Step 1
Restate the core question as a crisp issue.
Turn the vague brief into a specific, answerable question.
“Don't just echo the brief. Tighten it — what's the specific question?”
What “strong” looks like
- Uses real words (not filler)
- Stated as a question
- Actionable (mentions a number, timeframe, or decision)
A strong issue statement is specific enough that every branch below it is a real hypothesis, not a category.