When you indulge in a debate, knowing the fact that your point is right. Do you ever think that you can’t articulate your thoughts? Do you feel you’re losing onto debates or arguments just because you lack good debating skills? Do you often contemplate how to win a debate?
Well if that is what you’re feeling, it’s a very painful thing to go through. When you know you’re right, but not getting that point across is hurting.
Being right or wrong does not define your win but the way you communicate, whether kindly or aggressively, how well you put your point across, and how you twist and turn the conversation is how to win a debate. This is a skill; you might need to practice regularly to get better at.
If you are a bad debater, you might have experienced thoughts after an argument thinking about what you could have said to prove your point. Now that simply shows the lack of debating practice. You need to try out each and every tip listed under “how to win a debate” to be a skilled debater.
How to Win a Debate: Scientific and Psychological Tips for winning an argument
1) Understand and Research Your point well
According to Albert Einstein, “if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well.” It’s very important for you to know what your point is, have a logical argument, and research well about the points favoring it rather than speaking illogical and useless stuff without thinking. Use facts and pieces of evidence to stand with your point.
2) Study Your Opponent
Put yourselves in the shoes of the opponent and think about what possible argument they can come up with. Think through their point of view, counter yourself and look for solutions. You must know the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent.
3) Listen Carefully and Understand
It’s very important for you to listen to each and every word that your opponent says, record that and you will interpret the weakness in what you hear itself. Rather than sitting and thinking of what you should say next in a hyper manner, is not a productive argument. In such a case you just ignore what your opponent says and it turns out unfair.
4) Stay Calm and Kind
According to Desmond Tutu, “Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument”. You are more likely to achieve your goal by arguing kindly and gently rather than being aggressive. If you are stating some harsh truths, make sure to be respectful.
5) Ask Questions, Ask “how” Rather Than Ask “why”
According to the illusion of explanatory depth, many arguments are based on false premises but spoken with confidence and asking questions proves to help in winning. So it’s always better to ask your opponent about minimal details.
6) Filling Their Knowledge Gap:
Use facts and stories to make the opponent aware of what they don’t know. You can change minds if you come up with a very convincing story that could be a real example of someone’s life instance.
Importance of Debating and Arguing:
- Better Articulation
You find the correct words that actually put your feelings in a speech and you communicate exactly what you’ve thought. Your communication does not seem vague or irrational. You sound intelligent, straightforward, and talk to the point.
2. Critical Thinking is Developed
Critical thinking skills are extremely essential in daily life. It helps in making reasoned arguments and having rational thoughts while questioning the evidence.
3. Better Research Skills
For arguing or debating it’s very important for you to research your topic well otherwise it’s a straight losing situation. When you research you do get a hang of it and you tend to research in a much more productive way in the future, like just researching on scope and pieces of evidence on a particular topic.
4. Conflict Resolution
A good debater will be focused on their aim and not part ways with it. They won’t just sway away with the conversation and talk about other topics. They will stick to the main topic and end the discussion on a rational note.
5. Fast Thinking
When you participate in various arguments and debates your brain increases its speed of interpreting what is being heard. As soon as you interpret, you speak up about points that you’ve researched regarding that topic, or whatever comes into your mind. Fast thinking is basically a fast interpretation and generation of counterpoints.
6. Emotional Control
Skilled debaters know the importance of kindness and calmness while arguing, hence they make sure to cool down their aggression as soon as they feel that the argument has heated up. They try to maintain their tone and speak with respect.
7. Better Presentation Skills
Since debaters can articulate well, hence they can put forward their viewpoint with full confidence and correct body language.
8. Better World View
With good debating and researching comes to a better worldview. Regular dealing with people provides a better perspective.
Also Read: High-Paying & In-Demand Skills of The Future
Hence, this is how you win a debate use these techniques, practice them regularly, become a skilled debater and win any argument. Like John F. Kennedy says we believe “without debate, without criticism no administration and no country can succeed and no republic can survive.”
Written By: Nehal Sharma
Incredible tips