The Tit Dilemma: The secret ingredient to GREAT Frameworks

Last week, I came up with a framework called The Tit Dilemma.

The concept was simple: Time, Ick and Tumbleweed - the three things that get in the way of us building personal brands.

When I shared it for the first time last week during a keynote, I was taken back not just by how well it went down in the moment, but by how many people have referenced it since. The point is…

Lots of thought leaders use frameworks in their talks and podcast appearances to structure their ideas in a way that stick.

The problem is, most frameworks lack imagination; functional, but forgettable.

❌ Generic acronyms
❌ Lifeless quadrants
❌ Overwhelming step-by-step processes

Great frameworks have 3 things in common:

1. They trigger an emotional reaction 😃
   They make people smile, nod, maybe even raise an eyebrow.

2. They’re easy to repeat 💬
   They’re not just clear, they’re quotable. They should make people want to reference them in conversation or share them publicly.

3. They have a built-in hook 🪝

   There’s something unexpected about them. Perhaps it’s a clever name, a surprising analogy or they’re counter intuitive. Whatever it is, it makes people want to lean in.

Case and point?

Daniel Priestley’s Name. Same. Fame. Aim. Game. This clip demonstrates exactly how a framework should land with an audience. Take particular note of how Steven’s facial expression changes as Daniel takes him through… 🍿

Here are 3 more clever frameworks to spark some inspiration:

1. Jodie Cook’s ‘4 Games of Business’ 💼
   The Exit Game, The Artist Game, The Lifestyle Game, The Performance Game.
   
   Notice how framing business as a game changes the way we feel about what we could perceive to be a serious topic.
   
   See here for more
   

2. Ted Sorensen’s ‘4 words and 5 lines’ 🚀
   Ted Sorensen was JFK’s speech writer. He believed that all great speeches have
   ‘4 words and 5 lines’:
   
   Words: Brevity, levity, clarity, charity
   Lines: Outline, headline, frontline, sideline, bottom line

   
   See here for more
   

3. Dr Susan Fiske’s Warmth + Competence model

   The formula? Charisma = Warmth + Competence
   
   Warmth: Headtilt, triple nod, lean in, affirmations, show vulnerability
   Competence: Steeple pose , shoulders down, lower lid flex, downward inflection
   
   See here for more

I’ll leave you with one final thought…

Used correctly, frameworks are one of the most effective tools to amplify your message beyond the speaking engagement itself. Why? Because frameworks that are both useful and fun, get shared online.

So if people aren’t sharing your framework, it might be time to ask yourself why.

Alex