How to Strengthen My Arguments and Avoid Controversies When Speaking in Public

On September 1st, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador presented his annual government report, and as expected, controversies were not slow to arrive.

One that was especially important on X and YouTube was the moment when he said that Mexico's health system was not only on par with Denmark's, but was the best in the world, and today I want to share with you this analysis where we review the internal logical consistency of the argument.

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Anyone, but specifically those in the public eye for holding public or private leadership positions are vulnerable to making this type of mistakes, which is why it is key that leaders who will communicate in forums of interest learn to strengthen their arguments and foresee controversies when presenting their ideas in public.

Creating Controversies? The Subtle Art of Challenging the Status Quo

We present our ideas in public with one single objective: to move a person to action. Commonly this requires challenging certain obsolete beliefs, and questioning the status quo.

And although in our culture the idea of questioning the conventional is well internalized and well accepted, when push comes to shove, when we are in a position to do so, many find it difficult, because they become frightened, because they fear conflict, confrontation and the consequences of disagreeing with the rest of the herd.

So the question is, how do we do it? Where is the line? How far are we willing to push it? Am I truly willing to create a paradigm shift even if it means creating controversy?

The reality is that controversies are not bad, not necessarily. There are negative and positive controversies, but negative controversies (like the one sparked by López Obrador's statement about health systems in Mexico and Denmark) are not only avoidable, but learning to manage them when they happen and to foresee them when it was unavoidable that they would arrive can be the difference between achieving or not achieving the paradigm shift I want to create in my society or in my organization.

How to Strengthen My Arguments and Avoid Negative Controversies When Speaking in Public

1: Find at What Level Your Argument is True

What Not to Do: López Obrador's speech declares that Mexico's health system is "better than Denmark's" without providing exhaustive analysis or comparison with verifiable data. This type of statement requires thorough research to validate whether the Mexican health system actually surpasses the Danish one in various aspects.

What You Should Do: The first step to strengthen your arguments is to do research prior to your presentation; as exhaustively as possible. To the degree that you understand the problem in general and in particular. Once you have conducted this research, you will likely find a specific angle at which your proposal is true.

Following the same example, perhaps Mexico's health system cannot be better in all aspects than Denmark's, but it can be in one. For example: the preventive approach, or the digitalization of the patient experience.

Perhaps we cannot say that Mexico's health system is better than Denmark's, but we can say that it is more effective in prevention for pregnant women, or elderly people than Denmark's.

Sometimes reducing the scope of your argument can help you secure it and prevent the development of negative controversies.

2: Prepare for Possible Misunderstandings

What Not to Do: In the speech, the still-president mentions figures such as the number of medical units and hospitals, but does not provide context on how these numbers compare with international standards or the effectiveness of these centers. This can cause confusion and misinterpretations about the true quality of the health system.

What You Should Do: Before making a forceful statement, prepare yourself to clarify any possible confusion. Make sure to clearly explain what the numbers mean and how they relate to service quality. Provide clear comparisons and contextual data to help your audience understand the information accurately.

One of the best ways to achieve this is by reading your speech twice. Once thinking about when you will deliver it, and another trying to put yourself in the perspective of your audience.

And asking yourself questions like:

What am I saying that is not perfectly clear?

What could be subject to misinterpretation?

What words am I using that can trigger negative emotions in my audience?

What examples can I use to simplify understanding of the concept?

3: Leverage Social Proof

What Not to Do: In his report, López Obrador does not provide supporting evidence, such as testimonies from health system users or comparisons with international studies, to support the claim that Mexico's health system is the best in the world.

What You Should Do: Understand that although reason may be on your side, if you are making a proposal that is very innovative, different or disruptive, and only you think it is true, it will be difficult for others to subscribe to your train of thought.

That's why before you speak, research what has been said, what has been done, what is thought, what has been researched, what has been ruled out, and what those who are authorities on the subject think.

Know the state of the art in your topic and bring together supporting arguments from recognized persons or organizations that you can use to defend your point of view.

4: Dare to Create Positive Controversy

What Not to Do: In the report, AMLO makes an extremely controversial statement without providing a solid argument, which can lead to a negative perception or distrust toward the message.

What You Should Do: Any controversy can be positive or negative, depending largely on the evidence and logical soundness of your argument.

That's why before you prepare, make sure you not only have the necessary discursive tools, but also are armed with the correct mindset. Not creating controversy just for the sake of being right or to "watch the world burn".

Instead, find the social and personal utility in helping people challenge their status quo, and thus evolve in this cycle of dialectical progression that we are all in.

We must never forget that we are all together in this boat, and language can be equally a weapon of battle and confrontation, as a tool of collaboration and construction. It largely depends on you.

If you need help working through these concepts with your team you can request an exploratory call and learn more about our services here.