast.
On this week's episode we'll bediscussing cows versus
kangaroos revisited, embracingcritical thinking to challenge
accepted narratives, a strategicguide to implementing
analytical practices forenhanced team dynamics and
innovation.
(01:10):
When I was a kid, my fathertaught me one of the best
lessons of my life.
It was about cows.
I lived in New Jersey as achild and if you ever drove any
distance through Jersey, youcouldn't do it without passing
several cow farms.
Every time we passed thesefarms, my father would point out
the window excitedly sayinglook, chris cows.
I would get excited too,pointing at the black and white
(01:33):
creatures, calling them by name.
My mom joined the narrative too.
The whole family pointed andexclaimed every time we drove by
a farm.
This was all well and gooduntil I got to school and my
teacher presented me with animage of a cow, asking what is
this?
In my fullest sense of knowingI probably stated a kangaroo,
expecting to be rewarded withpraise.
(01:55):
Instead, all the kids laughedand the teacher reprimanded me
for joking around.
I was crushed.
You see, on those long familydrives past the farms, my
parents hadn't actually saidlook Chris cows.
They said look Chris kangaroos.
And I believed the narrativewithout ever questioning it.
Over the years we came to laughabout this experience as a
family, but in the moment thelesson learned was clear Don't
(02:17):
simply believe what you're told,even by someone you trust.
Take the time to find your owntruth and be cautious of the
narrative.
In an era dominated by rapidinformation flow and influential
narratives, the ability tocritically evaluate the stories
we're told has never been morecrucial.
The tale of cows versuskangaroos isn't just a humorous
(02:38):
family anecdote.
It serves as a profound lessonin questioning the narratives
presented to us, from childhoodmisconceptions to complex
professional scenarios.
This comprehensive guideexplores the importance of
skepticism, verification and therobust analysis of accepted
truths, particularly within thedynamic realm of leadership and
innovation.
The Lesson of the KangaroosQuestioning the Familiar.
(03:02):
The story begins with a simplefamily tradition that led to an
embarrassing yet enlighteningclassroom moment.
This anecdote underlines thefoundational lesson Narratives,
especially those reinforced bytrusted sources, shape our
perceptions and can lead usastray if not critically
examined.
Now how to do something aboutthis?
(03:22):
All right, encourage curiosity.
Foster an environment, whetherat home or in the workplace,
where questioning is encouraged.
Promoting a culture of inquiryhelps individuals challenge the
status quo and prevents theacceptance of inaccuracies.
Educate on fact verification.
Implement training sessionsthat teach teams how to verify
(03:43):
facts and check sources.
This skill is invaluable,particularly in professional
settings, where decisions basedon incorrect assumptions can
lead to significant consequences.
Trust but verify Buildingreliable relationships.
Trust but verify is a principlethat, while rooted in
skepticism, does not advocatefor cynicism.
A principle that, while rootedin skepticism, does not advocate
(04:06):
for cynicism.
Instead, it encourages abalanced approach where trust in
individuals or institutions iscoupled with a systemic
confirmation of their claims.
And here's how to do thatEstablish verification processes
In professional settings.
Set up processes that requireevidence or second opinions
before major decisions are made.
This could involve multiplelayers of data validation or
peer reviews.
(04:27):
Transparent communicationEncouraged transparent
communication practices whereclaims or statements, especially
those that could have largerimplications, are backed up with
clear evidence and open toscrutiny.
Dissecting the narrative theimportance of being open.
The ability to dissectnarratives critically is a
crucial skill in all aspects oflife, particularly in leadership
(04:48):
and management roles.
Being open to everything andattached to nothing allows for a
flexible mindset that isessential for adaptive
leadership.
Here's ways to go about thatPromote diverse perspectives.
Actively seek out and encouragediverse viewpoints within your
team.
Diversity in thought andbackgrounds can provide
alternative insights andchallenge prevailing narratives.
(05:10):
Regular brainstorm sessionsConduct regular sessions where
team members can discuss anddissect current projects and
ideas openly.
These sessions should welcomecontrarian views and
constructive criticisms tofoster a broader understanding
and innovation.
Red teaming Critical analysisand practice.
Red teaming is a strategy usedto improve organizations and
(05:33):
projects by assuming anadversarial role to critique and
refine ideas and processes.
While beneficial, it should beused judiciously to maintain a
healthy team environment.
Ways to go about this Implementstructured red teaming sessions
.
Integrate red teaming into yourproject cycles, particularly
for significant initiatives.
Ensure these sessions arestructured and focused to
(05:55):
prevent them from becomingcounterproductive.
Feedback and follow-up Afterred teaming sessions provide
clear feedback and actionablesteps to address the critiques
raised.
This helps convert criticisminto constructive paths forward.
Ensuring that these sessionscontribute to positive outcomes.
Cultivating a culture ofcritical engagement.
Developing a culture wherenarratives are routinely
(06:17):
examined and not just acceptedat face value is beneficial for
continuous growth and adaptation, especially in industries like
video game development, whereinnovation is key.
Some ways to go about thisLeadership workshops.
Organize workshops that focuson critical thinking and
narrative analysis.
These should cover techniquesin logical reasoning, bias
recognition and strategicquestioning.
(06:38):
Incentivize critical thinking.
Recognize and reward teammembers who demonstrate
exceptional critical thinkingskills.
This not only motivatesindividuals, but also sets a
precedent for others to emulate.
Integrating critical thinkinginto daily operations To ensure
that critical thinking becomesan integral part of your
organization, it needs to bewoven into the fabric of
(07:00):
everyday activities andoperations.
Some ways to go about thisDaily critical checks Encourage
team members to perform dailycritical checks on their work,
questioning the routineprocesses and the rationale
behind ongoing projects.
This practice helps identifypotential improvements and
prevent complacency.
Critical thinking toolkitsDevelop and distribute toolkits
(07:23):
that include checklists,guidelines and questions
designed to prompt criticalthinking.
These tools can help staffapproach problems more
analytically and maintain a highstandard of scrutiny.
Enhancing decision-makingprocesses Effective
decision-making is at the heartof successful leadership and
project management.
Incorporating structuredcritical thinking can greatly
(07:43):
enhance the quality of decisionsmade within your team or
organization.
Some ways to go about thisStructured decision frameworks
Implement decision-makingframeworks that require a
step-by-step analysis of allavailable options, risks and
outcomes.
Techniques such as SWOTanalysis assessing strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities andthreats can provide a structured
(08:05):
way to critically assess eachdecision.
Scenario simulation Regularlyconduct scenario simulation
exercises that challenge yourteams to think through complex
situations and make decisionsunder various hypothetical
conditions.
This not only improvesanalytical skills, but also
prepares a team for unexpectedchallenges.
Fostering a sustainable cultureof innovation and scrutiny.
(08:28):
To maintain a competitive edge,particularly in industries like
video gaming, where technologyand consumer preferences evolve
rapidly, fostering a culturethat embraces innovation through
a critical lens is essential.
Some ways to go about thisInnovation labs Establish
dedicated spaces or times whereteam members can experiment with
new ideas without the pressureof immediate results.
(08:50):
These labs should encouragechallenging existing paradigms
and exploring unconventionalsolutions.
Encourage reflective practices.
Promote practices such asjournaling or reflective
discussions that allow teammembers to contemplate and
assess their work and thoughtprocesses critically.
This reflection can lead topersonal growth and better
(09:10):
problem solving skills.
Scaling critical thinking forlarger projects or organizations
.
As organizations grow, thechallenge often lies in
maintaining a consistent levelof critical engagement across
all levels and departments.
Some ways to go about thatTrain the trainers.
Develop a train-the-trainersprogram where key team members
become advocates and instructorsof critical thinking.
(09:31):
This approach helps disseminatecritical thinking skills
throughout the organizationsmore effectively.
Organizational auditsthroughout the organizations
more effectively.
Organizational auditsPeriodically conduct audits to
evaluate how well.
Critical thinking is integratedinto various departments and
projects.
These audits can identify areaswhere further intervention or
support may be necessary.
(09:52):
Measuring the impact of enhancedcritical thinking To validate
the effectiveness of integratingcritical thinking into your
organizational practices, it'simportant to measure its impact
on performance, innovation andculture.
Some ways to go about thatPerformance metrics Establish
clear metrics that can evaluatethe impact of critical thinking
on project outcomes, such as thenumber of innovative solutions
(10:15):
implemented, the efficiency ofproblem resolution or
improvements in teamproductivity.
Feedback systems Set upcomprehensive feedback systems
that allow team members toprovide insights on how critical
thinking practices haveaffected their work and
interpersonal dynamics.
This feedback can be invaluablein fine-tuning your approach.
Final thoughts by embracing thepower of intention and
(10:40):
fostering a culture that valuescritical thinking, leaders can
significantly enhance theinnovative capacity and
decision-making prowess of theirteams.
The strategies outlined in thisguide are designed to empower
leaders in the video gameindustry and beyond to cultivate
environments where questioningthe status quo becomes the norm
and where every narrative isscrutinized for accuracy and
(11:01):
potential.
In doing so, organizations cannot only avoid the pitfalls of
misleading or incompleteinformation, but can also unlock
new avenues of growth andsuccess.
All right, and that's thisweek's episode of the Press
Start Leadership Podcast.
Thanks for listening and, asalways, thanks for being awesome
(11:21):
.
Bye.
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