Three Piles: Turning Chaos into Clarity
When we work with clients, one of the most common challenges we see is too much information. Teams often have a ton of valuable content they want to present—but it starts out as a jumble. The ideas are good, but they’re not organized. Over the course of our coaching, we help them bring order to that chaos.
From Mess to Meaning
Our process usually starts by helping the team sort everything into manageable sections—what we call “piles.” At first, this can feel like dumping everything out on the table. But once the piles start taking shape, the message begins to make sense. Most often, we end up with three clear piles that organize the entire presentation.
The Three Piles
1. Introduction – The Big Idea
The first pile is your introduction. This is where you establish the main idea, the organizing theme, or the central concept behind your presentation. It’s the “what” and the “why” in the first 30 to 60 seconds—your point, clearly stated right at the beginning.
2. Expansion – Supporting the Idea
The second pile expands on that theme. Here you elaborate—add examples, evidence, and applications that reinforce your initial point. This section gives your audience depth and context, showing how your idea applies and why it matters.
3. Distillation – The Call to Action
The third pile brings everything home. It’s where you distill your message back down to one essential takeaway—ideally an action you want your audience to take. It’s your message in its simplest, most powerful form.
Why It Works
When clients follow this process, they often say, “That’s what I’ve been trying to say all along.” The structure doesn’t change their message—it clarifies it. The three-pile method helps turn a flood of ideas into a story that’s clear, memorable, and actionable.
The Takeaway
So, before your next presentation or proposal, try this: take all your information, sort it into three piles—what’s your point, how do you expand on it, and how do you close it down with action. It’s a simple way to transform chaos into clarity.
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