May 9, 2025
You know those people who, when you ask them a question, always seem to have the perfect response—calm, clear, confident? Meanwhile, most of us start talking and halfway through we’re like, “Wait, where was I going with this?”
That used to be me: rambling, circling, overexplaining. I always thought those people must just be smarter than me, right? But here’s what I’ve learned: it’s not about intelligence. It’s about using simple frameworks to organize your thoughts on the spot. In this article, I’ll share my three favorite ones to articulate your ideas brilliantly.
Let’s say someone asks for your opinion or what you think about something. That’s when the first framework comes in: PREP — Point, Reason, Example, Point.
For example, someone asks, “When should we have the next team event?” You could respond using PREP:
“I think we should have the team event on Friday. That’s usually the day when most people have time and can actually dedicate a full day to it. We once held a team event on a Monday and it was chaos. People kept dropping in and out for client calls, which totally ruined the flow. So yeah, I believe Friday is the better option.”
Easy, right? PREP framework is perfect anytime someone asks for your opinion. It works great in interviews, meetings, or really any moment someone asks, “So, what do you think?”
Now, imagine they ask a different kind of question: “Can you explain what happened here and how it’s going to impact us?” That’s where the next framework comes in handy: What? So What? Now What?
Someone asks, “How do you think AI is going to impact us?” Here’s how you could respond:
“AI tools have made it much easier for any of us to create more videos. In the next two years, there will be four times as many videos on YouTube. It’s going to be a lot harder to break through the noise. So, to really stand out, we need to tell better stories—stories that build human connection and can’t be replicated by AI.”
This framework is perfect when you want to explain a situation, an idea, or a result—something where you want to show what’s happening and why it matters.
To avoid being too predictable, there’s another framework you might want to use. It’s the one I use the most: Past, Present, Future.
Someone asks, “How’s your new role going?” You could say:
“First, it was quite overwhelming—so many new things I needed to learn. But now, I’m starting to feel more confident. I know who to ask for help and where to find the right information. Next, I don’t just want to support others; I’d love to lead my own project independently.”
This framework is great when you want to explain a situation or give a quick update—like where things stand with your goals, ideas, or a project.
You can practice this in everyday conversations—just pick a framework and come up with a quick answer on the spot. The more you do it now, the easier it gets to think clearly under pressure.
And if you want to achieve the kind of confidence that doesn’t crumble under pressure, this article will help you overcome your fear of public speaking.
Enjoy.
P.S. Want to become a stronger communicator?
Here are two ways I can support you:
👉 Want to tell more engaging stories? Join our next Storytelling Workshop.
👉 Want to speak with confidence and clarity? Check out our Communication Skills Training.
Both are fun, practical, and designed to help you grow fast.
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
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