Presentation tips using frames and reframes

Keywords: Framing, Reframing, NLP, Presenting skills, Coaching skills

Use
The concept of framing is highly useful when presenting to, and influencing, others.

Description

Pre-frame: To set the context and expectations for a presentation or session even before the event has started.

Frame: To set a viewpoint that allows the audience or other party to experience something in a particular way; to prepare or focus them to think or do something.

Reframe: To offer alternative ways of experiencing a situation, thought or emotion; to unblock where there has previously been a block. A change process.

Explanation
How we experience something is often conditioned by preformed attitudes and patterns or sometimes just by the first thing which we think about, which can then become a fixed way of experiencing that particular thing.

The camera lens metaphor.
How we view things through a camera lens affects the way we form judgements of what we see.

Example frames:
Wide angle: the big picture view, great for overviews, but lacks specific detail.
Standard lens: - normal perspective; more detail, but less peripheral view.
Telephoto lens: Very specific focus; background often out of focus (we see things in issolation).
Slow shutter speed: gives sense of movement, but some blurring as a result, eg capturing the feeling as an athlete crosses the line.
Fast shutter speed: capture a movement as if frozen in time; can sometimes seem ‘out of context’

Examples of how to use
Using simple words, we can offer audiences alternative ‘frames’ to encourage them to experience things in a particular way, or a multitude of ways.

Example frames/reframes:

For someone who sees things as problems
A: “This won’t work”
B: “If it had already worked, what would the results be?”

Or B: “If it had already worked, what would have been the first step that got you to a solution?”

(The above examples change the frame from a Negative frame to: Future perspective / positive frame / benefits frame / actions frame.)

To encourage people to view things differently
“I’d like you to imagine you had a bird’s eye view of the situation; what would you notice differently about what is going on?”

(A ‘big picture’ frame to put things into context; the question directs their attention towards finding new learnings from the situation)

“Let’s just freeze frame that point – what else might be going on?”

(A frame that changes context, allows the person to consider other views.)

“Let’s speed the situation up and look at it as a whole process – what do you notice now?”

(Another way of changing context – this time using a ‘time frame’ combined with a broader view; the use of the word ‘look’ directs their attention to use visual representation when understanding the situation.)

Unblocking
A: “I’m unable to do that?”
B: “What would need to be in place for you to be able to do it?”

(Focussing on what resources or actions are needed.)

Or  B: “So you are unable to do that currently…..”

(Reframe to a particular time, as opposed to a universal problem.)

Or B: “What would you be able to do then?”

(A positive outcome frame.)

For people in a workshop who may be reluctant to try out new things or are afraid of failing.
“Today we can use the workshop as a learning laboratory; we can try things out in the safety and confidentiality of our small group before we think about using them in the ‘real’ world.”

“There is no right or wrong way to do the following exercises. I invite you to just experience what happens and use it as an opportunity for feedback and learning.”

(Preframing the context of a workshop; suggests that they don’t have to worry about getting things right, that they can experiment – opens up opportunities for increased learnings.)