Soft Skills - The Hidden Curriculum of MUN: Part IV

What are the ‘Soft MUN Skills’?
We have seen so far just how varied the spectrum is for both Delegates and Chairs alike - however, regardless of the archetype, there are multiple soft skills to develop through Model UN. 

1. Public speaking - MUN doesn’t only teach you how to construct an argument or a speech, but most importantly, it allows you to learn how to adopt a formal, diplomatic register (e.g. talking in 3rd person), essentially speaking and behaving like a diplomat. At first, it might be difficult, but practice makes perfect; after a while, you might develop the urge to speak in a diplomatic register even with your family and friends - that’s when you know you’re on the right path!

2. Adaptability and resilience - It is crucial that Delegates are flexible to changes in the debate (especially in Crisis committees, when the whole purpose is developing a narrative based on impromptu directives!); at the end of the day, MUN aims to replicate the high-pressure environment of the UN, so it is a great opportunity for you to learn how to adapt to different circumstances in a mentally-demanding situation, putting your patience and problem-solving skills to the test. 

At the same time, it’s important for Delegates to stand by their argument throughout the debate. Some countries might try to ‘corner you’ (diplomatically speaking), especially if you are a country with controversial views about the topic; nevertheless, you can try to find loopholes in their arguments in order to prove your points more advantageous. Besides, if you remain consistent and persistent in your stance, you might be able to attract more delegates to your bloc over time. 

3. Negotiation and compromise - Building blocs with countries/delegates who share a similar stance is not without compromise - in order to achieve a common goal, there needs to be immense flexibility, but also a good balance between ‘give’ and ‘take’. Delegates need to maintain an open mind but also a determined outlook if they wish their resolution to be voted upon.

4. Micro vs Macro approach - This is about the ability to discuss a topic in detail while keeping in mind considerations of the broader topic - as a Delegate, this relates to proposing specific and relevant motions with a view to broaden and advance the discussion on the general agenda topic. It sounds like an obvious process, but many Delegates may fall into the trap of addressing issues that are loosely related to but not directly relevant to the committee (e.g. speaking about the human rights of refugees in the Security Council, where the focus should be on border security). Chairs also keep that in mind when moderating the discussion and may gently redirect Delegates if they accidentally stray away from the main topic. Thus, this approach entails a lot of critical thinking and attention to detail.

5. Leadership and teamwork - In MUN, one way to stand out as a Delegate is by taking the lead on writing documents and coordinating the bloc - these are criteria that most Chairs judge Delegates by, and the most successful of the shortlisted tend to get the Best Delegate Award. Of course, you also get to enhance your teamwork skills in the process; the mere fact that you get to debate, work with foreign strangers for a whole weekend, write fancy resolutions, and even make friends is a pretty great achievement! One elegant way of putting it is that MUN teaches you how to speak the common language of diplomacy when the native languages of the people in the committee room are different. 

6. Timing and time-keeping - The former relates to strategically planning your next move so that the outcome is influenced in your favour - be it your next speech, amendment or draft resolution. The latter is more related to how you pace your speeches but also to meeting the ad hoc deadlines imposed by the Chairs.

How do these apply to life outside MUN?
As mentioned in the introduction, MUN has a plethora of beneficial applications in various aspects of life, whether you realise it or not. It is not a “bubble”, like some people may claim, but rather a simulation that brings you a wide, transferable skill set.  

In your academic life, you may be more confident when speaking in front of classmates and teachers, thanks to MUN. Class presentations might not be such a pain anymore, and not only that, but you might relish in showing off your new verbal and non-verbal persuasion techniques! Many students who do MUN also tend to pick up more volunteering and leadership roles, which definitely looks great on CVs and university personal statements. As you can tell, MUN definitely helps with confidence and time-management (especially meeting deadlines), but also with the social side of things, as it allows you to find like-minded individuals who also care about world-burning issues. Either way, it is always quite cool to tell your family and friends that you do MUN (even if they don’t understand it at first). 

At work, stakes are definitely a bit higher - but you would be surprised how MUN skills can help you in this realm too! From pitching your ideas and asking for a raise (not tested, but might be worth the try) to working in high-pressure environments and being a flexible, punctual individual, the array of abilities acquired in MUN can help you navigate many work-related situations. Being able to work in a team and hit specific targets in the workplace definitely resembles the kind of work you would do in a MUN committee session. 

On a personal level, there are many different ways in which MUN does wonders - first of all, you often get to develop a new side of yourself. Regardless of your specialty/degree, you get to grow your knowledge of international relations and current affairs, learn more about the history of humanity, expand your networks and make lots of friends in the process! Of course, when there are no pandemics, you also get to travel and visit new places around the world, which can be very mind-opening. 

Furthermore, by doing all this, you slowly become aware of what is happening around the world, and that is a superpower! Why? Because knowledge itself is power - whether you raise awareness more outspokenly or quietly (just like different Delegates and Chairs do in MUN), you (un)knowingly make a very important difference! 

Let’s remember to keep making those small steps towards a better world - whether it is through debates and MUN or through sharing an awareness post with our friends, let us use our skills to move forward - together, we are stronger, and every action counts!