How to Frame Multiple Topics in a Conversation

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How to Frame the Conversation with Multiple Topics?

Conversations with multiple topics can be framed with a Summary Framing. 

Preparation. Create your Summary Framing:

  • Create the Basic Framing for each topic you want to talk about. 
  • Create a single Summary Framing for the entire conversation.
    • Summary Context: "I'd like to talk to you about X things"
    • Multiple Intents: "Intent A, ..., and Intent Z"
    • Multiple Key Messages: "Key Message A, ..., and Key Message Z"

Step by Step. The overall conversation then moves on to the framing for a second topic and so forth until all the topics have been discussed.

Summary Framing Example

Suppose you have three topics to talk to your team leader about. 
  • Advice about how to handle a problem with a recent delivery
  • A decision about nominating a colleague for an award
  • A decision about taking time off work
Here's how you could combine them into a Summary Framing: 
  • Summary Context: "I'd like to talk to you about three things"
  • Multiple Intents: "I need some advice, and I have a couple of decisions"
  • Multiple Key Messages: "We have an issue with the office supplies delivery. I’d like to nominate Dave for an award, and I have a request for some time off".

Framing Multiple Topics with One Context

  • Preparation:
    • First, create a Basic Framing for each topic:
      • Topic #1 
        • Context: "New region roll-out."
        • Intent: "Heads-up/FYI."
        • Key Message: "The full-time team is exceeding all their key performance indicators (KPIs)."
      • Topic #2 
        • Context: "New region roll-out."
        • Intent: "Need a decision."
        • Key Message: "Should we cancel the contract for additional."
    • Second, create a Summary Framing for the Conversation:
      • Context: "I have an update about the regional roll-out with two topics."
      • Intent and Key Message 1: "One is an FYI about the team’s performance."
      • Intent and Key Message 2: "The other needs a decision about the extra staffing."
  • Step by Step:
    • Start the Conversation with the Summary Framing 
    • Deliver Framing 1 or Framing 2 
      • In either order depending on the topic you or your audience would like to discuss first.
    • If you want to be certain your audience knows about the switch between the two topics:
      • Refer back to the Summary Framing where you said you had two (or more) topics to discuss.

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How to Frame a Single Topic in a Conversation

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 What is Framing? 

Framing is the way to prepare an audience to receive your message before you go into detail. The framing should be no more than 3 sentences and delivered in less than 15 seconds.

Context. Orientate your audience with a simple statement. 

  • Without context, the audience is not on the same page as you.
    • Never assume the other person knows what you are talking about.
  • Give context quickly, so your audience knows the topic you are going to talk about.
    • Name of the customer, project, issues, process, system, tool, task, or objective.
  • Examples:
    • "I'm working on the project ABC..."
    • "I was reviewing the new Information Security Policy..."
    • "We are closing the sale on the Jefferson account..."
    • "I want to reward m team..."

Intent. Let them know what you need them to do with the information you are about to share.

  • The longer it takes for your audience to understand the purpose of your message, the more likely they are to guess.
  • The audience is not processing the information in the way you want or need to.
  • The Six Work-related Intentions:
    1. Needing Help/Advice/Input.
      • "Can you help me?"
      • "We need your input"
      • "Can you explain something?"
    2. Requesting Action.
      • "Can you provide an update on...?"
      • "Can you send the contract to..."
    3. Wanting a Decision.
      • "We need a decision on..."
    4. Letting to Know Something is About to Happen.
      • "Heads up, something is about to happen on ..."
      • "You need to know this before you..."
    5. Provide Information/Input.
      • "Here is the report you asked for"
      • "Here is the information you requested"
    6. Just to Talk.
      • "I have a funny story to share..." or "Do you have time for a funny story?"
      • "You might find this interesting..." or "Would you like to know...." 
      • "Can I vent for a minute?"
  • If you are the listener and you do not know the intent then ask.
    • "Is there something specific I can help with?"

Key Message. The line contains the most important piece of information your audience needs to know.

  • The Key Message doesn't have to summarize every detail but has the most important message you must communicate.
    • When you explain the lows and highs we lead the audience through them with us.
    • When the audience doesn't know how the story ends, they feel every high and low as if it was the potential outcome.
    • When you start with the Key Message you are telling them how the story ends.
  • You can use the following questions to find out your key message:
    • "Why am I telling this?"
    • "Is there something I need them to do?"
  • Answer the "So what?" question.
  • Here are some examples of concise key messages common in workplace situations:
    • "We just closed a new client"
    • "The team beat the service level target"
    • "The system is down and will take a week to fix it."
    • "I missed a deadline, and the customer is upset."
  • Not only the message delivered is faster, but the important information is clearer.
  • Find the most important sentence in your message and deliver it first.
    • After that, you can go with more details as you want.

Framing Examples

  • Example 1.
    • Context: "I am working on the ABC account."
    • Intent (only 1 of the 6): "I have good news."
    • Key message: "We just got them as a new client."
  • Example 2.
    • Context: "I read the report you sent me."
    • Intent (only 1 of the 6): "Can you explain something?"
    • Key message: "I want to understand the change in timeline."
  • Example 3.
    • Context: "I review the new IT policy."
    • Intent (only 1 of the 6): "You should know..."
    • Key message: "We just got them as a new client."

How to Know If You Need More than One Frame?

  • More than one Context. 
    • If you want to talk about two different projects, clients, or situations, then you have two topics or frames.
  • More than one Intent. 
    • If you need two different actions from your audience, you have two topics or frames.
  • With more than one Key Message.
    • You have more than one topic or frame.

If you fail to separate topics in your conversation, it can lead to an "ambush." 

References

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