How to play devil's advocate
It's easy to argue for what you believe. Defending the other side is harder, and it's how you learn what your opponent will say. Here you get a statement and argue for it as if it were yours.
Marriage is an outdated institution that does more harm than good
- 1A statement appears on the screen.
- 2Defend it out loud until the timer ends, like a lawyer: look for arguments, examples, stories.Not allowed: “of course I don't agree with this, but...”. Speak as if you really believe it.
check yourself · By the end of the timer, even you start to feel there's something to this position.
Why it works
When you only ever argue your own view, you know half of the debate. The first strong objection catches you off guard, and you answer with emotion instead of an argument. Defending the opposite makes you look for the best reasons on that side, not the weakest ones.
It also trains something less obvious: holding a position under pressure. You keep talking until the timer ends, with no “of course I don't really think so”. You need the same thing when someone pushes back on your real opinion and you have to stand your ground calmly.
Common mistakes
- Arguing with a wink. Irony and “some people say” tell the listener you don't mean it. Speak the way a lawyer speaks for a client.
- Picking a weak version of the position. Find the strongest case its real supporters would make.
- Stopping after one argument. When it runs out, add an example, a story or a consequence, and keep going until the timer ends.
- Skipping the statements that annoy you. Those are the ones most worth defending.
Questions
- What does it mean to play devil's advocate?
- To argue for a position you don't hold, to test an idea or to show the other side. In a meeting it's a way to check a plan; on your own it's practice in seeing an argument from the opposite side.
- How do I play devil's advocate without annoying people?
- Say up front what you're doing: “Let me argue the other side for a minute.” Then make the case seriously and briefly, and come back to the discussion. People get annoyed by someone who argues against everything, not by the role itself.
- How do I get better at defending my point of view?
- Learn the other side first. If you can make your opponent's case well, you know where it's weak and what they'll say next. That's exactly what this drill trains.
More exercises
- Use better words: swap the weak onesTake a plain word like “good” and find 10 more precise, stronger options out loud. A 3-minute drill to stop reaching for the same basic words.
- Be more persuasive: three chairsA 7-minute speaking drill: argue one topic with logic, then with emotion, then with trust, and mix all three into one persuasive talk.
- Relax your voice before speaking: the “Reset”A 90-second routine: drop your shoulders, loosen your jaw and neck, then a soft hum and a yawn with voice, so your throat relaxes before you speak.