Managing the Brainstorm: The Framework Form
September 23, 2008 – 6:58 amWhen you start to Brainstorm about your very important presentation to your very important client, do you want to start by thinking about what you’ll wear? I doubt it. Do you want to start by thinking about the rest of your schedule on the day of your important presentation? I don’t think so. Attire and calendar are related to the presentation, but only peripherally. You needn’t include them in your Brainstorm.
Before you begin the Brainstorming process, you must first tighten your focus past the peripheral. To do this, begin with the tool I call the Framework Form.
Think of your presentation as a blank canvas within a frame. This is where you will do your Brainstorming. To tighten the focus, you need to set the outer limits, the parameters, of your presentation. They include the following elements:
Point B
Since most presentations lack a clear point (the first of the Five Cardinal Sins), why not start with it? In other words, start with the objective in sight and work toward it. Once again, this rule incorporates the wisdom of Aristotle and Stephen Covey.
