The PREP Framework: How To Communicate Confidently In Any Situation!
Summary
TLDRThe speaker discusses how mental frameworks can help streamline thought processes in complex situations. They explain that confusion or difficulty in answering questions often stems from not having structured frameworks. Using the 'PREP' framework—Point, Reason, Example, and Point restatement—can make communication clearer and more efficient. The speaker demonstrates this with an example about automating workflows and emphasizes that anyone can improve their communication by learning and applying these frameworks, thus enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in conversations.
Takeaways
- 🧠 It's common to feel overwhelmed when answering questions due to a lack of mental frameworks, not because you're a slow thinker.
- 🍍 The brain can overthink simple questions, like feelings about pineapples, leading to confusion about what aspect to discuss.
- 📊 People who answer questions quickly often use mental models or frameworks to organize their thoughts effectively.
- 📋 A useful framework for communication is PREP: Point, Reason, Example, and Point (reiterate).
- ⚙️ For example, in a workplace setting, you can use PREP to advocate for more automation by stating the point, giving reasons, providing an example, and restating the point.
- ✉️ An example of using automation is reducing back-and-forth emails by using a tool like Calendly to schedule meetings.
- ⏱️ Using a framework like PREP allows you to deliver clear and concise messages quickly.
- 💬 In corporate settings, many people tend to 'waffle' without frameworks, leading to vague or unproductive conversations.
- 🔧 The issue isn't slow thinking but rather not having the right mental tools or frameworks to structure thoughts.
- 📚 Learning and practicing communication frameworks gives you the tools needed to communicate more effectively and efficiently.
Q & A
What is the main reason people struggle to give clear answers in conversations?
-People often struggle to give clear answers because they lack mental frameworks to organize their thoughts, leading to confusion and incoherent responses.
How does the human brain react when asked a vague question like 'How do you feel about pineapples?'
-The brain processes multiple aspects at once, such as taste, personal preference, popularity, or availability, making it difficult to focus on a single response.
What do quick responders use to organize their thoughts effectively?
-Quick responders often use mental models or frameworks that help them distill their thoughts into clear and meaningful communication.
What does the acronym 'PREP' stand for in communication frameworks?
-'PREP' stands for Point, Reason, Example, and Point again. This structure helps organize communication into a clear, concise, and effective message.
Can you explain how the PREP framework works with an example?
-Yes. First, state your point, like 'We should use more automation technology at work.' Then, give a reason, such as 'I waste time setting up meetings.' Provide an example, like 'I use Calendly, which saves time.' Finally, restate your point to reinforce it.
Why do people often 'waffle' in corporate meetings?
-People waffle in meetings because they lack a structured framework for their thoughts, leading to unclear, repetitive, and often meaningless statements.
What is the result of using frameworks like PREP in conversations?
-Using frameworks like PREP results in clear, concise communication that conveys a meaningful message quickly, avoiding unnecessary complexity.
What’s the significance of having multiple frameworks available for communication?
-Having multiple frameworks allows you to quickly organize your thoughts depending on the situation, making your communication more effective and versatile.
How does the speaker suggest we address the feeling of being a 'slow thinker'?
-The speaker suggests that feeling like a 'slow thinker' is not due to cognitive slowness but rather a lack of frameworks. Learning and applying the right tools can improve thinking and communication speed.
What is the analogy the speaker uses to explain why people struggle to communicate effectively?
-The speaker compares the situation to trying to drill a hole with a screwdriver, emphasizing that the issue is not with the individual but with the lack of proper tools or frameworks.
Outlines
🤔 The Challenge of Organizing Thoughts Under Pressure
When someone asks for feedback, opinions, or thoughts, it can be challenging to respond quickly, especially if many ideas are swirling in your mind. This isn't because you’re a slow thinker, but because you lack reliable frameworks to structure your thoughts. The human brain, with its complexity, struggles to choose how to address topics like pineapples, for example—whether to discuss taste, popularity, or availability. Quick responders often use mental models to streamline their thinking into actionable responses.
🔧 The Power of Mental Frameworks
People who can answer quickly have mental frameworks they rely on. One such framework is called PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point). By having frameworks like this, complex thoughts are distilled into a meaningful communication flow. Frameworks help reduce confusion and focus on the message, allowing even scattered thoughts to become coherent.
💡 PREP Framework Explained
PREP stands for Point, Reason, Example, and Point. It's a simple way to communicate efficiently. First, state your point, then explain the reason behind it. Next, provide an example, and finally, restate the original point. This method is useful for giving feedback, as it helps create clarity and focus.
🏢 An Example of PREP in Action
To illustrate PREP, the speaker suggests a work scenario where automation technology can save time. They describe how using software like Calendly eliminates the need for back-and-forth emails, making workflows more efficient. By applying PREP, the speaker can deliver a concise yet impactful message, proposing a practical solution to improve business operations.
📉 Avoiding Waffle and Confusion in Meetings
Many corporate meetings are filled with vague statements like 'we need alignment' or 'we need synergy,' which often lack clear meaning. This happens because people don’t use structured frameworks, causing their points to become unclear. To avoid this, using tools like the PREP framework ensures a clear, meaningful conversation.
🛠️ The Importance of Having the Right Tools
The speaker emphasizes that not being able to express thoughts clearly isn't a sign of slow thinking, but rather a lack of tools or frameworks. Without the proper tools, it's like trying to drill a hole with a screwdriver. Learning frameworks like PREP equips you with the right tools for different situations, making you more effective in communication.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Frameworks
💡PREP
💡Point
💡Reason
💡Example
💡Mental Models
💡Automation
💡Corporate Meetings
💡Synergies
💡Tools
Highlights
When asked a question, it's not that you're a slow thinker but that you lack frameworks to organize your thoughts.
The brain struggles to focus when there is no clear framework, causing confusion in answering even simple questions.
People who respond quickly often have mental models or frameworks to structure their answers.
The 'PREP' framework is introduced as a tool for clear communication.
PREP stands for Point, Reason, Example, and Point reiteration.
Using frameworks like PREP helps distill complex thoughts into a structured, meaningful response.
Example provided: using automation in workflows to improve efficiency in corporate settings.
PREP allows individuals to give clear feedback in a concise, effective manner.
Frameworks like PREP prevent people from waffling and making vague statements in meetings.
Without frameworks, corporate communication often becomes unclear and filled with buzzwords.
Tools and frameworks, not natural ability, are what allow for effective, quick thinking.
The more tools and frameworks one learns, the more effective they become in various situations.
PREP framework can be applied in everyday conversations to communicate more clearly.
The speaker emphasizes that self-doubt in communication skills often comes from lacking the right tools, not ability.
Learning frameworks empowers individuals to handle questions and feedback confidently.
Transcripts
in a moment when someone asks me a
question whether it's for my feedback
for my opinion for my thoughts or for my
feelings sometimes I've got so many
things going on I'm not sure how to say
it and it kind of comes out like blah
now what that means is it's not that
you're a slow thinker it's because you
don't have Frameworks that you can rely
on because the human brain is so complex
right if I asked you how do you feel
about pineapples right the brain kind of
go well I don't know what do you want me
to talk about pineapples I mean do I
talk about the way they taste do I talk
about my my like for it do I talk about
whether it's generally accepted or not
if most people like it do I talk about
whether it's available in Portugal and
then your brain just goes crazy so that
happens to all of us and the people who
can answer very quickly they have mental
models and Frameworks that they use this
one is called prep and in my brain now
I've got locked 10 to 15 Frameworks and
anytime people ask me questions in my
brain because I'm so familiar with these
Frameworks I just move straight to the
framework that I need my thoughts crazy
thoughts get distilled into this
framework and then I'm able to share
with you a meaningful piece of
communication now prep is an acronym
what it stands for is first of all
point so first I'll give you an example
in a moment but you share a point then
you share a reason for you sharing that
point after you've shared the reason you
also need to give an
example and then you reiterate the point
this is a good one for feedback let's
say the point I'm trying to make is this
the point I'm trying to make is I'm
saying to my team members and I'm at
work and I'm saying we should use more
automation technology at work in our
workflow that's my point okay and then I
can say to them something like I waste
so much time every single week doing
emails back and forth trying to set up a
time to have a meeting with someone give
them a full example right I I've used a
software called calendly and now instead
of sending six to eight emails back and
forth to set up one meeting time and
doing this 10 times with 10 different
clients I now send one email I really
feel that we should investigate more
automations and how we can use autom in
different areas of our business to be
able to increase efficiency I could
deliver that in less than a minute it's
a very meaningful piece of conversation
that has a really clear outcome that
you're you're after otherwise in
corporate meetings this happens all the
time people just waffle because they
have no Frameworks so you hear this all
the time he everyone listen we need to
get more aligned we need to get our
ducks in a row because if our ducks are
not in a row we become less efficient
and I want to make sure we create lots
of alignment here in synergies that
Synergy is critical for us as we move
forward and really they're saying
nothing I never want you to say things
like I'm a slow thinker uh I I can't do
this it's simply because we don't have
the right tools that's all you've been
trying to drill a hole with a
screwdriver and then you've been blaming
yourself but rather it's just the tools
you have access to so all you now need
to do is learn learn the Frameworks and
now you've got tools for the right
situation and the more tools you have
the more effective you can become in any
situation
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