Project Managers: Focus on the Three-Act Structure for Business Presentations

Every high-stakes presentation needs a proven structure

The three-act structure has stood the test of time and is used in many applications. (Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash)

Every written or verbal communication needs a structure. The three-act structure stands the test of time. It is also a straightforward and extremely efficient structure for your big presentations.

The Three-Act Structure

The three-act structure originates in Aristotle’s Poetics (c. 335 BCE), where he discussed the importance of a beginning, middle, and end in storytelling.

Greek tragedies followed this structure. Playwright William Shakespeare used a five-act structure, but a three-act movement — setup, conflict, and resolution — is still seen.

Today, the three-act structure is a foundation in movies, novels, plays, and business storytelling.

The Opening in Effective Technical Communication

The opening is where we provide the problem statement and conclusion segment in our communications with decision makers. Depending on the forum, the opening is also where we show an attention-grabbing prop or factoid.

The Main Body

The main body provides all of the technical professional’s work. Of course, the technical work is the basis of the conclusions. However, care should be taken not to overdo this segment.

The Close

The close consists of a reiteration of the takeaways and the Q&As. Handling questions is the primary component for high-stakes presentations related to big decisions.

Preparation Sequence

Focus first on the opening. Focus next on the closing. The blind spot for most technical professionals is that they spend too much time on the main body (what analysts care most about) and too little time on the opening and closing (what the decision makers care most about).

Focus on the Three-Act Structure in Big Presentations

The three-act structure (opening, middle, and closing) provides a proven, universal framework for all types of communication. There is beauty and power in its simplicity.

The elements of the FINESSE fishbone diagram® are Frame, Illustrate, Noise reduction, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics. Visit our Tackle Shop for communication and facilitation resources.