Arguing your point of view is an important skill. Here is how to do if effectively in 2022. Explaining ideas takes both time and effort. You should expend neither.
Keep things simple and short. Put the onus of understanding on the audience. It is hard to argue against something if you don’t define it and they don’t understand it.
The key idea to remember is that you are arguing with humans. Humans are easily confused. Humans have feelings. Humans want to belong. Humans are reactive. Use this to your advantage. Here is how:
Use words that people not willing to admit that they don’t know the meaning of. Or, ones that are completely made up. For example when talking about the audience for your product use these words: Post-modern, post-socialist, post-colonial, neo-liberal, Gen W, etc.
When talking about finance use phrases like: in real terms, stochastically, crypto-denominated, post-inflationary environment, External rate of return (ERR), non-discounted cash flow model (NDCF), multi-unit cost economics, unit macro economics, etc.
For describing the location of your audience, use words like: Deep South, Global South, Deep Global South, post-developed countries, EU-ready, post-NATO, pre-cambrian, etc.
For describing product strategy use this language: 6 forces, no FUD here, pseudonymous, so to speak, as it were, post-Porter, unbalanced scorecard, Great for D&I, Like <this> but <that> and built off-the-chain for the gig economy, uncooperative game theory, Gnash equilibrium is in your favor, payoff matrix, etc.
As an example say, "This product is meant for the 100 million post colonial, Gen Z users that live in the global south". 5 people will understand what you truly mean and you might not be one of them.
Humans are want to be woke. They want to claim they are in the know, aware of what is current in tech. If you say things like, "My launch strategy is the same as that of Superhuman." Most tech savvy people will nod and say great. Folks that don't get it will nod because Superhuman has to be great.. right? You can also say, my product takes the best of NFTs and monetizes it to the moon. It does not spread FUD. Ironically "UD" is exactly what helps you argue the idea.
Merging unrelated topics is a cool strategy too. Talk about how your product hits at the heart of society's desire to be pseudonymous while state actors get bigger, more in your business and disconnected from knowledge. Oops.. I think this has already been used for Crypto.
Idea buyers are looking for real numbers behind your ideas. So make them up. Make up some acronyms while you are at it.
Do not say, "I think most of the post-colonial genz (PCGZ) audience in the deep south (DS) will use my app." Back it up with numbers. Say, "I have done the math. Stochastically, 34% of the PCGZ in DS need my app for 46% percent of the 14 hours they are awake each day."
Each claim is hard to dismantle and fairly easy to defend.
I hope you are learning and catching on.
Humans in the valley believe great ideas come while hallucinating. So… why not use that to back your argument. You can add this to your argument. Say, "while micro dosing on lithium, it is very clear that the only path to happiness is via my app."
Make it personal, "Say, I have dealt with disbelievers all my life. My ideas have always been disregarded, until now. Now that I have been using my app, I have realized the abuse I encountered at the hands of my naysayers has only emboldened my desire to build what is impossible. Especially in the metaverse"
Many ideas are sold via FOMO. Create it. Smart people call this the scarcity argument. Here is how. Say, "Of course, my app will get widespread adoption. I won't allow anyone to use it." Speak to the inevitability of success, "The demand will be so strong that the MAU will do a hockey stick within 3 weeks of launch."
Finally say, "My app only makes sense to folks with the smarts to get it." Most people do not have enough neurons to get it. Those who do get it immediately. This is the ultimate argument. The onus of understanding is on the arguer and not you.
Here are some inspire to convince tactics:
Start by inspiring. "Come build tomorrow with me. When have you been a part of something bigger than you?"
Start by being declarative. Nothing is more convincing than certainty.
Saying, "I think it." is worse than "I know it."
Saying, "The world is changing" is worse than "The world has changed".
Saying, "It is time to make bold decisions and execute" is worse than "It is time you make bold and brave decisions"
Here are some comeback strategies if you feel like you are losing an argument. Use any of these nonsensical but useful responses:
"Now, you are just being defensive"
"If everyone wanted a faster car, they would have a horse"
"You are innovating like Kodak"
"Your thinking is closer to Elizabeth Holmes than Sherlock Holmes"
"Tell me, does your argument to make a dent in the universe?"
Speaking of offensive, here are some truly offensive comebacks against any argument in 2022:
"This just seems like privilege talking"
I'm offended. This is just how a non-feminist would react"
"Your argument negates years of oppression faced by my people?"
"Would you argue like this against someone who looks like you?"
"I'm sure my audience would be hard for you to relate with."
"This is harassment and bullying"
Now that you have a little bit of quiet, follow up with this.
Say two things that everyone agrees with and follow it up with your assertion. For example:
"Do you think kids will be the same are their parents."
"Do you think today's hero will be relevant tomorrow."
"Do you think there are no supply chain issues in the world today?"
"Similarly, my idea will make billions in a year's time."
Hope this helps. I accept tips.
--Anubhav
Inspired by Dave Barry's, "How to argue effectively", 1981
Hope I’ve gotten better over time. Best wishes
Anubhav
While this is good humour, a bunch of us in a parallel universe who were part of your team some 5-6 years ago found you to be a very incompetent manager who lacked sound judgement, was very opinionated, and couldn't get the best out of his own team. While you talk about emotions here, I don't think you ever understood emotions in the first place ;) and loved surrounding yourself with 'Yes Men' who liked putting the 'legendary' you on a pedestal (read throne). Good luck to you! Remember bad karma bites (like a shoe?) at some point too.