Become a confident speaker who can debate and defend their point of view

PURPOSE

Imagine that you are trained in public speaking and have good persuasion skills – but how do you tackle this challenge? How do you persuade your interlocutors to accept your arguments and, moreover, realise that their own conclusions are erroneous? This could happen in a meeting, during a press conference, in an interview, in the middle of a panel discussion, etc.

What do you do when you do not agree with your interlocutor? How do you continue the dialogue? Who can do a better job defending their case? Other participants start to voice their points of view, the situation is getting tenser and tenser – where do you go from here?

You are left with three alternatives: a debate, a discussion and a disorganised quarrel, but only two of them are really an option. Learn the secrets of efficient discussing and debating.

CONTENT

1. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ARGUMENTATION

• Distinguishing between the personal level and arguments.
• Avoiding generalisations and negation.
• Steering clear of direct confrontation and/or an immediate withdrawal.
• Presenting arguments – What is argumentation?
• Arguing as a safe choice.

2. PRESENTING YOUR POINT OF VIEW

• Choosing between the five dialectic sentences and an opinion formula.
• Additional options – balanced arguments and/or explanation.
• When is the right time for argumentation?

3. DISAGREEING

• Rejecting interlocutor’s claims and opinions, thoughts, and conclusions.
• Geissner’s disapproval method – the sound of your correction of interlocutor’s opinion.
• Real and manipulative argumentation techniques.
• Reacting to interlocutor’s insults, disregard and/or immoral behaviour.
• The three recommended positions/perspectives from which to react.

4. PARTICIPATING IN DEBATES

• Choosing between a debate and a discussion.
• What’s the right way to debate/discuss?

GOALS – Benefits for participants

• You will learn the rules of moderating and participating in debates.
• You will learn to present your point of view efficiently.
• You will learn to argue correctly.
• You will learn to confront your interlocutors intelligently.
• You will learn to control your feelings in a debate/discussion.
• You will learn how to calm upset, confrontational or even manipulative interlocutors.
• You will develop your discussion and debating skills.

WORKSHOP

The workshop is organised in person or on-line using various platforms (Zoom, MS Teams). The number of hours per meeting is determined by agreement with the customer.

WORK METHOD

Workshops and training sessions consist of:short input sessions, discussions, individual, pair, and group work.

The techniques I employ aim to encourage participants to immediately apply what they have learned to their daily routine.

DURATION

Our basic programmes comprise 16 academic hours, while shorter programmes last 8 academic hours (these programmes involve fewer exercises and practical examples). We recommend a minimum of 24 academic hours if you seek to train your employees thoroughly.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

The recommended number of participants per workshop is 20; and 10 per training session. The client may, of course, opt for a larger number of participants. In this case, a training session becomes a workshop, and a workshop becomes a seminar/lecture (over 25 participants).

PRICE

The prices of workshops, trainings, seminars/lectures depend on their duration, the number of participants, and additional preparation time (i.e., analysing participants’ level of proficiency, designing customised solutions, etc.). The final price is always agreed upon in advance with the client.