Lightning Debates
30-second debates on playful prompts
Game Overview.
Participants receive silly or strategic prompts ("Is cereal a soup?") and have 30 seconds to make their case before switching sides. It builds agility and humor.
Objectives
- ✓Practice persuasive speaking in a low-stakes environment
- ✓Encourage participants to see multiple perspectives
- ✓Infuse meetings with humor and unexpected takes
What You'll Need
- •Deck of debate prompts or randomizer
- •Timer or visible countdown clock
- •Optional judge or audience voting mechanism
Preparation
- 1Collect prompts ranging from absurd to work-related
- 2Decide whether participants will debate solo or in pairs
- 3Clarify rules for respectful disagreement
How to Play
STEP 1
Draw a Prompt
Assign two participants opposite sides of the prompt.
STEP 2
Make Your Case
Each person gets 30 seconds to defend their side while the timer runs.
STEP 3
Switch Sides
Have debaters swap positions and argue the opposite perspective.
STEP 4
Audience Vote
Let the audience vote via applause or emojis to crown a winner.
Pro Tips
- Use a bell or buzzer to signal time and add drama
- Encourage playful rebuttals rather than rigid formality
- Invite observers to keep score or award superlatives
- Record debates for a highlight reel if the group is comfortable
Variations
Product Debates
Debate product decisions or feature trade-offs relevant to your team.
Tag-Team Debates
Create teams of three and let them tap in mid-argument.
Silent Debate
Write arguments on a shared doc instead of speaking out loud.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if someone dislikes debating?
Assign them as a judge, timer, or commentator role instead.
How many prompts fit in 15 minutes?
Plan for four debates to keep things brisk.
Can this support training topics?
Yes. Swap in realistic scenarios such as prioritizing customer segments or features.
Tags
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