On 24 January 2026, the Tübingen Model United Nations delegation took part in an intensive speech training session titled “Effective Communication: Speak with Impact”, held at the Institute of Political Science (IfP), University of Tübingen, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The training was led by Dr. Marco Behrmann, psychologist and founder of XRubicon, whose professional background in negotiation psychology, organisational development, and executive coaching provided valuable insights into effective communication in diplomatic settings.
The session focused on communication as a multidimensional process that extends far beyond spoken words. Participants explored how delivery, posture, and presence shape credibility and persuasive power, particularly in negotiation contexts. Drawing on concepts such as cooperative dynamics and tit-for-tat strategies, the training highlighted how subtle behavioural cues, including eye contact, voice control, and body language, can decisively influence how messages are received, especially under pressure.
The training was highly practice-oriented and structured in two main parts.
In the first segment, participants delivered short speeches on randomly assigned, contemporary topics, such as whether university professors should be regularly evaluated by students or whether a second foreign language should be mandatory in Germany. Each speaker was given ten minutes to prepare and ninety seconds to deliver their speech, simulating time-constrained decision-making and spontaneous argumentation.
The second part built directly on the delegates’ ongoing committee work within NMUN. Participants prepared and delivered speeches on committee-specific scenarios, including situations related to the NPT Review Conference. With limited preparation time and a predefined diplomatic context, this exercise closely mirrored the communicative demands of real Model United Nations sessions and multilateral negotiations.
A defining strength of the training was its multi-layered feedback structure. Participants not only received detailed feedback, but also actively evaluated one another, focusing on aspects such as content structure, intonation, lexical choice, and overall delivery. This collective feedback process fostered reflection, sharpened awareness of individual strengths and areas for improvement, and reinforced learning through observation.
Overall, the training underscored that effective public speaking is not solely about argumentation, but about clarity, composure, and conscious self-presentation.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Marco Behrmann for his commitment, expertise, and engaging approach. His contribution added significant value to our preparation for upcoming conferences and provided insights that will extend far beyond Model United Nations.