Making the Sell in MUN - Sales Strategies for every stage of the MUN committee
Creating an effective guide on "selling" in Model UN involves discussing strategies that can help delegates gain support for their resolutions and ideas at various stages of committee. Selling a resolution in MUN is essentially about persuasion and negotiation, and delegates need to be strategic in presenting their proposals and rallying others behind them. Here’s a breakdown of sales strategies for each key stage of committee:
1. Bloc Formation Stage: Building Coalitions
This stage is all about gathering initial support and forming alliances with delegates whose countries have similar interests. Here, you’re selling the idea of collaboration and trying to position yourself as a reliable and valuable partner.
Sales Strategies:
Focus on Common Ground: Identify shared goals or interests with other delegates. Emphasize these points to build rapport. For instance, if you’re tackling climate change, find other countries that share similar environmental concerns.
Use the “Yes, And” Technique: Show you’re receptive to others' ideas. For example, if another delegate mentions the need for financial aid, you could say, “Yes, and we could combine that with educational programs.”
Highlight Potential Benefits: Communicate the benefits of forming a coalition, such as increased influence and the ability to push for more impactful changes. Remind potential allies of the collective impact they could have by working together.
2. Resolution Writing Stage: Crafting a Winning Proposal
When you’ve gathered a few allies, it’s time to work on drafting the resolution. At this stage, you’re selling the value of specific ideas and persuading your bloc members to include their suggestions and contributions.
Sales Strategies:
Demonstrate Flexibility: Show that you’re open to including other delegates’ input. This builds trust and makes others feel invested in the resolution. A phrase like, “How would you feel about adding your country’s initiative on renewable energy here?” can be very effective.
Frame Your Ideas as Solutions to Their Problems: Tailor clauses in the resolution to address the specific concerns of your bloc members. If another delegate is concerned about economic growth, emphasize clauses that create jobs or boost local industries.
Use Data and Case Studies: Support your ideas with statistics, examples, or case studies to make your resolution look robust. This approach can make it harder for other delegates to argue against the ideas you’re proposing, as they’re backed by credible information.
3. Debate Stage: Selling the Resolution to the Entire Committee
Here, your goal is to gain support from the wider committee, not just your bloc. Now, you’re selling the resolution as a practical, inclusive, and impactful solution that benefits everyone.
Sales Strategies:
Emphasize Universal Benefits: Frame your resolution as beneficial not just to your bloc but to the entire committee. For instance, you might say, “This resolution aims to enhance regional security, which is something we all value.”
Address Potential Objections Preemptively: Think of the main counterarguments other delegates might have and address them in your speeches. This demonstrates that you’ve considered diverse perspectives and can help reduce opposition.
Tell a Story: People connect with stories, so if you can, frame your resolution’s impact with a story. This could be a hypothetical example of a citizen who would benefit from the policies you’re proposing, making the resolution’s impact more relatable.
4. Amendment Stage: Maintaining Support and Adjusting
During amendments, other delegates may propose changes to your resolution. You’ll need to be flexible and adapt while maintaining the resolution’s core ideas.
Sales Strategies:
Negotiate Concessions: Be open to reasonable amendments that don’t alter the resolution’s main goals. Express appreciation for the amendment’s intent, e.g., “I see how this could enhance our resolution,” then suggest a version that aligns with your vision.
Know When to Stand Firm: While flexibility is essential, if an amendment compromises the resolution’s effectiveness or central goals, politely stand your ground. For example, “While I appreciate the suggestion, this amendment might detract from our original aim of environmental protection.”
Build Allies in Advance: Before amendments are presented, approach key delegates informally to gauge their stance. If you know you’ll need support on a particular clause, seek out delegates who might advocate for you.
5. Voting Stage: Securing Final Support
At this critical point, you need to secure as many votes as possible to pass your resolution. You’re now selling the resolution as the best, or only, viable option for the committee to achieve their goals.
Sales Strategies:
Frame the Vote as a Collective Win: Remind the committee that passing this resolution means progress for everyone. Reinforce the positive outcomes, such as increased cooperation or shared success stories, making it clear that voting “yes” benefits the group.
Leverage Relationships Built Earlier: Use the rapport you’ve built with other delegates throughout the committee to encourage them to vote in favor. This is where maintaining positive relations and avoiding alienating others can really pay off.
Express a Sense of Urgency: Highlight any pressing reasons why the resolution needs to pass now, like timely international issues or economic needs. For example, “Given the recent flood events, it’s critical that we take immediate action to prevent further harm.”
Each stage in the committee process requires a different approach, but the central focus remains the same: make your resolution seem valuable, reasonable, and inclusive. Selling in Model UN involves building relationships, showing flexibility, and presenting ideas in ways that align with others’ goals. With these strategies, delegates can maximize their chances of rallying support and achieving successful outcomes in committee.
