pyramid structure critical thinking

• Awards Season
• Big Stories
• Pop Culture
• Video Games
• Celebrities

Enhance Critical Thinking Skills through Daily Engagement with Puzzles

In today’s fast-paced world, where information is readily available at our fingertips, it’s crucial to develop and enhance critical thinking skills. One effective way to achieve this is by engaging in daily puzzles. Whether it’s a crossword, Sudoku, or a brain teaser, puzzles of the day can provide a fun and challenging exercise for your mind. In this article, we will explore the benefits of daily puzzle engagement and how it can sharpen your critical thinking skills.

Mental Stimulation and Problem-Solving Abilities

Engaging in puzzles on a regular basis provides mental stimulation that keeps your brain active and alert. When you tackle puzzles of the day, you are presented with various problems that require logical reasoning and problem-solving abilities. These challenges push you to think creatively and find innovative solutions.

By consistently engaging in puzzle solving, you train your brain to approach problems from different angles, improving your ability to think critically. This skillset extends beyond puzzle-solving scenarios and becomes applicable in various real-life situations such as decision-making processes or analyzing complex issues.

Memory Retention and Cognitive Function

Puzzles not only stimulate critical thinking but also help improve memory retention and cognitive function. When solving puzzles of the day, you are required to remember patterns, rules, or clues provided within the puzzle itself.

This constant exercise of memory retrieval strengthens neural connections in the brain responsible for storing information. As a result, you will notice an improvement in your ability to recall information quickly and accurately.

Moreover, engaging in regular puzzle-solving activities has been linked to enhanced cognitive function. It has been shown that individuals who regularly engage in puzzles perform better on tasks related to memory, processing speed, and attention span compared to those who do not engage in such activities.

Increased Concentration and Focus

In today’s digital age where distractions are abundant, maintaining concentration and focus has become a challenge for many. Engaging in puzzles of the day can help combat this problem.

When solving a puzzle, you need to concentrate on the task at hand, blocking out any distractions. This focused attention allows you to delve deep into the problem and analyze it thoroughly. Over time, regular engagement with puzzles improves your ability to concentrate for longer periods and enhances your overall focus.

Stress Reduction and Mental Well-being

Puzzles provide a wonderful escape from the daily stressors of life. When you immerse yourself in solving puzzles, you enter a state of flow where time seems to fly by, and your mind is fully engaged in the task.

This state of flow promotes relaxation and reduces stress levels. As you solve each piece of the puzzle, you experience a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, boosting your mood and mental well-being.

Additionally, engaging in puzzles can serve as a form of meditation or mindfulness practice. It allows you to disconnect from technology and be present in the moment, focusing solely on the task at hand.

In conclusion, incorporating daily puzzles into your routine can have numerous benefits for enhancing critical thinking skills. From mental stimulation to improved memory retention, increased concentration to stress reduction – puzzles provide a holistic approach to sharpening your cognitive abilities while having fun along the way. So why not make “puzzle of the day” part of your daily routine? Start challenging yourself today.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

MORE FROM ASK.COM

• Accounting & Finance
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Marketing & Strategy
• Starting a Business
• Team Management
• Corporate Philosophy
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
• Kokorozashi
• Sustainable Business
• AI Ventures
• Machine Learning
• Alumni Voices
• Yoshito Hori Blog
• Unlimited Insights
• Career Skills
• GLOBIS Community

Using the Pyramid Principle’s Key Messages for Better Persuasiveness

Critical Thinking: Structured Reasoning

Even a few simple techniques for logical decision making and persuasion can vastly improve your skills as a leader. Explore how critical thinking can help you evaluate complex business problems, reduce bias, and devise effective solutions.

Logical Thinking

Logical thinking is at the heart of confident, persuasive decisions. This course will equip you with a five-point approach to more becoming a more logical thinker. Learn to classify ideas and distinguish fact from opinion.

Pyramid Structure

Having the pyramid structure in your communication toolkit can not only help you approach a problem, but convince others that your solution is valid. Break away from linear thinking and test your logical thinking with this course from GLOBIS Unlimited!

Thinking and running have something in common.

Anyone can run, but if you want to be a racing champion, you need to learn the techniques for running faster . Similarly, anyone can think, but if you want to think smarter than anyone else, you need the right techniques.

Specifically, you need critical thinking techniques.

There are many frameworks that can help you build your critical thinking, such as the logic tree for problem-solving or the MECE principle for logic checking. But if you’re looking to build your persuasiveness, the Pyramid Principle—or, as we call it at GLOBIS University, the pyramid structure —is one of the best options around.

Next Article

The Logic Tree: The Ultimate Critical Thinking Framework

Principled Negotiation: A Crash Course in Workplace Persuasion

Barbara Minto and the Pyramid Principle

The pyramid structure is a critical thinking tool developed by Barbara Minto that can help you organize your thoughts for stronger communication.

In 1963, Minto was one of the first women to earn her MBA from Harvard Business School. She went on to become consulting firm McKinsey & Company’s first-ever female consultant and was subsequently sent to the company’s London office. Her job was to travel around Europe training ESL staff to deliver clear presentations in English.

In the course of her work, Minto made an interesting discovery: It wasn’t the English language that was giving the consultants problems. It was a lack of logical order in their thinking.

Her solution was a practical thought-organization tool: the Minto Pyramid Principle . She publicized her insights in The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking . This book is so impressive that we had it translated into Japanese at GLOBIS University in the 1990s. Much to Minto’s astonishment, sales in Japan at one time accounted for half of the book’s worldwide sales!

Minto’s Pyramid Principle Logic

So how does the pyramid structure work?

Perhaps the most distinctive thing about the pyramid structure is that it starts with the answer. The conclusion is presented first , supported by a second layer of key messages (reasons), which can in turn be supported by a third layer of evidence (data or facts).

Ironically, this back-to-front approach guarantees maximum clarity of message. Key messages give your argument greater solidity and balance.

Imagine you want to ask your boss for a raise. Casually saying, “Hey, I’m a nice guy, so I deserve more money,” probably won’t get you very far. You need to build a structured argument by asking yourself why you deserve that raise and communicating that logic.

The top of the pyramid structure is the conclusion. So here’s a possible conclusion you could start with:

“I deserve a raise because I add value to the company and directly contribute to improved business performance.”

Key Messages

Under your conclusion, you’ll present the ideas that show your logic. These are your key messages. But don’t stop there.

Busy executives often say no if they can’t see a logical line of reasoning to a proposal. So you’ll need to check the logic and ensure everything holds up to scrutiny. So do a little internal question and answer.

Ask yourself, “So what?” for each key message.

Key message 1: I’ve brought in more clients.

So what? By bringing in more clients, I’ve boosted overall company revenue.

Key message 2: I’m a team builder. So what? I’ve hired and trained a new team. That shows I can create an environment that’s aligned with the company’s vision and mission.

Key message 3: I’ve upgraded my critical thinking skillset. So what? Upgraded cognitive skills enable me to do more faster and deliver higher quality work more efficiently.

3 Ways the MECE Principle Makes Data Organization Easy

Logic Check

To ensure your pyramid structure (and by extension, your argument) is sound, confirm that your points are MECE.

MECE stands for mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive. In laymen’s terms, that means your logic has no gaps or overlaps. You don’t want your boss thinking you’re presenting a single key message in multiple ways. All that will do is prove your critical thinking needs work.

Your pyramid structure for a raise could look like this:

Flexing the Pyramid Principle

The great thing about fitting your thoughts into the pyramid structure is that you can present your argument to fit any time frame.

If you have thirty seconds, give your boss the elevator pitch: the conclusion only.

If you have five minutes, give your boss the conclusion, then summarize your supporting arguments. If your boss asks “So what?” then you can go on to support your three key messages with factual data.

Once you have internalized thinking in a pyramid structure, your thoughts will be formatted for maximum accessibility, adaptability, and impact.

Critical thinking and problem solving are crucial business skills. That’s why we introduced Critical Thinking as a class early on at GLOBIS University, in 1996—years ahead of most other MBA schools. Faculty members report that the discussion skills of students who take the class are noticeably transformed. They become more constructive, more concise, and more methodical. It remains one of our most popular core courses to this day.

Related Articles

Writing a problem statement you can stick to.

Create an Employee Development Plan in 3 Steps

Breathe New Life into Your Brand with a Brand Refresh

Get monthly Insights

Sign up for our newsletter! Privacy Policy

GLOBIS Insights

• Submission Guidelines
• Our Contributors

Accountability

• Privacy Policy

GLOBIS Group

• GLOBIS Corporation
• GLOBIS University
• GLOBIS Capital Partners
• GLOBIS Asia Campus
• GLOBIS China
• GLOBIS Europe
• GLOBIS Thailand
• G1 Institute
• Ibaraki Robots Sports Entertainment
• KIBOW Foundation

© GLOBIS All Rights Reserved

Business microlearning from Japan’s No1 MBA

Pyramid Structure

Course Description

Have you ever struggled with a problem? Do you find it challenging to convince others, even when you’re confident your ideas will work?

If so, it’s time to put the pyramid structure in your communication toolkit. Discover how breaking away from linear thinking and testing the logic of your conclusions can help make your message clearer. Take on the challenge of building a pyramid structure for yourself and gain a leg up in the essential business skill of critical thinking.

Share this course:

Related courses.

Presentation Skills: Basics

Boiling Frog Syndrome

Six Thinking Hats

Pros and Cons Analysis

Effective Communication

Ready to join.

Put your career on course for success with GLOBIS Unlimited

GLOBIS Unlimited

• GLOBIS Manabihodai
• Privacy Policy
• Specified Commercial Transactions
• Full-time MBA
• Part-time MBA

GLOBIS group

• GLOBIS Corporation
• GLOBIS University
• GLOBIS Capital Partners
• GLOBIS China
• GLOBIS Thailand
• GLOBIS Asia Pacific
• GLOBIS Asia Campus
• G1 Institute
• KIBOW Foundation

Read our Latest Insights

©GLOBIS. All Rights Reserved.

• Video-Audio

The Pyramid Principle: How To Craft Coherent Explanations

We’ve all heard the conventional wisdom that says if you want to advance in your career, then you have to work hard.

Except, that’s only partially true.

If you want to move up the ranks from in any business, then you need to master a critical skill beyond work ethic: the ability to communicate more information, more clearly, in a limited amount of time.

In business, you have a few minutes to get your point across before a busy executive stops paying attention to you. If you  fail to get right to the point, you risk losing them.

Yes, a presentation may last a lot longer, but you don’t have much time to get–and keep–someone’s attention.

You need to tell your stories in a way that models the way people process information. In the consulting world, we accomplish this with The Pyramid Principle.

What Is The Pyramid Principle?

One of the best, yet relatively unknown tools to help you hold the attention of executives (or any audience) is The Pyramid Principle .

The Pyramid Principle was created by Barbara Minto, who headed training for McKinsey & Company back in the ’70s. Barbara was the best at getting all the new recruits to go from hot-shot, straight-from-campus hires to expert consultants in the shortest amount of time.

Barbara did it by employing a principle that could take large amounts of information and structure it to simplify the story yet retain the detail.  

How often have you had to decide between unloading a ton of content or dumbing down the message to communicate it quickly?

By focusing on the key actionable point, or the “bottom line,” and supporting it through the underlying arguments and data, Barbara was able to teach her students to get straight to the point.

That’s what The Pyramid Principle is at its core: a principle that allows you to quickly seize your audience’s attention and communicate with gravitas, by creating a compelling story that is easy to understand and remember.

How You Can Use The Pyramid Principle To Convince Anyone

The Pyramid Principle has a four-part introductory structure:

Complication

You start with knowing your audience. Then you arrange the information in a way that your audience can rapidly process.

Think about the introduction to a story:

Good stories don’t just dump information on their audiences, they begin by crisply describing a situation, creating a mental picture in the mind of the audience.

Like any good story, you introduce a complication to highlight the conflict, the problem or opportunity that affects the situation.  Then a question is posed to highlight the decision at hand, the moment of truth for the individual or company.  The answer or recommendation is then provided as the resolution, the (hopefully) happy ending to the story.

Let’s pretend a shoe company (which I’ll refer to as Hot Fire Shoes) hired you as a consultant. Here’s what your Pyramid Principle-driven presentation intro might look like:

“For years, Hot Fire Shoes has shown a steady increase in yearly revenue and profitability.”

You’ve established your familiarity with their company, established a positive atmosphere, and set the stage for your story.

“This quarter, Hot Fire Shoes’ profitability unexpectedly flat lined for the first time in company history.”

You’ve made the dilemma immediately clear to everyone in the room. This creates a sense of urgency, compelling the executive to listen and possibly act, based on your upcoming ideas. In short, you’ve grabbed their attention.

“How can we increase profitability for Hot Fire Shoes?”

You’ve started a question and answer dialogue (drawn from ancient techniques, like the Socratic Method). In The Pyramid Principle, the question extends logically from the complication, which keeps the overarching problem mentally straightforward and easier to follow.

Note that the question above is over simplified – in practice, a good question is often more subtle and the result of analysis to ensure the right question is asked.

You’re not looking for a one-size fits all solution here. The question you raise needs to have answers that are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive , otherwise known in business lingo as MECE.

Mutually exclusive means that each component is distinct, there is no overlap, and that you can address each part on its own without worrying about the other components.  Completely exhaustive means you have included every possible answer.

• Increase revenues
• Decrease costs

Neither option overlaps with the other, so they are mutually exclusive , and there are no major paths to profitability that fall outside of either category, so they are also completely exhaustive .

If your answers aren’t mutually exclusive, the lines become blurred, and clients may become confused and try clarify your logic on the fly. If your answers aren’t completely exhaustive, clients’ minds may wonder what is missing and ask you, “What about these other options?”

At that point you’ve already lost their attention, andwhatever momentum you had.  Sound like any presentations you’ve seen?

How The Pyramid Principle Makes The Complex Simple

To keep executives focused, you need to craft a coherent story. This means restructuring answers into the right scopes and right descriptions.

If I handed you a list of 25 options, you’d have no chance of making a smart decision. The same is true with your audience. You want to pick three to five options to highlight as answers to the question you’ve presented to them.

Research from George Miller has shown a human being can hold about 7 items in their short-term memory, and for some people it is even less.  That is why 3-5 items is the optimal size of components for a given idea.

Personally, I like three to five because that gives you room to be wrong on one or two options. This is something Derek, a true genius who I thought would change the game for my firm, couldn’t grasp .

Derek was quantitatively brilliant, but his comfort zone wouldn’t allow him to offer a client an idea with 3-5 supporting options. Instead, he felt he had to demonstrate his intellect by telling them about all 25 options that might work, in a semi-organized list.

Twenty-five options are way too many choices for busy executives.

What’s nice about The Pyramid Method is that you’re conveying bite size morsels of information that can easily fit on a slide, in a chapter, or in a section of a report that an executive—or functional leader—can quickly absorb.

This is a key tenet of both effective information analysis and communication to your audience.

Why The Pyramid Principle Is So Effective

One of the reasons The Pyramid Principle is so effective is that it uses vertical relationships.

The vertical relationship is important because it presents an idea, allows the reader to absorb it, and then provides answers and supporting evidence.  The top of the pyramid is a statement, with the supporting base of the pyramid ready to provide answers to the questions the statement raises.

Every piece of information on the pyramid base reinforces the tip above it, making the pyramid’s conclusion inescapable to the viewer.  And the base of one pyramid can (and often does) become the tip of another, to maintain the ‘rule of 3’ discussed above.

If there is power in the vertical relationships, is there also power in the horizontal relationships?  Absolutely, though in a different way.  

In vertical relationships, the supporting points (the base) need to answer the question raised by the statement above (the tip).  For horizontal relationships, the supporting points relate to each other, using either deductive or inductive reasoning.

The Pyramid Principle Sounds Great, But What If I’m Wrong?

Yes, it’s possible your recommendation may be wrong. However, the purpose of the Pyramid Principle isn’t always to convince everyone that you’re right. It’s to lay out your argument in the clearest terms possible, so that listeners can understand your thinking and engage more fully.

If you’re right, it will allow the audience to grasp the idea quickly and easily.

If you’re wrong, it will make your thinking clearer, so that a listener can point out the flaw in your logic and collaboratively provide you constructive feedback.

Another upside to mastering how to craft coherent ideas, is that executives are keenly aware of how hard it is to do what you’ve demonstrated. They’ll want you around, whether as a consultant or in another capacity – don’t be surprised when clients want to hire you.

You see, it’s not just about working hard. It’s about your ability to communicate, with impact.

You still need to hustle, and you still need to hit your targets.  But all else being equal, the person who advances the fastest is usually the one who knows the value of time, how to deliver value, and tell a succinct story with sound reasoning.

• Higher Ed Trends

Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy: 3 Ways To Reshape The Pyramid

Karen Quevillon

Bloom’s Taxonomy is probably the most widespread and enduringly popular model in education. It was created in 1956 by Dr. Benjamin Bloom and colleagues at the Board of Examinations, University of Chicago. In 2001, the pyramid was revised by Lorin Anderson, a student of Bloom’s, resulting in Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy.

Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy focuses on learning outcomes. The framework demands that very first thing that instructors need to think about is what students have to know by the end of the course. Learning objectives need actions to get to them. And Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy is hierarchical, requiring your students to achieve each level in succession—in order to understand a concept, you must remember it; to apply a concept you must first understand it, and so on.

There’s no doubt that this way of classifying educational objectives has been extremely useful to millions of teachers over the years. But for those who might not have had conclusively positive results evaluating Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy or incorporating it into instruction, it’s worth considering some more ways to think outside the pyramid to improve teaching and learning. Here are three things you could bear in mind when using Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy in your lesson planning.

1. Cultivate judgment rather than transmit information

The instructional strategies behind Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy require educators to begin with “lower order” tasks, arguing that students need to master these first. This means we front-load our courses with information: information that can be recalled, defined, identified or another objective in the lowest layer of the pyramid.

But constructivist theories of learning—and our own classroom experiences—tell us that learning does not happen through information transference alone. A learner is an not empty vessel into which we pour definitions. He or she is not going to truly understand something without interpreting it, questioning it, or relating to it.

So when designing your course, try to incorporate ways to strengthen and take advantage of their faculties of judgment.

What would it mean to cultivate judgment during a course? Start by doing. Engage your students to take action in some relevant way—through a lab experiment, for example, or by field research. Another way to do this is role-play. When I taught history, we started out by taking on the identities of various countries, coming to decisions supported by research and analysis. The historical facts—and there were many—were all taught in this context. In this way, facts are put into the service of learning, rather than becoming an initial goal in themselves.

2. Start, rather than end, with creativity

As educator Shelley Wright has pointed out, Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy gives the impression there’s a “scarcity of creativity.” 1 Only those strong enough or talented enough to work their way up to the summit of the pyramid can be creative. The truth is that everybody is naturally creative—just think of a seven year-old at play—except that this way of being in the world is often squelched or squandered. Ken Robinson, for instance, has strongly argued that creativity is typically “educated out” of us. 2

What could it mean to start with creativity? Have your students create on day one. (OK, maybe day two or three.) Wright explains how this works for her media studies class. Instead of beginning by laying out design principles and the history of media, she gets the students to make an advert mockup. Then they compare their mockups to published adverts. Wright helps them analyze differences and introduces, through student-facilitated research, the major principles and concepts of design that help them explain their own creation and those of others.

A create-first approach could work just as well in courses that are theory-rich and fact-heavy such as philosophy, literature, or science. In environmental science, for example, ask students to propose a solution to deforestation or ocean acidification. Then, starting from their contributions, explore the principles, factors, concepts, contingencies at play, including the ones that were omitted. Have students compare their solutions to others’. Get them to elicit the principle involved, the recent literature in the area, and articulate and fully describe the concepts and the facts.

3. Promote awareness instead of entrenching hierarchy

The stratification of Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy into “lower” and “higher” order objectives sets up a value proposition. It leads educators to think that certain kinds of learning necessarily reflect superior kinds of cognition.

But as Roland Case argues, tasks at every level of Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy can be performed thoughtfully or thoughtlessly. 3 It is possible to defend a position in a completely superficial way. It is possible to propose a plan that lacks good judgment or analysis. It is possible to create something without building from a base of relevant knowledge. Indeed, that is why it’s necessary to practice and develop judgment, critical thinking skills and creative problem-solving.

When Anderson and Krathwohl revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, they accounted for this with a second scale for assessment called The Knowledge Dimension, which lies as another dimension or axis to the cognitive domain. One should assess each of the revised categories (Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create) according to whether factual, conceptual, procedural or metacognitive knowledge is demonstrated.

If no category is higher or lower than any other, then leveling makes no sense. With proper consideration for The Knowledge Dimension, we are far from a pyramid… and always have been! But who knew? As Leslie Wilson points out, “what most educators are given in training is a simple chart listing levels and related accompanying verbs.” 4

Bloom’s Taxonomy revised: A pyramid alternative

And so, if we want to engage students’ creativity, cultivate judgment and make sure that each stage of learning is fully developed and attuned to the right outcome, then organizing anew the existing structure of Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy could go a very long way. Instead of a pyramid, how about a mandala?

Strange things happen when we feel beholden to a structure. If lesson planning with Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy hasn’t been working for you or your class, rethink the background on how it should be applied. Reconsider the way you’re assessing student learning. Break down the hierarchy and rebuild.

Illustration credits: CC-BY 2.0 Vanderbilt University; CC-BY-SA 3.0 K. Aqinsqatsi.

Related stories Bloom’s verbs and how to apply them to questions

Get a set of online teaching resources to help you develop effective teaching practices and foster active learning within your classrooms.

Download your free Top Hat Toolkit Here:

• Wright, S. (2012, May 15). Flipping Bloom’s Taxonomy [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://plpnetwork.com/2012/05/15/flipping-blooms-taxonomy/
• Parker, Q. (2018, October 3). The Possibilities of an Agile Classroom: Sir Ken Robinson [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://tophat.com/blog/sir-ken-robinson-qa/
• Case, R. Unfortunate Consequences of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Retrieved from https://tc2.ca/uploads/PDFs/Critical%20Discussions/unfortunate_consequences_blooms_taxonomy.pdf
• Wilson, L. O. (2017, January 20). Understanding the New Version of Bloom’s Taxonomy. [Blog post] https://thesecondprinciple.com/teaching-essentials/beyond-bloom-cognitive-taxonomy-revised/

Recommended Readings

3 Reasons This Academic Year Was So Impactful for Your Students

Students Are Anxious About AI. Talking Will Help.

Subscribe to the top hat blog.

Join more than 10,000 educators. Get articles with higher ed trends, teaching tips and expert advice delivered straight to your inbox.

Home Blog Guide to Presenting Using the Pyramid Principle

Guide to Presenting Using the Pyramid Principle

The conventional method for presenting a PowerPoint presentation entails reflecting upon the facts and fine details to draw the audience towards a conclusion. This can result in a lengthy Q&A session at the end of the presentation, where the audience might appear confused, unsatisfied, and at times, feel manipulated into being led towards a conclusion of the presenter’s choosing. A better alternative can be to use the Pyramid Principle .

Present using the Pyramid Principle: An Excellent Tool to Communicate Logical Information

The Pyramid Principle can be used for structuring communication to have a meaningful impact. Whether you’re making reports, delivering a presentation, or preparing an analysis, the Pyramid Principle can be an excellent tool to communicate logical information . The structured format in which the communication relays the answer prior to facts and data can help create an environment where critical thinking can be stimulated at the very start, instead of the end.

What is the Pyramid Principle?

Developed by an ex-McKinsey consultant, Barbara Minto, the Pyramid Principle is considered as one of the most important concepts of executive communication often taught in  strategic communications and leadership programs . Unlike conventional modes of presenting information, the Pyramid Principle presents the answer at the beginning, followed by supporting arguments, data, and facts. The concept was documented in her book published in 1985 titled; The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking .

The information is presented in the form of a pyramid, with the core idea at the top, which is then broken down by revealing fine details. The top of the pyramid contains the answer, which is the starting point. The middle of the pyramid represents supporting arguments. Whereas the bottom of the pyramid gives the supporting data and facts.

What are the 3 Rules When Creating Pyramid Structure?

When sitting through a lengthy PowerPoint presentation bloated with facts and data and a leading conclusion, one can feel unsatisfied with the presenter. However, when given the answer at the very beginning, you might feel a need to think through its merits from the very start. As you are presented with supporting arguments and facts, you can determine whether you agree or disagree with the statement or feel a need to raise important questions.

This approach makes it possible to aid structured thinking and stimulate critical thinking at the very start of a presentation or when reading through a report or research. Rather than feeling that you are being led towards a conclusion with convoluted information.

Supporting Arguments

Once the audience has been given the answer or hypothesis at the start, they can begin critically analyzing the supporting argument that follows. This is the second stage of the Pyramid Principle, where the answer is supported with relevant arguments to help test the validity of the hypothesis or to present it for critical analysis.

Supporting Data and Facts

Unlike conventional approaches to presenting data, the Pyramid Principle makes it possible to see supporting facts and data after a hypothesis. Rather than wondering what the long bits of information might be leading to. The one reading through the information or sitting in the audience does not need to wonder about the suggested conclusion, as it has already been presented at the start. Enabling critical analysis of the data and facts, as they are presented.

Why Does the Pyramid Principle Work?

Before the Pyramid Principle, Barbara Minto developed the MECE principle in the 1960s, which is a grouping principle that separates items into subsets. These subsets are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive, hence the name MECE. This concept underlies what was later known as the Pyramid Principle during the 1980s. Providing a mechanism to structure information for maximum impact. Making the principle practical and useful.

The Pyramid Principle suggests that ideas should be presented as a pyramid. Using the pyramid structure, the information is grouped together with similar, low-level facts, drawing insights from the similarity, and forming a group of related insights.  

How is the Pyramid Principle used for Effective Writing?

Effective writing produces content that is clear, accurate, and concise. The writing is focused, coherent, correct, supporting the central idea. When incorporating the Pyramid Principle for effective writing, the same rules apply. You need to start with the central idea. The ‘answer’ serves as a single thought, supported by arguments, data, and facts. You should present the ideas using the pyramid structure, summarizing the ideas grouped below each other, while remaining true to the ‘single thought’, i.e. the central idea (the answer).

An example of the structure for content produced using the Pyramid Principle would be as follows:

Answer -> Supporting Argument -> Evidence.

The answer shall remain at the top or at the heart of the content you are writing, whereas the supporting argument will be backed by evidence at each instance. If you have more than one supporting argument, you should take the time to structure each argument. For example, write the first supporting argument, followed by its evidence, before moving on to the second supporting argument and its related evidence.

How to Apply the Pyramid Principle in Preparing Presentations

When applying the Pyramid Principle, you must first start with the hypothesis and break it down with supporting arguments, backed by facts and data. It’s quite likely that during the course of the presentation, your audience would want to ask tough questions. Using this concept, you can enable those questions to be asked sooner and provide your breakdown of the information in a structured manner to ensure all your arguments are covered.

Begin with the Hypothesis

It is common to present the hypothesis at the very end after data, facts, and different ideas related to the potential hypothesis have been presented. The Pyramid Principle flips this conventional approach by presenting the hypothesis (answer) at the beginning.

Example: In our example, a mobile operator called ABC Telecom wants to enter a new market in Country X, located in Central Africa. The conventional approach would be to provide data and facts before mentioning why it’s a good idea to invest in a specific country. The presenter might even take the time to mention the country at the very end. The Pyramid Principle would require this information to be shared at the very beginning instead. In our example, the presenter would start the presentation by mentioning the hypothesis or answer.

In this case, the hypothesis might be something as follows: ‘investing in Country X would be profitable and lead to 30% increase in revenue for ABC Telecom over the next 5 years’.

Presenting the hypothesis at the start will stimulate critical thinking and aid structured communication, where there might be people for and against the argument scrambling to ask tough questions. That’s one of the benefits of the Pyramid Principle, as it helps bring out critical questions from the very start instead of at the end of a bloated presentation or report.

Present Arguments to Support Your Answer

It is essential to back the answer with supporting arguments to enable a meaningful discussion or to raise key questions regarding the accuracy of the hypothesis. For a business, this can have dire implications and major investment decisions might hinge on such information.

Example: The presenter proceeds to mention why investing in Country X by ABC Telecom is important for the long-term sustainability of the company. We assume that the argument for this investment is that ABC Telecom is already operating in a saturated market, where profit margins are projected to decline, and it is essential to move into a new market to increase revenue and profitability.

Present the Data to Support Your Argument

A supporting argument is only as good as the data and facts that are presented to back it up. The bottom of the pyramid, therefore, is the foundation of the Pyramid Principle. The foundation needs to contain accurate and reliable information that can back the hypothesis.

Example: In our example, ABC Telecom conducted research across 3 potential markets (Country X, Country Y, and Country Z) to look for countries to expand their operations in. During the research, it was revealed that only Country X appeared to be a lucrative market for investment.

The research revealed that Country Y and Country Z already have a saturated telecom industry with heavy taxes, rigid government policies, and very low ease of doing business ratings. Moreover, the population and telecom density of both these countries does not appear to indicate the potential for growth. On the contrary, Country X with a large population and low competition serves as a lucrative market. The market competition is slim, the government is looking to expand its telecom infrastructure, giving tax concessions to companies looking to set up their operations. The country also has a better ease of doing business ranking.

Another factor that goes in favor of ABC Telecom investing in Country X is that they are already operating in the neighboring country (Country W), making it easier to expand operations due to familiarity with the region. Furthermore, other global telecom operators are looking towards expanding into Asia Pacific, instead of Central Africa, leaving the market open for a new operator to rapidly expand. The recent rise in purchasing power, increased use of smartphones, and the demand for 4G and 5G services (currently not available in Country X) make another compelling argument for an efficient mobile operator to start operations in the country.

What are the Benefits of Applying the Pyramid Principle?

1. be better at structured thinking.

The idea behind structured thinking is to be efficient at problem-solving and critically analyzing things in an organized manner. The Pyramid Principle provides this formula in its pyramid-like structure, where important questions can be asked right from the start.

2. Focus on Core issues

Lengthy reports and presentations can lead to a lot of confusion and might even deviate the people in charge of making decisions from the core issue. By placing the core issue at the very heart and elaborating upon it at the start, the Pyramid Principle can help keep everyone involved in the discussion on point.

3. Placing the Solutions at the Start Initiates Critical Analysis

When exploring solutions, such as in our example above, (the expansion of a telecom operator into a new market), it is essential to initiate critical analysis. Key decisions related to investment, expansion into new markets, or changes to products or services can make or break a business. Placing the solution at the start of the discussion leaves ample room for critical analysis to see if the presented solution can be applied or if better alternatives can be explored.

4. Hypothesis Backed by Data can Aid Better Decision Making

How would you feel if you are presented with 1 hour of slides filled with data, with a solution at the end? It is likely that such a presentation would leave you weary and tired, unable to connect the data with the solution at the end. Now imagine, you are given the solution at the start of the presentation, and each bit of information related to the answer that you would see after that can be connected with the solution when analyzing its practical implications. The latter is an approach that will help you connect with the arguments, facts, and data, as they are presented. Since you are already aware of the answer or hypothesis that you need to focus on.

Is Barbara Minto’s Pyramid Principle Still Valid?

The short answer to the question would be, yes! Barbara Minto’s Pyramid Principle is considered as one of the most important methodologies for structured communication. Since its initial revelation during 1985 to the revised edition of Minto’s book in 1996; ‘The Minto Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing, Thinking and Problem Solving’, the principle still remains effective. It is widely used for making business executives absorb information quickly, in a structured manner, and aiding executive communication.

Final Words

The Pyramid Principle can be used effectively for structured thinking, problem-solving, and presenting information in a palatable format for busy business executives. Moreover, presenting the information true to the core idea presented at the very start can help make it easier to keep the audience abreast with the arguments, data, and facts that follow.

At the very core of decision making, be it decisions made by businesses or individuals, everyone wants to find the solution that works best for them. But complex data analysis and information overload can hinder good decisions and obscure solutions. By starting with the potential solution, its merits and demerits can be critically analyzed with ease.

1. Minto Pyramid Principle PowerPoint Template

Use This Template

2. 3 Levels 3D Pyramid Template for PowerPoint

Like this article? Please share

Communication, Communication Skills, Presentation Approaches, Presentations

Related Articles

Filed under Business • December 7th, 2023

The Communication Plan Template

Discover why communication plan templates are a key asset for strategic structuring of information in organizations. Learn how to build one here.

Filed under Presentation Ideas • November 29th, 2023

The Power of Audience Engagement: Strategies and Examples

As presenters, captivating the interest of our viewers is the most important thing. Join us to learn all that’s required to boost audience engagement.

Filed under Business • November 23rd, 2023

Presentation Structure Guidelines for Effective Communication

Learn the secrets behind a winning presentation structure for engaging your audience and delivering memorable talks with this article.

Leave a Reply

McKinsey Pyramid Principle: The Ultimate Guide to Effective Arguments

The McKinsey Pyramid Principle is pivotal in structuring arguments, making data understandable, and driving informed decisions in fast-paced business environments. Using a top-down approach this methodology ensures concise, logical, and impactful presentations.

StrategyPunk

Introduction

The McKinsey Pyramid Principle is a communication framework developed by a former McKinsey consultant, Barbara Minto. The principle suggests that ideas should be presented structured and logically, with the most critical points at the top of the pyramid and supporting arguments and data below. By following this approach, presenters can ensure their ideas are clear, concise, and easy to understand.

The Pyramid Principle is widely used in consulting, business, and government organizations to structure and communicate complex ideas. The approach has been praised for its effectiveness in helping presenters to focus on the key messages they want to convey. By starting with the most important idea and then building a logical structure around it, presenters can ensure that their audience understands the main point and can follow the supporting arguments and data.

The McKinsey Pyramid Principle

The McKinsey Pyramid Principle is a communication tool widely used by consulting firms to present insights, analysis, and data points in a logical order that maximizes impact. It is a method of organizing information into a clear and concise structure that supports a presentation's title and main points. The Pyramid Principle is based on the idea that ideas should be presented in a hierarchy, with the most crucial information at the top, supported by supporting thoughts that follow a MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive) principle.

The benefits of using the McKinsey Pyramid Principle are numerous. It allows for clear and concise communication of complex information, making it easier for the audience to understand and retain the information presented. It also helps to think critically about the presented information, ensuring that all data and facts are relevant to the argument. Additionally, it helps to create a persuasive argument supported by the data and facts presented.

Methodology

To use the McKinsey Pyramid Principle, one must start with a high-level executive summary that outlines the presentation's main points. From there, the supporting thoughts are organized into a hierarchy that supports the main points. Each supporting idea should be mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive, meaning that it should not overlap with any other supporting thought and should cover all aspects of the argument being made. The supporting ideas should be presented in a logical order that follows the MECE principle.

The Pyramid Principle is often used in PowerPoint presentations, with each slide representing a hierarchy level. The title of each slide should clearly state the main point being made, and the supporting thoughts should be presented in bullet points or tables that show the data and facts being used to support the argument.

In the consulting world, the McKinsey Pyramid Principle is often used in case interviews to organize information and present a persuasive argument. It is a valuable tool for any professional who needs to communicate complex information clearly and concisely.

The McKinsey Pyramid Principle is a valuable methodology for organizing information and presenting a persuasive argument. By following a logical hierarchy and using supporting thoughts that follow the MECE principle, one can create a presentation that is clear, concise, and supported by data and facts.

The McKinsey Pyramid Principle is a communication tool that helps individuals structure their thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely. It is based on the principle that ideas should be presented logically, starting with the main point and then supporting it with evidence and data. The Pyramid Principle is often used in consulting but can be applied to any situation where clear and effective communication is essential.

The McKinsey Pyramid Principle is important because it helps individuals present information in a way that is easy to understand. Busy executives and decision-makers often need more time to grasp the main point of a presentation or report quickly. Individuals can use the Pyramid Principle to ensure that their main point is clear and that supporting arguments and data are presented logically and efficiently.

Application

The McKinsey Pyramid Principle can be applied in various situations, including presentations, reports, case interviews, etc. It can structure a single thought or organize a complex information set. By following the Pyramid Principle, individuals can ensure that their ideas are presented in a way that is easy to understand and motivates action.

When applying the Pyramid Principle, it is essential to start with a clear and concise main point, and this should be followed by supporting arguments and data presented logically. The Pyramid Principle can also identify and resolve problems by breaking complicated situations into smaller, more manageable parts.

Overall, the McKinsey Pyramid Principle is a valuable tool for anyone who needs to communicate effectively. Individuals can use the Pyramid Principle to ensure their ideas are presented clearly and logically and capture the reader's or audience's attention.

Supporting Arguments

Supporting arguments are the reasons and evidence for a central point or idea. They help to provide clarity and concise reasoning to a persuasive argument. Supporting arguments are essential in building a strong and logical structure for any case interview.

Several types of supporting arguments can be used to strengthen a case. These include:

• Data and facts: Statistical and factual information can support a central point or idea.
• Supporting data: Supporting data is additional information, such as research findings or case studies, that can help a central point or idea.
• Supporting reasons: Supporting reasons are the logical reasons that explain why a central point or idea is valid.
• Costs and metrics: Costs and metrics demonstrate the impact of a central point or idea.

Please look at the following example to show the importance of supporting arguments. A company is considering implementing a new software system to improve efficiency. The main point is that the new software system will save the company money in the long run. The supporting arguments could include the following:

• Data and facts: Statistical data showing the cost savings of similar software implementations in other companies.
• Supporting data: Research findings that demonstrate the positive impact of the software on efficiency and productivity.
• Supporting reasons: Logical reasons why the software will save money, such as reducing the need for manual labor.
• Costs and metrics: A breakdown of the costs associated with the software implementation and how long-term savings will offset them.

The company can build a persuasive argument for implementing the new software system using these supporting arguments.

Supporting Data and Facts

Supporting data and facts are crucial for building a strong and persuasive argument in the McKinsey Pyramid Principle. Statistical and factual information can help the main point or idea and provide clarity and validity to the discussion. Supporting data, such as research findings or case studies, can also demonstrate the positive impact of the central point or idea.

Examples of supporting data and facts include:

• Market research data that supports the need for a new product or service
• Case studies of successful implementations of a proposed solution
• Customer feedback that helps the main point or idea
• Financial data that demonstrates the impact of a proposed change on the organization's bottom line

Using supporting data and facts can also help anticipate and address potential objections or concerns the audience may have. For example, if the central point or idea involves implementing new technology, providing data on its success rate in similar organizations can help alleviate concerns about its effectiveness.

When using supporting data and facts, it is vital to ensure the information is accurate and relevant to the argument. It should also be presented clearly and concisely through graphs or charts to help the audience understand its significance.

In conclusion, the McKinsey Pyramid Principle is a powerful tool that helps consultants and business professionals communicate their ideas effectively. Using a top-down approach and structuring their arguments logically and MECE, they can motivate action and drive change in their organizations.

The supporting arguments for the Pyramid Principle are based on the idea that busy executives have limited time and attention spans. Therefore, presenting information concisely and highlighting the most critical points is essential. This approach helps avoid confusion and ensures the audience understands the message.

The supporting data and facts for the Pyramid Principle show that it is an effective communication tool used by McKinsey consultants for decades. It has also been adopted by other consulting firms such as BCG and Bain, which demonstrates its widespread applicability and usefulness.

Recommendations for using the Pyramid Principle include training and practice to develop the necessary skills to apply it effectively. Additionally, it is essential to understand the core principles of the Pyramid Principle, such as the MECE principle and the flow of ideas.

The McKinsey Pyramid Principle has complications and requires careful thought and planning to implement successfully. However, the supporting reasons for using it far outweigh the problems, and it is a valuable tool for any consultant or business professional.

In summary, the McKinsey Pyramid Principle is essential for communicating ideas clearly and concisely. It is based on a top-down approach that first highlights the most critical points and is supported by data and facts. Using the Pyramid Principle, consultants and business professionals can motivate action and drive change in their organizations.

Executive Summary

If you don't want to read the comprehensive guide, executive summary: harnessing the mckinsey pyramid principle for clear and effective communication.

• The McKinsey Pyramid Principle is a communication tool that structures complex ideas into clear, concise, and logical arguments.
• The method entails presenting the most crucial points first, followed by supporting ideas arranged hierarchically.
• A key feature is using the MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive) principle to ensure comprehensiveness and avoid overlap in supporting arguments.
• The Pyramid Principle allows for effective communication of complex data, making it easy for audiences to understand, follow, and remember the main points.
• This method is widely used in consulting and business presentations, reports, and case interviews.
• Supporting arguments can be data, facts, reasons, costs, or metrics, which add weight to the main point and provide clarity.
• Despite requiring careful thought and planning, the Pyramid Principle is a highly beneficial tool that can drive organizational understanding and action.

Netflix SWOT Analysis: Free Templates and In-Depth Insights 2024

Unlock the Secrets of Netflix's Success: Get your hands on our exclusive, free PowerPoint template for an in-depth 2024 SWOT Analysis of Netflix. Understand the dynamics of the streaming giant's enduring dominance.

Project Management Unlocked: The 11 Golden Rules for Stellar Outcomes in 2024

Explore the 11 Golden Rules for Project Management Success in 2024. Dive into expert strategies for goal alignment, effective team building, and risk management. Enhance your skills with our comprehensive guide and download a free PDF template to achieve stellar project outcomes.

SWOT Analysis of Starbucks: Free Templates and In-Depth Insights 2024

Delve into Starbucks' 2024 SWOT Analysis with our detailed guide. Explore their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Download our free, editable PowerPoint template to visually represent Starbucks' strategic position.

New! SWOT Framework & Free PPT Template - 2024 Edition

Dive into the 2024 Edition of our SWOT Analysis guide, complete with a free PowerPoint template. This resource covers the essentials of conducting SWOT analysis, its benefits, and practical application tips, including a case study on Mercedes Benz.