How to Use Structure to Communicate with the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram
- JD Solomon
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
I recently watched a seasoned colleague—smart, experienced, and deeply respected—fall into this exact trap. She delivered 50 content slides in 40 minutes. The “money slide,” the one that tied everything together, appeared at minute 39. The opening lacked a clear takeaway. The closing lacked a punch. The only thing the decision makers remembered was how much information they were given, not what they were supposed to do with it.
This is why the first S in FINESSE—Structure—matters so much.
Structure isn’t about decoration, formatting, or slide order. It is the backbone of accessibility, inclusion, and comprehension—the difference between a message that lands and one that evaporates.
As part of the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram®, Structure is a powerful tool for communicating issues with high complexity and uncertainty.
Why Structure Matters in FINESSE
The bottom fin of the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram®—Empathy, Structure, and Synergy—is all about the audience. Structure is the part that ensures your message is received the way you intend. Decision makers do not have the time—or the need—to ascend the mountain of knowledge you climbed. They want the time, not the watch.
Structure solves that problem by forcing you to start with the conclusions, layer the details, and make the communication accessible to everyone in the room—including the 8 to 25 percent who may have visual or hearing impairments or who speak a different first language. JD’s Rule of 12 reminds us that accessibility is not a niche concern; it is a structural requirement.
Three Ways to Use Structure with the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram
1. Start with the Opening and Closing—Not the Middle
Technical professionals spend most of their time on the main body because that is where the analysis lives. But decision makers form their impressions in the first 90 seconds and make their decisions in the last 90 seconds.
The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® reinforces this discipline. The Structure bone reminds you to:
Open with the key takeaways.
Close with the same takeaways, reinforced through Q&A
Keep the middle lean and layered.
This is the three‑act structure that has stood the test of time.
2. Choose a Presentation Sequence That Serves the Audience
Most professionals default to a chronological sequence because that is how they learned in school and how the scientific method unfolds. But chronological sequences rarely serve decision makers.
Instead, choose a sequence that aligns with the FINESSE principle of clarity:
Spatial (where things are)
Paired (advantages vs. disadvantages, costs vs. benefits)
Three‑Act (opening, main body, closing)
The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® helps you visualize these options and select the one that best supports your message.
3. Use Structure to Make Your Communication Accessible and Inclusive
Structure is not just about logic. It is about inclusion. The three Vs—visual, vocal, and verbal—sit under Structure in FINESSE because they determine whether your message reaches everyone in the room.
Simple structural choices make a big difference:
High‑contrast visuals
Clear verbal summaries
Logical sequencing
Layered detail
Predictable transitions
When you use the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® to plan your structure, you naturally build communication that includes everyone.
The Bottom Line
Structure is the first S in FINESSE for a reason. It is the foundation that makes every other part of the framework work. Without Structure, your Frame collapses, your Illustrations lose impact, and your Empathy never reaches the audience.
The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® gives you a visual anchor to build that structure—one that keeps you focused on what decision makers need, not what analysts prefer.
If you want your communication to be understood, remembered, and acted upon, start with Structure. That is how you communicate with FINESSE.
The elements of the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® are Frame, Illustrate, Noise reduction, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics.
JD Solomon Inc. provides solutions for program development, asset management, and facilitation at the nexus of facilities, infrastructure, and the environment.
JD Solomon writes and consults on decision-making, reliability, risk, and communication for leaders and technical professionals. His work connects technical disciplines with human understanding to help people make better decisions and build stronger systems. Learn more at www.jdsolomonsolutions.com and www.communicatingwithfinesse.com
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