Strategic Recommendation Slide: Challenges and Solutions Framework (Free PPT)
Download the free Challenges and Solutions template. Present business problems and recommendations clearly within a single powerful consulting framework. PPT ready to use.
Stop losing your audience. Start driving decisions.
You've done the hard work. You've dug through the data, uncovered the real problems, and mapped out solutions that will actually move the needle.
Now you need to sell it.
Here's the truth: most strategy presentations fail in the boardroom—not because the thinking is weak, but because the delivery buries the insight. Executives tune out. Decisions stall. Your recommendations collect dust.
The Challenges and Solutions Framework fixes that.
This battle-tested template puts your entire strategic argument on a single slide. Three challenges on the left. Three solutions on the right. Each one paired, numbered, and impossible to miss.
Let's break down how to make it work for you.
What Makes This Framework So Effective?
Picture your typical executive audience. They're juggling twelve priorities, glancing at phones, and mentally fast-forwarding to their next meeting.
You don't have twenty minutes. You have twenty seconds.
This framework delivers your entire recommendation in one visual hit:
- Challenge #1 → Solution #1
- Challenge #2 → Solution #2
- Challenge #3 → Solution #3
No hunting through slides. No connecting dots. The logic hits immediately.
Why You Should Use It
Cut Through the Noise
Forget dense paragraphs and bullet-point marathons. This template strips your argument down to what matters. Decision-makers see the problem, see the fix, and move toward action.
Sharpen Your Thinking
Limiting yourself to three challenges forces you to prioritize ruthlessly. You can't dump every issue you've found onto this slide. You have to choose. And that discipline separates average consultants from great ones.
Build Credibility Fast
The numbered pairing shows you've done rigorous work. You haven't just listed problems—you've matched each one with a targeted solution. That structure signals expertise before you say a word.
Drive Action
Most presentations end with "any questions?" This framework ends with "here's what we do next." You're not just informing. You're pushing toward a decision.
How to Build a Killer Challenges and Solutions Slide
Pick Challenges That Demand Attention
Don't waste space on minor issues. Every challenge on this slide should make executives lean forward.
Ask yourself:
- What happens if we ignore this?
- Does solving this unlock real value?
- Can we actually address it with our proposed solution?
If a challenge doesn't pass all three tests, cut it.
Write Solutions That Hit Hard
Vague recommendations kill momentum. "Improve operational efficiency" tells nobody anything.
Instead, get specific:
- What exactly will change?
- Who owns it?
- What does success look like?
Your solutions should feel like a starting gun, not a shrug.
Keep It Tight
Match the length of your challenges and solutions. If one side runs long while the other stays short, you signal uneven thinking. Symmetry matters.
Back It Up
Drop your key data point in the footnote. Cite your source. The recommendation slide is your headline—the supporting evidence lives in your appendix. But showing you have the proof builds instant trust.
Where This Framework Wins
Pull out this template when you're presenting:
- Strategic recommendations that need leadership sign-off
- Budget proposals competing for limited resources
- Transformation plans with multiple moving parts
- Assessment findings after a diagnostic deep-dive
- Board updates where time is tight and stakes are high
Skip it for technical walkthroughs or data-heavy analysis. This framework excels at synthesis and persuasion, not granular detail.
Mistakes That Tank Your Slide
Cramming in too much text. This is a summary, not a dissertation. If you can't scan it in ten seconds, you've lost.
Breaking the pairs. Solution #2 must solve Challenge #2. The moment that link breaks, your logic falls apart.
Hiding behind buzzwords. "Leverage synergies" and "drive alignment" mean nothing. Say what you actually mean.
Skipping sources. Unsupported claims invite skepticism. One solid citation beats ten unsupported assertions.
Download the Strategic Recommendation Template
Ready to put this to work? Download the Challenges and Solutions Framework and start building slides that actually land.
Your next presentation deserves better than death by bullet point.
