FRAMES – GIVING MEANING TO CONVERSATION

Frames – Giving Meaning to conversation. What does it mean? Frames give meaning to the conversation one has with another person. If one observes closely, it will be evident that information does not exists on its own, it has to be understood in context. And so the meaning we derive from any experience depends upon the frame we apply. And believe it or not we are always setting frames

Understanding Frames

Understanding Frames of conversation is an essential step towards understanding and meaning. The frames one sets will define the questions the person we ask. And there is no doubt that questions are a power ways setting framesbecause they include appumptions about the event.  For example, you are observing as a manager that one of your team members will be really struggling in his performance. There are many ways you could ask about him. For example

a.  “Do you think the persom will be able to achieve his target?”

b. “What kind of support will he be needing to achieve his target for the month?”

c. “What are the the factors that are inhibiting him to achieve this months target?”

The situation is the same. However, as a manager you could ask about him in many ways. These are frames that you define for the person. Here you can see that Frames are giving meaning to the conversation you are about to have with. This will define the kind of conversation you are likely to have with him.  You could be realizing by now that giving meaning to the conversation is entirely in our hands. We just needs to choose what we want to from context we are in

There are seven types of Frames that give meaning to the conversation

a. The Outcome frame

b. The Ecology frame

c. The backtrack frame

d. The As if frame

e. The negotiation frame

f. The contrast frame

g. The systemic frame

Let me share an exercise for the frame

Identify a situation you are in with a friend of yours. What are the kinds of questions you will be asking from the various frames mentioned. What do you think about it?

Frames – Giving meaning to conversation. We will be exploring about them in the program on IMPACTFUL CONVERSATION