Technique

Let's summarize the technique for understanding arguments.

To understand an argument,

1. Identify all claims that appear in the argument and draw a box for each
2. Draw arrows to show which claims make which other claims more likely, distinguishing between claims making another claim more likely together or independently

Of course, once you've mastered drawing diagrams for arguments, you usually won't need to actually draw diagrams when you sit in a meeting and think about an argument a colleague made. Because you practiced drawing diagrams, you'll be able to analyze the structure of the argument in your head without pen and paper.