The conference room can look very large when you walk in sometimes. Not necessarily because of its size, but because you might not know anyone else inside of it. Even if some of your friends from your delegation are there, walking into a room full of relative strangers is bound to be nerve-wracking. Introducing yourself to people, presenting yourself in the way that you can, actually talking to people as people and not delegations, are things that many people find difficult. However, as an experienced delegate might tell you, this only leaves more room for opportunities, networking, and creating the connections that make Model UN as rewarding of an experience as it is. So, how do you make connections that matter during a short two-day conference?
First, let’s go over why putting yourself out there can help you both in and out of debate. For those delegates that are all work and no play, interacting and getting to know people in your committee can seem like time wasted when you could be typing away on your computer, creating the best resolution the chairs have ever seen. The thing that many of these delegates forget is that debate is rooted in human interaction. Through the years, the best lesson that I’ve ever been taught is that people need to trust and respect you for them to listen to you. Have you ever been in a committee where the delegate from the United States is screaming so loudly that you start getting a headache? Did that make you want to work with them? Delegates will naturally gravitate towards spaces where they feel safe, heard, and respected. Calling someone by their name during unmods, presenting yourself as approachable and caring about who these people are beyond the roles in their committee will make people want to support you and listen to your ideas.
Outside the walls of parliamentary procedure lie many more benefits to be had from connecting with other delegates. I’m sure that many of you reading this have met amazing people through committee sessions. Personally, Model UN has changed my life and has brought me some of the best friends that I have today, and my day-to-day would be much duller without these enthusiastic and passionate people that used to be strangers sitting across the room from me. What’s to say that the delegate from China a couple of seats from you won’t become a friend that you get ice cream with at 3 AM? It is also important to remember that some of the delegates inside the room might mean opportunities for you. People involved in MUN tend to be very passionate and proactive, creating conferences and building projects that you might be thoroughly interested in. A casual conversation could lead to them finding you a great fit to chair their independent conference or work with them on a project that seeks to get young girls interested in STEM. The more people you know and collaborate with, the better of a name you will create for yourself and the more work opportunities you’ll acquire. The possibilities are endless.
Now that we have established why you want to make connections in Model UN, it’s time to talk about how to make them. It is important to note that this article only highlights suggestions based on what has worked best for me in the past. What makes you interesting to talk to is your personality, so be yourself and trust your gut.
Ever heard the phrase “fake it til’ you make it”? For those delegates that are just beginning to find their confidence and feel awkward about striking up a conversation, this phrase will be your best friend. You don’t have to be completely sure of yourself right away. Pull your shoulders back and keep your head held high. Wear red. When you speak to people—and I cannot stress this enough--smile. You might not think it makes a difference, but a genuine smile when greeting and speaking to other delegates shows that you are approachable and that you want to talk to them. Make sure to speak in a clear voice.
One of the most asked questions that I get when training delegates and advising them to talk to the people in their committee is: How do I strike up a conversation? This seems to be a common concern, as many feel awkward trying to talk to people that they have never seen before. A good rule of thumb is to “start in and work out”, so when you come into committee smile at the person sitting next to you and say hi. Introduce yourself and ask casual questions about the topic or their position, such as what they personally think about a certain controversial point or what their country thinks about a dire situation. If you’re debating about the situation in Venezuela, ask if their country supports the interim president Juan Guaido or inquire about their personal opinions on the US economic embargo. This will give you something to talk about initially, and give you time to familiarise yourself with the person. Then, ask about where they are from and go from there.
After a few sessions, you will have interacted regularly with the delegates in the committee and will either agree with or be against their solutions and positions. Use this in your favour to strike up a conversation during lunch or a coffee break. Using the same example from before, if you are the United States and the delegation of Venezuela has condemned your position, approach them with a smile and make a joke about the tensions in the committee. From there, introduce yourself and ask about them and their interests. Just remember, you have to be genuinely interested in hearing what the other person has to say in order to have a meaningful conversation. Ask about them, and by human nature, they will be inclined to ask about you.
On a final note, I strongly advise against striking up a conversation with someone with the sole intent to get them on your side. This comes across as manipulative, an effort to get the upper hand in the committee. While you want to create good relationships in order to gain support from other delegates, this should not be the sole reason why you talk to them. No one likes the delegate that acts nice just to get what they want, and then drops the act as soon as they don’t need your support anymore. At the end of the day, the real reward that you get from MUN is not a piece of paper with your name on it, but the people you connect with and the lessons they teach you. Remember to be yourself and show interest in meeting others, as this will undoubtedly lead to a better dynamic between you and other delegates. When you have good intentions, good things will come to you in committee.
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