Debating

A thought provoking formula for exploring a topic or subject in depth by having a proposer state the advantages and an opposer state the disadvantages prior to a vote being taken.

There have to be good reasons why schools, universities and other educational institutions have debating societies. It is because debating is a tried and tested formula from which there is much to learn. Marshalling arguments, both prepared and 'on the hoof', putting a case for or against, having your opinions challenged and casting a vote one way or the other are all fundamental democratic skills that have stood the test of time.

You can either set up formal debates on a range of contentious topics or use the debating process less formally within discussions and meetings. Suitable topics are anything where opinions are likely to be divided more or less equally. Examples are:

• retirement ages should be lowered to alleviate unemployment
• top managers should have the same percentage salary increases as everyone else
• all companies should have workers on their boards of directors
• privatisation is the way to improve an organisation's performance
• open plan offices are more efficient than private offices
• everyone should eat in the same canteen regardless of seniority
• industry and commerce are over legislated
• company cars should only be provided to people whose job requires one
• mission statements are just empty rhetoric
• rules and bureaucracy are what keeps an organisation together
• all organisations have a built-in propensity to fail.

Probably the best way to enhance learning from debates is to give advance warning of the topic or 'motion' and to designate leading speakers for and against who have pre-prepared their opening remarks. The leading speakers do not necessarily have to represent the argument with which they agree; there is more to learn from having to advance the opposite case with apparent conviction.

Encouraging debates on contentious work topics gets all the issues out into the open, thoroughly aired, and is an admirable way of 'taking the temperature' and seeing which way people's attitudes are inclined. Whether you do this as a means of collaborative decision-making (see Collaborating in decisions) or purely as an academic exercise, learning and development for all participants is guaranteed.