Thoughts For The Week - 2025.11.16
Communication Frameworks: PREP, GROW or BLUF?
This week’s post is a deep dive on Joran Cutler’s post Top 5 Communication Frameworks for Engineers You Must Remember
Depending on the situation different approaches will help you to put your point forward. If you’re unsure on how to explain your thoughts then these three structures will likely help. Try rephrasing your point, analysis or request in one of these formats…
Takeaway Nugget 1: PREP: Point, Reason, Example, Point
Takeaway Nugget 2: GROW: Goal, Reality, Options, Will
Takeaway Nugget 3: BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front
1. PREP - Point, Reason, Example, Point
Point: State your main argument immediately
Reason: Explain why it’s important or why you believe it
Example: Back it up with concrete evidence or a specific instance
Point: Restate your main argument to reinforce it
Takeaway Nugget 1: Keep the focus and get straight to the point. Useful when you have clear crisp examples.
2. GROW: Goal, Reality, Options, Will
Goal: What outcome do you want to achieve?
Reality: What’s the current situation?
Options: What are the possible paths to get from here to there?
Will: Which path are you willing to commit to?
Takeaway Nugget 2: I’ve found this to be very useful in coaching situations. Also useful when you know the goal is a long way off. By committing to path you can highlight the current gap and also provide evidence that you’ve investigated other approaches in a structured way.
3. BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) is the single most important communication framework for engineers. If you only learn one, learn this.
✅ Do: In BLUF, you start with your main point, question, or request. Then, you only add the necessary context to drive that point home.
For a deep dive on this one I’d recommend Gaurav Jain’s post on The Pyramid Principle…
Takeaway Nugget 3: This is great to cut through the noise. No long context, cut straight to the point, justify it and then provide further supporting data.
Have a great week.
Very cool to see this, deep dive! Thank you, Chris!