Game 2: Armored Turn + CPS
Game 2: Armored Turn + CPS
Objective: Practice the ability to maintain the floor without yielding to interruptions and close the intervention with a clear operational proposal, overcoming the fear of conflict.
Players and Roles
- The Speaker: Must speak for 30-60 seconds about a controversial topic (e.g., “where to go on vacation” or “chore distribution”) and close with a proposal.
- The Interrupter: Their mission is to try to cut off the Speaker with questions, jokes, or subject changes.
Quick Set-up: Debate topics
If you can’t think of anything to start arguing about, choose one of these topics. The Speaker must defend their position to the death.
| Controversial Topic | Speaker’s Position (Example) |
|---|---|
| Vacation | “This year we go to the mountains, yes or yes. No beach.” |
| Chores | “Starting today, you wash the dishes every day.” |
| Food | “We go vegan starting this Monday. No exceptions.” |
| Technology | “Forbidden to use the mobile after 21:00.” |
| Money | “We are going to sell the car to save.” |
| Leisure | “On Sunday we go to see opera, whether you like it or not.” |
Mechanics
- Set a timer (1 minute).
- The Speaker starts exposing their argument.
- The Interrupter attacks. Must try to steal the focus at least 3 times.
- The Speaker must use containment techniques not to lose the turn:
- Maintain stable volume (don’t shout, don’t whisper).
- Use the hand (“stop gesture”).
- Anchor phrase: “Let me finish the idea”, “I’ll answer you now, continuing…”.
- Victory Condition: The Speaker wins if they reach the end of the minute and manage to say their CPS closing phrase (“I propose X, deal?”) without having shut up before interruptions.
Debriefing (Closing questions)
- For the Speaker: What did you feel in your stomach when interrupted? Did you feel like giving up or shouting?
- For the Interrupter: Which technique of the Speaker made it hardest for you to enter? ( The gaze? The non-stop talking?).
- How does the perception of authority change when someone defends their turn calmly?
“Hardcore” Variant
The Interrupter can use “false validation” to confuse: “Yes, yes, you are right, but…” (The Speaker must say: “Thanks, but I finish my point”).