I’m sure every creative has different theories about the order in which to present ideas to their boss/creative partner/suits. Personally, my strategy is similar to that of a test cricket batting order. Your openers are not your best ideas. They are good, solid, they play a straight bat/clearly answer the brief but they are not super exciting. Once those first two have taken the shine off the ball/convinced my colleagues that I’m not an idiot, then I present my best idea. In cricket it’s known as First Drop - a spot occupied by Waugh, Ponting, Smith. Let’s face it, sometimes that idea is more of a Rob Quiney, Shane Watson or Shaun Marsh - but it’s my best shot at running up a decent total. My fave is generally followed by another one I really rate, although not quite as much. After that comes an Adam Gilchrist idea. Something non-traditional that absolutely swings for the fences. Client will never buy it but the ambition is impressive. Not long after that comes a Warney or a Mitchell Johnson - it’s no Gilchrist but who knows, could chip in with a handy cameo? Rounding out the side are a couple of Glenn McGraths - valid inclusions but that’s really all you can say about these last ideas. Occasionally they top-edge one over the keeper’s head to the boundary, but generally, they are just making up the numbers. Hopefully old Quiney is down the other end, hitting them cleanly.
So that’s my approach when it comes to presenting work internally. When you go to client, there are much fewer ideas involved so the strategy changes a bit. Anyway, if anyone has their own techniques, I’d love to hear them.