Tuesday Brief: The most damaging thinking pattern in project management isn't poor planning or missed deadlines. It's the unconscious shift to "either/or" thinking when fear takes over. This week, discover how to recognize when your team defaults to binary thinking, understand the connection between fear and defensive behavior, and learn practical strategies for building critical thinking skills that strengthen collaboration and resolve conflicts more effectively.
December 9, 2025
In This Issue:
Expert Interview: Dr. Lynette Reed on Binary vs. Critical Thinking
Featured Article: How Binary Thinking Can Turn into Critical Thinking
Live Event (12/10): Critical Thinking Skills for Better Decisions and Conflict Resolution
PM Best Practice: The Fear Recognition Framework
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Expert Interview: Beyond Right vs. Wrong with Dr. Lynette Reed
"If you're not on this side, then you're the enemy." Sound familiar? Dr. Lynette Reed explains why project teams increasingly default to binary thinking and what it costs you.
In this revealing conversation, Dr. Reed explores:
Why binary thinking is the opposite of critical thinking
How fear drives "for me or against me" mentality on teams
The difference between things that fracture vs. strengthen your team
Why aggressive behavior and blame indicate high fear levels
How to shift from proving you're right to solving problems together
Dr. Reed's central insight: "Binary thinking is based on fear because you're trying to prove your value is tied to whether you're right or wrong. Critical thinking focuses on solving the problem instead of whether someone can do their job or not."
Watch this 5-minute excerpt to understand the thinking pattern that's either strengthening or fracturing your project team right now.
Featured Article: How Binary Thinking Can Turn into Critical Thinking
Technology brought us the efficiency of ones and zeros, but it also seems to have infiltrated how we think about people and problems. Binary thinking has its place in computers. In human situations, though, it becomes a value judgment that limits options and reduces collaboration.
When binary thinking dominates your projects, you see:
More conflict and less ability to discern information when making decisions
All-or-nothing mentality with no room for discussion
Less tolerance for diversity and reduced creativity
Critical thinking skills help you make more informed decisions, disseminate accurate information from misinformation, and find innovation through authentic collaboration.
One powerful practice: Think of people and situations as different, not good or bad. When someone completes work that doesn't match others on the team, binary thinking says "they're wrong, do it over." Critical thinking asks about their thought process to see if there's value in their different approach.
Discover practical strategies for moving your team from reactive binary thinking to forward-focused critical thinking.
Live Event (12/10): Critical Thinking Skills for Better Decisions and Conflict Resolution
Ready to put these insights into practice? Join Dr. Lynette Reed for an interactive session on applying critical thinking in professional settings.
The application of critical thinking centers on making wise judgments when facing problems in professional life. This approach helps you question, analyze, interpret, and evaluate situations within your workplace, making you more resistant to manipulation and better at formulating strong arguments and resolving conflicts.
What You'll Learn:
Identify the difference between binary thinking and critical thinking
Understand how fear impacts how you think
Discover the Grand Canyon theory and how talent helps you view work
Build stronger interpersonal relationships through critical thinking
Strong decision-making and conflict resolution skills separate effective project leaders from those who simply manage tasks.
๐๏ธ Wednesday, December 10 ๐ 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST ๐ Live on Zoom ๐ 1 PMI PDU: Power Skills
MPUG host live events with leading experts on Wednesdays from 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET! MPUG members get access to live events where you get direct access to industry leaders, actionable insights, hands-on training, and opportunities to earn PDU's.
12/10: Critical Thinking Skills for Better Decisions and Conflict Resolution | Learn More + Register Hereโ
Before your next team conflict, apply this quick assessment: Are team members' words and actions matching? Is there aggressive behavior or blame? These are indicators of high fear levels, not incompetence. Instead of thinking "this person can't do their job," ask yourself: "What do I need to do to show everyone they have equal value and we're working together to solve this problem?" This shift from binary judgment to critical thinking transforms how you lead through difficulty.
