Whether you’re in a friendly bar dispute with your buddies or a heated exchange at the office, it’s easy to win any argument—as long as you’re armed with the right strategy.
Dominate your next debate with these five pro tips from Marc Salem, Ph.D., a nonverbal communications consultant and the author of The Six Keys to Unlock and Empower Your Mind.
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1. Be Confident—Even if You Know You’re Wrong
When you’re making your points, avoid using phrases like “I’m pretty sure” and “I heard.” If you don’t sound 100 percent sure of yourself, you give your opponent an opening to attack your argument, says Salem.
Even if you don’t quite believe what you’re saying, keep saying it like you’re absolutely certain it’s true. You’ll make your foe question his own beliefs, Salem says.
2. Keep Poking the Same Holes
Want to back your buddy into a corner? Pick out the one small thing in his argument that you know is dead wrong.
Maybe he claims the Sox hit 3 homers yesterday, but the box score says otherwise. Take advantage of little slip-ups like these and blow them out of proportion, Salem suggests.
“You can barrage him about minutiae so he doesn’t have any time to recover,” Salem says.
3. Create a Barrier
This is a sneaky trick, but an effective one: Carry something in your hand when you’re arguing, like a cell phone, pair of glasses, or a pen.
The object will actually deflect your foe’s argument from reaching you, Salem says. “What you’re doing is shielding your body from his during an attack.”
He’ll feel like he doesn’t have your full attention, and as a result, will become flustered. Sucker.
(For more tricks to come off like a genius, check out 12 Scientific Ways to Look Smarter.)
4. Take a Stand
Take a pointer from a president or professor: Position yourself so you’re higher up than your opponent. If he’s sitting down, stand up to create a sense of authority. “It’s a power move,” says Salem. “You truly have the high ground.”
5. Pretend to Concede
Don’t get caught up in an endless back-and-forth with someone who won’t budge. Instead, give your rival a slightly condescending smile and tell him, “Okay, if you say so.”
He knows you’re not really giving in, but it’s impossible for him to fight back. “It’s a real killer to people’s egos,” says Salem. It might seem like you’re losing the battle by walking away, but ending it on your terms makes you the clear winner, he says.
