Put the recommendation before the full analysis. Then give the reason, the main tradeoff, and the decision or action you need from the listener.
Goals
How to give a clear recommendation at work
State the recommendation, the reason, the tradeoff and the decision you need without burying the ask in background detail.
Before
We looked at several options and there are advantages and disadvantages to each, especially around maintenance and delivery speed...
The listener still does not know what you recommend.
After
I recommend option B because it reduces the delivery risk this month. It costs more to maintain, so I need a decision on whether that tradeoff is acceptable.
Both are authored examples.
A four-part check
- What do I recommend?
- Why this option?
- What important tradeoff should not be hidden?
- What decision or next action do I need?
Rehearse the answer out loud. On playback, check whether the recommendation and requested decision are recoverable without reconstructing them from the background.
Do not force every recommendation into one formula. Complex decisions may require data, alternatives and discussion. The point is to make the recommendation visible, not to make the analysis disappear.
Reviewed: