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Great podcast on the decision briefing process! I have used a similar approach before to get organizational buy-in, but I never had a useful acronym :) I'm going to implement this immediately.

Quick question: for the pre-wire, do you suggest using the slides that you create for the presentation, or creating a separate word document that you can send to the folks before your pre-wire meetings?

Thanks,
Shawn

jhack's picture

Have you listened to the prewire podcast, http://www.manager-tools.com/2007/11/how-to-prewire-a-meeting ?

 

John Hack

Shawn's picture

Yes, but not since... November 2007. I'll give it another listen and see if it addresses this.

Thanks,

Shawn

Shawn's picture

I went back to the prewire cast, and the answer by inference is to not send a document ahead. In the past, I have created a narrative document describing the situation/problem, the relevant options, and criteria discussion for each of the options. I then invited each of the stakeholders by e-mail to review the document and provide feedback, and I responded to their feedback with a short visit or phone call.

Mark's approach is probably better if you can get time on everyone's calendar. If not, or if you are traveling, the document approach is worth considering.

Shawn

asteriskrntt1's picture

Shawn, I am a bit confused.

If you can get a short visit or phone time after the document, why can't you get it before?  And I would rarely send a document unless it was a briefing note/executive summary.  That is making them do work.  A big chunk of the pre-wire is relationship building.  A short slide deck should get you what you want.  Are you by chance a high C?

Shawn's picture

High C/D, yes. How could you tell? :)

However, the document method is actually how I was coached on decision briefing by my mentor. I'm just trying to reconcile his approach with the MT method.

I'm using Mark's approach to prepare a decision briefing right now. So far it seems to be just as effective in garnering support when I am able to get in front of people.

Shawn

jhack's picture

It's much more important THAT you prewire, than the details of HOW. Some techniques will be more effective than others, but your mentor was wise to have you do it.

 

John Hack