The effective way for you to understand the PRFAQ Framework is to read a few examples. That’s because we learn better when we are in the right context. It’s easier to learn a new game by watching someone playing it, and then learning the rules of the game. That’s why I published four PRFAQ Examples for anyone to download and read it.
When I sent the first “beta” version of the book to folks on my network to read, a handful of them suggested I included an example of a PRFAQ early in the book. I was reluctant to do it because I felt without the proper context, people will miss relevant information on how to interpret a PRFAQ. They will see it as a marketing tool (”press release”) and not as a strategy document. I changed my mind when I watched a video explaining how the brain learns. I moved one of the Example PRFAQs from the back of the book to the front, the chapter zero.
Here’s a recipe for you to learn about the PRFAQ Framework and how to use it in your projects:
- Read the PRFAQ Examples.
- Read the PRFAQ 101 article or the full book (best).
- Select a project with limited time (2-4 months), scope, and impact. Enlist folks in your organization who are open-minded and comfortable with the early struggles of a new system. The first time, it’ll be bumpy, feel awkward, and you will not do it well.
- Repeat step 3 a couple more times, until the team “gets it.”
- Expand into bigger projects and other parts of the organization.
Unfortunately, there aren’t that many PRFAQs out there for you to read, given that PRFAQs are confidential internal documents. It’s also important to understand the document itself is only a part of the value of this framework. The biggest value comes from writing and reviewing them with others, using it as the tool to discover, debate, and decide on a strategy and a vision.