Half-day 1: theory and non-verbal
Basic theories of communication and the impact of non-verbal signals during debates.
This page was translated from Dutch with AI.
Debating techniques
Debating feels daunting to many people: you are afraid of not finding your words, you feel stress or you do not know what to say. In this in-company training you learn to debate confidently and purposefully. The training consists of 2 half-days for 6 to 12 participants, in Dutch, English or French.
Do you recognise this?
In a meeting, a colleague says something you disagree with. You have your argument ready in your head, but by the time you see an opening, the conversation has already moved on.
Or you do speak, and someone raises a counterargument you have no answer to. You feel your heart pounding and you search for words that do not come. Afterwards you know exactly what you wanted to say.
You have to defend your point of view, and yet:
- you are afraid of not finding the right words;
- you feel stress as soon as the conversation gets sharp;
- you do not know what to say to a counterargument;
- your confidence drops after negative reactions.
That lack of success builds up and affects your motivation. That is why we start with the obstacles you experience yourself.
Why do you stay silent when it matters?
A sharp conversation quickly feels like a fight, and then your head switches to defending instead of thinking. Anyone who experiences that a few times prefers to avoid it the next time.
This way, good points of view remain unspoken. You take fewer chances to say something, your confidence drops and you doubt whether you can do it. That weighs on you, especially when you know you are strong on the content.
It does not have to stay that way. Speaking persuasively is not an innate talent, it is a technique you can practise.
How do you defend your point of view with confidence?
You first learn to build an argument, with a clear statement, explanation and illustration. Then you practise with body language, voice and dealing with counterarguments.
Our coaches understand how uncomfortable that is. We start with the obstacles you experience yourself and apply principles from neuroscience, so that you speak confidently and purposefully.
In two half-days you get theory, role plays and practical exercises, with rhetorical techniques such as reframing and specifying. This way you build towards the skills below.
What you can do after the training
After the training you can:
- structure an argument with a clear statement, explanation and illustration;
- recognise the needs of your audience and tailor your approach accordingly;
- use body language and voice intonation to strengthen your message;
- manage conflicts and give and receive constructive feedback;
- defend a statement (proposition) and point out the weaknesses of a counterargument (opposition);
- recognise and apply rhetorical techniques.
This is how we approach it
We start with the obstacles you experience when debating. Then you apply principles from neuroscience, so that you speak confidently and purposefully.
Half-day 2: practising with debates
Workshops on conducting persuasive debates and dealing with resistance, with practical exercises, role plays and practical application.
Rhetorical techniques
- Reframing: you highlight a topic from a different perspective;
- Generalising: you make your point with broad statements, used carefully to avoid exaggeration;
- Specifying: you zoom in on details and anchor your argument in concrete examples;
- Omissions: you pay attention to what information you do and do not mention;
- Distortions: you pay attention to how facts are presented, without twisting the truth.
Afterwards you keep practising
Every training is extended in the THOC Learning Space, our digital learning platform with course materials, a syllabus and instructional videos. Your material remains available and you get an AI Coach who knows the lesson.
We work experience-oriented: you immediately get to work with the material in exercises that resemble real situations.
Who gives this training
Our coaches can give this training. Tell us which debates your team struggles with, and we will tailor the programme accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Practical
- Formula: In-company training
- Languages: English, Français, Nederlands
- Half-days: 2
- Participants: 6 to 12