Contents
The basics of constructive argumentation
- Effective even in difficult situations: The basis of constructive argumentation.
- Change of perspective as the basis for successful argumentation.
- Distinguish between point of view and background interest.
- Use questions as a means of argumentation.
Gentle persuasion with the right questions
- Like Socrates: Setting and positioning new ideas and impulses.
- Pull strategy: Use Socratic questions to gently draw your counterpart to your side.
- Socratic questioning as a tool for managing Employees and customers.
- Respond correctly to pressure-inducing questioning techniques.
- Answer repetitive questions calmly and persistently.
- Counter leading questions and trick questions.
- Confident handling of the foot-in-the-door technique.
- Chain questions: How to break the chain of questions.
Recognize and fend off logical manipulation
- Respond confidently to ad hominem attacks.
- Don't be distracted by whataboutism.
- Prevent straw man arguments.
- Counter dam-breaking arguments by shifting the burden of proof.
- Resolving false dilemmas.
Recognize & fend off psychological manipulation
- How to expose psychological tricks such as: Contrasting, foot-in-the-door technique, unsolicited favor, anchor effect, framing.
- Defense against manipulation: Dealing confidently with psychological manipulation.
Learning environment
Your benefit
You learn
- to argue effectively, even in difficult conversational situations.
- to substantiate their own ideas and points of view by asking specific questions.
- react confidently to pressure-inducing questioning techniques.
- recognize logical manipulations and counter them constructively and effectively.
- to uncover psychological tricks in the conduct of discussions and not to be influenced by them.
Methods
Joint analysis of short video clips showing argumentative discussions between well-known people from politics and business; tried-and-tested exercises in which argumentative discussions are conducted in various ways with different partners ; self-reflection and group discussion after each exercise; theory input.
Recommended for
Specialists and managers who want to argue confidently in any situation and improve their ability to defend against manipulation.
Further recommendations for "Arguing convincingly and fending off manipulation"
Seminar evaluation for "Arguing convincingly and fending off manipulation"







35000
Start dates and details
Wednesday, 10.09.2025
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday, 11.09.2025
09:00 am - 5:00 pm
- one joint lunch per full seminar day,
- Catering during breaks and
- extensive working documents.
Thursday, 16.10.2025
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday, 17.10.2025
09:00 am - 5:00 pm
- one joint lunch per full seminar day,
- Catering during breaks and
- extensive working documents.

Thursday, 06.11.2025
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday, 07.11.2025
09:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday, 20.11.2025
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday, 21.11.2025
09:00 am - 5:00 pm
- one joint lunch per full seminar day,
- Catering during breaks and
- extensive working documents.

Thursday, 05.02.2026
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday, 06.02.2026
09:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday, 17.03.2026
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday, 18.03.2026
09:00 am - 5:00 pm
- one joint lunch per full seminar day,
- Catering during breaks and
- extensive working documents.
- one joint lunch per full seminar day,
- Catering during breaks and
- extensive working documents.