Mastering Body Language in Model United Nations (MUN)

In the high-stakes world of Model United Nations (MUN), a delegate may not always have the best resolution paper, but they can certainly use their presence as a powerful tool. Research allows you to find your place in the room, but it is the body language in MUN that enables you to own the room.

Dr. Albert Mehrabian, a Professor at UCLA, formulated the 7-38-55 Rule, which states that in conveying feelings and attitudes, 7% of the message comes through words, 38% through tone, and 55% through body language.

In a simulation aimed at simulating the highest levels of international diplomacy, the ability to read between the lines and recognise the signs of confidence, openness, and authority is as important as writing a great MUN opening speech.

Tips and Tricks to Win MUN Debates

Winning a MUN is less about the allegations in your speech and more about the presence you project throughout the committee. While foreign policy sets the stage, how to win MUN debates depends on the subtle art of influence and the energy you bring to the stage. Mastering body language in Model United Nations isn't just about winning awards; it’s a life skill that sharpens how you carry yourself in any room you walk into. Learning how to speak confidently in MUN is a journey, so feel free to save these strategies and return whenever you're ready to level up your presence.

Here are a few tips & tricks delegates can use to leverage body language to win hearts, minds, and Best Delegate awards:

A delegate has to embody the diplomat they are representing. It is not just about sounding the part, but also about looking the part. A calm and composed delegate naturally attracts allies, especially when the committee is in a state of chaos, and the blocs are disintegrating. The key is to project authority while also being approachable.

The Secrets of Mastering Diplomatic Presence

The intention is to give an impression of being open but unyielding. A delegate must demonstrate that they are a leader worth following. The following is how effective delegates control their physical presence:

1. The Power Stance at the Podium: When delivering the speech, delegates shouldn't lean on the podium or hang onto the sides of the platform. Rather, they ought to stand in a tall position with their feet shoulder-width apart. This is a neutral position that is confident, stable, and commanding without seeming to be imposing.

   
   

2. Intensive Eye Contact: Reading off a piece of paper is the fastest way of losing an audience. Experienced delegates rehearse their key points so they can scan the room while delivering their speech. They look at the dais to acknowledge their authority, and at other delegates to persuade, challenge, or engage them.

   
   

3. Open Hand Gestures: Emphasis should not be accomplished with hands covered. Open palms usually represent sincerity and welcome, which is essential in the stages of negotiation. When describing a complex clause, hands are also useful for measuring the problem or pointing out key points in the air, making the speech dynamic and easier to follow.

   
   

4. Active Listening Posture: The evaluation of a delegate does not just stop after they leave the podium. The dais closely observes how delegates conduct themselves while seated. Upright sitting, nodding to listen as people make valid points, and taking notes in plain view, are indicators of engagement. Putting your head down or appearing bored communicates to the dais that the delegate is interested in the voice of their own.

Things to Avoid:

While positive body language has the ability to create a good image, negative cues can ruin it within seconds. Even the most well-constructed arguments are likely to be weakened by nervous habits that surface under pressure.

• Fig Leafing: Being a delegate with their hands clasped in front of the groin causes them to appear defensive and insecure. Similarly, placing arms across the chest also serves as a physical barrier, sending signals to other countries that the delegate is not open to negotiation.

  
  

• Fidgeting: Tapping feet, clicking pens, or shifting a placard is a distraction. These movements distract the attention from the speech and make you look nervous or timid.

  
  

• Pointing Aggression: Passion is essential, but aggression is not. Direct finger-pointing at other delegates may be regarded as accusatory and hostile. When in a diplomatic position, one is well advised to gesture towards the whole group of people or the placard, but not the individual.

  
  

• Checking the Phone (Even to Research): Even when one is actually searching a UN treaty, glancing down at a phone in their lap appears to be texting. It screams disinterest. If digital research needs to be conducted, it must be done openly, with the laptop or phone fully visible on the table or outside the committee.

At the end of the conference, the awards are hardly given to the individual who had the best statistics. They are won by the delegates who conduct themselves like a leader. Body language is what separates a good idea from persuading a room full of strangers to vote on it. Holding a high position, maintaining an open posture, and even having physical contact with the room changes a delegate into a student who reads a piece of paper into a diplomat who solves a crisis.

Next time, when your placard is raised, keep in mind that the speech comes before your mouth opens.

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