ToughenUp!

Training and tools for any team who is struggling to deliver confident decisions about plans and strategies

Decision Quality Matters.

Times are volatile. Leaders must make sense of it, then make decisions. Fact-based, thorough decision-making becomes crucial when emotions complicate choices—whether it’s navigating climate change pressures from stakeholders, addressing the opportunities and risks of AI, or rethinking legacy business models amidst industry disruption. Robust processes not only help leaders overcome deadlocks, they promote decisive action based on clarity and reason, and they drive better profitability.

Our Red Team Thinking® credentialed experts are here to help you learn to think harder, stress-test your strategies, pressure-test your plans, and challenge assumptions before they lead to costly mistakes. We use proven Red Teaming tools to expose hidden risks, uncover alternative solutions, and help you make better decisions with greater confidence.

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2

Half-day Sessions

4

Hours per Session

30

People per Session

Why Use Own Up!® Red Team Thinking® Experts?

Drawn from the tradecraft of intelligence analysts and the research of cognitive psychologists, ToughenUp! program options are based on red teaming and  designed to challenge assumptions, pressure-test plans, and ensure that the best ideas win, regardless of where they come from in an organization.

Here are the main benefits of a ToughenUp!  program:

Credentialed Coaches & Instructors

Our trained and certified Red Team Thinking® Instructors and Coaches don’t have a stake in your decisions—they have a stake in you thinking deeper getting them right. We help you break free from confirmation bias and “we’ve always done it this way” thinking.

Proven Red Team Thinking® Tools

We apply structured, military-grade decision-support techniques to stress-test ideas, identify blind spots, and create robust solutions for complex challenges.

Faster, More Confident Decisions

No more analysis paralysis. We help you navigate uncertainty, adapt rapidly, and execute strategies that actually work.

Stronger Team Alignment

We facilitate critical conversations that bring leadership teams together, ensuring every stakeholder understands the risks, opportunities, and best paths forward.

Our Program Options for All Types of Teams:

1. FACILITATION COURSE: WE WORK WITH YOUR TEAM

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1. Define the Challenge – We work with you to frame the problem, understand what’s at stake, and determine which Red Teaming methods will drive the best insights.
2. Challenge Assumptions – Using techniques like Devil’s Advocacy, Pre-Mortems, and Contrarian Analysis, we push your team beyond surface-level thinking.
3. Generate Smarter Solutions – We stress-test your options, reinvent your strategies, and uncover innovative alternatives you may have overlooked.
4. Deliver Clear, Actionable Insights – No fluff, no wasted time—just powerful, practical recommendations you can implement immediately.

Red Team Thinking® Facilitation is Made For:

Executives & Senior Leaders – Ensure your most critical business decisions are stress-tested.
Operational Leaders & Managers – Strengthen problem-solving, improve courses of action and avoid costly missteps.
Strategy & Planning Teams – Sharpen execution and drive competitive advantage.
Safety & Risk Professionals – Identify hidden threats before they become failures.

2. ACCELERATOR COURSE: LEARN HOW TEACH YOUR TEAM

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Want to build Red Team Thinking® capabilities inside your organization? The OwnUp! Red Team Accelerator Program is a hands-on, two-session training designed to teach leaders and teams how to use and apply Red Team Thinking® tools internally for better decision-making.

What’s Included:

  • Two half-day interactive workshops led by our experts
  • Practical training on core  methods to challenge assumptions and strengthen decisions
  • Real-world application exercises using challenges and case studies
  • Customized toolkits so teams can apply critical thinking skills independently moving forward
Who Should Attend:

Senior Leaders & Executives who want faster, smarter strategic decisions
Operational Managers who need better risk assessment & problem-solving tools
Strategy & Planning Teams looking to enhance internal decision-making

After two sessions, your team will think more critically, challenge ideas more effectively, and drive smarter, faster decisions—on demand.

Meet the Coaches

These Red Team Thinking® certified coaches come from all walks of life and have seen it all. They're here to lend their experience to help you revolutionize mindsets with toolsets tailored to you and your business.

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Jennifer Long

Master Coach, CEO at Own Up!®
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Peter Lyddon

Master Coach at Own Up!®

If you’re tired of decisions based on assumptions and need clarity, speed, and strategic confidence, it’s time to bring in the Red Team Thinking® experts at Own Up!® Let’s challenge conventional thinking, stress-test your plans, and build a stronger, more resilient organization.

Teamwork is the most satisfying work there is.

Contact Us Today to schedule your Red Team Thinking® facilitator session or enroll in the Accelerator Program. Make decisions that stand up to reality.

 

Interested? Let us know below!