Framework Thinking | How to Make a Proposal

When presenting a proposal, we have to tell the story. This proposal could be anything from introducing a new initiative in an organization, hosting a global event, suggesting a new process to improve productivity, pitching a new funding business, or adding a new product to the product line. Keep in mind while presenting ideas, we need to:

• Build Emotional Connection: Stories engage the audience emotionally, making them more invested in your proposal and discover the problem themselves (like coaching)

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• Make our message memorable: Narratives are more likely to be remembered than standard data-driven or purely factual presentations. It is best to follow a flow or structure of narration that will help us clearly explain the issue, our solution, the benefits, and actions that the audience can take after the conversation.
• Simplifies Complex Ideas: A story can simplify complex business concepts, making them more accessible.
• Tell Stories: Effective storytelling can be a powerful, persuasive tool, aligning your audience with your vision and goals.

The best model to achieve this is the combination of the SCQA model (Situation, Complication, Question, Answer) and the Pyramid Principle:

• Situation: Start with setting the stage. we can use the current situation or context to describe the environment in which the business operates.
• Complication - Identifying the Problem/Opportunity: Introduce the main challenge or opportunity your proposal addresses. This creates a hook that piques interest.
• Question - Journey and Struggles: Describe the journey so far, including the struggles and hurdles faced. This builds empathy and connection.
• Answer - The Revelation/Solution: Introduce your product, service, or solution as a revelation that can overcome challenges or seize opportunities. This is about How the issue can be addressed or solved.
• Pyramid Principle - Proof and Credibility: Provide evidence of success or potential. This can be through data, case studies, testimonials, or expert opinions.
• Future Vision and Call to Action: Please envision the future with your solution in place and describe how to get there. Then, discuss who will be involved and what resources will be required. Please identify any challenges, risks, and issues that may arise and how they will be addressed. Most importantly, let the audience know what we need from them with a clear call to action with guiding steps.

The SCQA provides the context of the discussion and answers why our discussion today matters and What the topic is about. The Pyramid Principle elaborates on the validity of the proposal. We can present a compelling and persuasive proposal by covering all these critical aspects of the topic. 

ChatGPT Prompt: I'm about to propose [a data-driven project plan optimizer that can generate project plans with accurate project estimates]. Can you create a presentation using SCQA and the Pyramid principle for a slide presentation? 

Remember, each slide should be visually engaging and not overloaded with text. Use graphics, charts, and bullet points to convey your message effectively. We will discuss these tips in a different post. 

The following video explains the concept discussed well.