Argue. Listen. Learn: Reflections from a Classroom Debate

I recently finished my mid-terms for the first semester of my MHRM program, and I would like to share an experience that stood out to me and turned out to be one of the most engaging assessments so far. My professor for the Future of HR class, replaced our usual written mid semester exam with a debate on contemporary HR topics. 

Each group was assigned a unique topic to debate. My teams topic was the four-day work week, a topic that’s sparked endless discussion in the post-COVID world about flexibility and productivity. My partner and I were tasked to argue against it. My initial response to participating in a classroom debate was a mix of excitement and nerves. It had been a while since I last debated, but reflecting on my recent experience, I would like to share a few valuable lessons I learnt from it: 

• Seeing value in the opposite view: Arguing against something I believed in pushed me to think beyond my own perspective. It reminded me that understanding opposing views does not weaken your stance. Rather, it deepens your understanding of the issue and leads to more objective problem solving.
• Preparation is about anticipation: Researching was not just about collecting facts to defend my stance. It was about anticipating counterarguments and finding gaps in my own reasoning. Which made me realize that true preparation requires anticipating risks and crafting agile strategies to overcome them.
• Responding is about listening: A debate is not just about making your case and reacting to your opponent. It’s about listening to engage in a respectful and meaningful discourse. This experience reinforced my belief that diversity in thought is something to be valued, not avoided.
• Embrace uncertainty with flexibility: No matter how well you prepare, there is always room for uncertainty in a debate. Being open to adapt to the argument by being quick and creative in your responses demonstrates resilience. A mindset I believe is worth developing to succeed beyond a classroom.

In conclusion, the debate pushed us to think differently, approach HR issues more holistically, and appreciate the value of learning together.