Published in The Argument Clinic·Jan 12, 2021What a constructive conversation about systemic racism looks like and what it took to get there…TL;DR — the key points to take away from this story are: Conversations are a starting point, not an achievement, and there should be something to show for them at the end. In this case, that something is a free online resource numerous volunteers worked hard to produce — and…Racism11 min read
Published in The Argument Clinic·Aug 20, 2020Lessons in lockdown: how to make the world safe for differences of opinionLast Christmas, I discovered the story of a scientist who should be a hero to anyone who values the free exchange of ideas and opposes prejudice in all its forms. Ruth Benedict dedicated herself to the study of culture and shattered gender stereotypes by rising to the top of her…Dialogue6 min read
Nov 19, 2019Boris v Corbyn: a debate trainer’s guide to telling substance from spinAfter being asked to comment on what advantages I expect each candidate to enjoy over the other in tonight’s election debate on ITV, I decided to draw on my own experience of preparing speakers for public debates and a few good rules of thumb I’ve learnt along the way about…Democracy4 min read
Published in The Helm·Apr 19, 2019Why authenticity is over-ratedThe conventional wisdom of our time, echoed in blog posts, training seminars, and panel discussions abound, is that authenticity is a vital component of effective thought leadership. Say what you mean and mean what you say if you want people to trust and respect you. If this sounds fairly straightforward…Leadership3 min read
Published in Great Debaters Club·May 9, 2018Debate briefing: the historical statue warsTwice a month, the Great Debaters Club hosts a public debate on a topical issue dividing public opinion as part of the club’s ‘Debating London’ series. The audience are presented with a dilemma facing real-life decision-makers that they must vote on to resolve with the help of our panel. Instead…Politics4 min read
Published in Great Debaters Club·Apr 25, 2018Debate briefing: regulating the internetTwice a month, the Great Debaters Club hosts a public debate on a topical issue dividing public opinion as part of the club’s ‘Debating London’ series. The audience are presented with a dilemma facing real-life decision-makers that they must vote on to resolve with the help of our panel. Instead…Privacy4 min read
Published in Great Debaters Club·Apr 11, 2018Debate briefing: are enhanced Stop and Search powers the answer to the rise of violent crime in London?Twice a month, the Great Debaters Club hosts a public debate on a topical issue dividing public opinion as part of the club’s ‘Debating London’ series. The audience are presented with a dilemma facing real-life decision-makers that they must vote on to resolve with the help of our panel. Instead…Black Lives Matter3 min read
Published in Great Debaters Club·Mar 26, 2018Debate briefing: is Russia a strategic enemy of the West?Twice a month, the Great Debaters Club hosts a free public debate on a topical issue dividing public opinion as part of the club’s ‘Debating London’ series. Our next one is on a question that has surged to the front pages of almost every newspaper in recent weeks: is Russia…Russia6 min read
Published in The Argument Clinic·Mar 22, 2018How to build a strong argument in 3 short steps (and how not to)The ability to make a strong argument is one of the most sought-after skills in the modern British workplace, which isn’t surprising considering that 8 out 10 jobs in the UK economy are in the services sector. Are you convinced? I can prove my statistic about jobs is true if…Psychology6 min read
Published in The Argument Clinic·Mar 21, 20186 steps to get the best our of your thought leadership panel debateHere is the situation: you have been asked to organise a panel discussion for a thought leadership conference, even though this isn’t something you have an awful lot of training or experience in. Nevertheless, this is a unique opportunity for your clients, colleagues, and peers to come together and talk…Thought Leadership6 min read
