How to argue and win every time? In debates, it is rarely about finding the truth but about convincing the recipients of the weight of your arguments. With a well-proven technique, you can easily put several extra loads into your rheological weight bowl.
Although sometimes it may be difficult to admit, you know well inside: The good arguments are usually not just on your part of the debate.
Many times, your counterpart also has an entire arsenal of hard-hitting arguments, which he has no trouble cheating directly on you. Additionally, arguments that you can not just reject as the mere rubbish. But, as you still do not think, is as thoughtful and convincing as your own reasoning.
Do you know the feeling?
It’s because you and your counterpart in the vast majority of debates do not discuss what are facts – so you could just google it instead of filling the air with your word spell – but what’s right.
Should we buy more or less organic foods? Should we leave the EU, or shall we stay? In such situations, it’s not true or false, but what arguments are the most difficult.
The most important arguments win
This basic insight goes back to the ancient Greeks. Aristotle even thought of the first communication science – the rhetoric – with it as the cornerstone: According to him, the rhetoric was about the cases where there is no truth.
And this is where it will be exciting. At least if you perceive yourself as an ambitious person with respect for your own professionalism and a desire to be victorious of your next word dystrophy.
Because that means communication becomes crucial. The one who manages to present the most important arguments wins.
How do you do that? Yes, the old Greeks also had an answer. It called them ‘topik’ (pronounced two’pik). ‘Topik’ comes from the Greek word for ‘place’. In short, it is the learning of the ‘places’ where you can go to find good arguments in a given case.
And to make a long story short is the most important thing to know about this ancient concept, even though it has a couple of thousand years on the bag, it certainly did not lose the match-but could better argue in three ways.
# 1: Cover your subject 360 °
One of the most important doctrines of topics, that it is often worth paying attention to the matter from several perspectives before deciding how to angle their argument. By going a little systematic, you can make sure you do not overlook an argument with even more weight.
You probably have already thought about the economic angle, but what about, for example, the environmental or health? Maybe there is rhetorical gold buried here?
What ‘places’ it is relevant to visit depends, of course, on the context. However, as a rule of thumb, I think that perspectives like those in the box at the bottom may often be worth considering to get around.
# 2: Customize the argument to your recipient
Built in the typical way of thinking is also that you have to choose. Once you have got an overview of the options, you have to decide on a few arguments. Otherwise, you risk your argument becoming messier than a teen room.
And is there anything more obvious than choosing from your recipient? No, right? But keep your tongue straight in your mouth. For recipients and counterparts is rarely the same. Often, you are so disagreeable and the risk of losing face is so great that neither of you will give you. However, it is not so important either.
For the real recipients are those who listen to you. The audience of the debate or readers of the debate palaces. These are the ones you must influence. Because they are you, you have a real chance of changing your behavior, attitude or view of the matter. Ask: What arguments will my recipients weigh? Or even better: Ask them directly, for example interviews, focus groups or surveys.
# 3: Vaccinate against your counterpart’s arguments
The best defense is, as you know, an attack, and finally, here’s a tip for how to apply the principle – like another German armor-general – to finish the battle with a well-designed flash before it’s almost begun.
An additional advantage of forcing yourself to see the matter from several sides is that you are not only aware of which ammunition you have to shoot but also what arguments your opponent may find to fire you. And that gives you the opportunity to get him in the mood with the right counter-arguments – and thus vaccinate your recipients against his reasoning.
Here it may be an advantage to think in contrasts. For example, if your counterparty wants to angularly argue for a need to maintain the traditions, you can develop an effective vaccine based on a requirement for change. Just as quantity can be matched by quality or an appeal to community mind can be dropped down with reference to the individual’s consideration.
Create an overview of the options, defend the counterpart’s arguments, and insert with your own heaviest shot. Then you are well on your way to an argument that would make yourself an old Greeks proud.
If you want to argue and win every time then keep in mind also helpful:
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Listen to them
Be a good listener. Make sure we listen and understand what our opponents are saying. Learn how to hear good and how to give them feedback.
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Stay calm
Be a self-conscious person. When we are angry and there is a sense of fear being rivaled, that is when we are weak. Be passionate, expressive, but keep calm and continue to do well. Anger makes us less attractive.
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Control yourself
There are times when we have to control ourselves not to pay too much attention to every agenda of debate. Those who are able to define the problem and set it to be a priority are those who use the means to win.
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Gain the trust of the audience
It is important for us to try to achieve the victory of argument is to convince the audience of our opinion. Express the opinion in every meeting, though not always the main discussion. It will make us seem committed to what we say.
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Don’t be afraid because of doubt
When arguing or arguing of course we never feel doubt with what we propose and we debate. But our job is how to draw them to benefit from the ideas we propose and from the weaknesses of the opponent. We can gain the confidence of the doubts of admitting that our idea is not perfect, but still looking for alternative solutions to the problem.
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Stay humble
In every debate session we will be confronted with two choices: Choosing to get broad attention for everyone, giving them compromise and being simpler and more controlled in every presentation. Or be focused on a particular thing, even with the risk of being isolated by others.
Last Word
Every job or task with the team will surely be a time where we will bring up ideas, opinions or ideas. And we always hope that many of those who approve and finally follow what we ask. But being a winner in every argument is certainly not an easy thing. Even if we are convinced that the idea that we have is great enough, there will be times when we will lose from others.
