The Importance of Honesty in a Debate (According to Trey Gowdy)

A woman talking about the importance of honesty

What’s the importance of honesty in a debate? Why does honesty matter in Congress? Former prosecutor and District Attorney Trey Gowdy believes that the purpose of debate is to arrive at a truth everyone can accept. Because of this belief, he dismisses persuasive tactics that are dishonest, manipulative, and driven by emotion. Here’s more on why honesty is the best policy in a debate or argument.

How to Prepare for a Debate: Study the Facts and Your Opponent

A woman who knows how to prepare for a debate by looking over index cards backstage

What type of things should you know before a debate? What should you learn about your opponent beforehand? Trey Gowdy believes that you should enter a debate armed with as much knowledge as possible about your topic and opponent. Preparedness matters more than charisma or luck and can be reliably honed through practice. Continue reading to learn how to prepare for a debate by acquiring new knowledge.

How to Ask Questions in a Debate: Trey Gowdy’s 2 Strategies

A woman asking a question in a debate

Why is asking questions important in a debate? What types of questions should you ask? According to Trey Gowdy, the most effective tool of persuasion isn’t any particular way of making an argument but asking questions. Gowdy claims that as a prosecutor and chair of Congressional committees, he spent more time asking questions than constructing a narrative from those answers. Here’s how to ask questions in a debate so you can have the upper hand.

How to Gather Information: Questions for Your Debate Opponent

A woman gathering information and taking notes in a debate

What is information gathering in a debate? How can you gather information while also forming an argument against your opponent? Debating requires you to do many things at once. While your opponent is giving their argument, you also have to ask the right questions to receive more information that can be used against them. Discover how to gather information while you’re opponent has their turn to talk.

How to Perform Refutation in Debates to Undermine Arguments

A speaker on stage at a podium, using a refutation in a debate against her opponent

How can you execute refutation in debates? What are ways to undermine your opponent’s facts? According to Trey Gowdy, knowing your opponents is an important part of debating because it allows for an easy refutation of their argument. This means fully understanding what their arguments are, what facts they’re relying on, and what it would take to convince them to abandon their position. Check out how to get a good sense of who your opponents are so you can chip away at their argument.

How to Ask Leading Questions to Take Charge in a Debate

Two people talking in a debate, one of them using leading questions

How do you use leading questions in a debate? What are the benefits of steering a conversation by asking questions? According to Trey Gowdy, there are three types of questions: leading, non-leading, and “why” questions. Leading questions can be used to direct the conversation and stay on topic when you’re opponent changes the subject. Let’s look at how to ask leading questions in a debate.

Artificial Intelligence and Language: Can AI Truly Understand Us?

a frustrated man working at a computer illustrates the challenges of artificial intelligence and language

How capable is artificial intelligence in understanding human language? Why do AI assistants sometimes struggle with seemingly simple requests? In their book Rebooting AI, Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis explore artificial intelligence and language. They argue that current AI systems, despite their impressive capabilities, lack a true understanding of human communication. Read on to discover why your favorite AI assistant might not be as smart as you think and what it means for the future of human-machine interaction.

How to Fire a Customer as Nicely as Possible

A man waving goodbye at a customer outside a building, showing how to fire a customer

What makes a customer bad? Can you get rid of customers that are doing more harm than good? Mike Michalowicz says you need to fire bad customers because they can harm your business by wasting time and resources. Bad customers don’t share your values, aren’t financially trustworthy, and aren’t cooperative. Keep reading to learn how to fire a customer and cut ties with them once and for all.

Machine Learning Limitations: 3 Ways Narrow AI Is Unreliable

ChatGPT conversation about how reliable it is illustrates machine learning limitations

What are the limitations of artificial intelligence? Why does AI sometimes makes mistakes that seem obvious to humans? In their book Rebooting AI, Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis explore the challenges facing AI systems. They discuss three key machine learning limitations: issues with training data, language processing problems, and difficulties in perceiving the physical world. Read on to discover why AI isn’t as smart as you might think and what needs to change for machines to truly understand our world.

Customer Experience at Starbucks: 3 Areas That Stand Out

Employees serving people as part of the customer experience at Starbucks

Why do people love Starbucks so much? What’s the customer experience at Starbucks like? When Starbucks was in desperate need of a new business model, one of Howard Schultz’s areas of focus was customer service. Schultz made changes in three key areas: improved communication with customers, polished store design and operations, and renewed social and environmental commitments. Let’s explore each of those areas now.