The Minto Pyramid
This part includes your SCQA and begins all forms of your communication.
What is the introduction
Editing to this quantity ensures we only share the most important and compelling information.
What is editing to the 3 most important things?
A key numerical tenet of Minto based upon how people organize and categorize things in their brains.
What is the power of 3?
This part of your introduction must be indisputable to the audience.
What is the situation?
3 of these provide the support for your answer.
What is a supporting argument?
Minto was created by Barbara Minto for McKinsey consultants to ensure this.
What is a structured presentation or communication that ensures the key message is heard?
Rather than holding our recommendation to the end, Minto starts with this.
What is start with the answer?
This is the core purpose of your communication.
What is the answer?
This comes in the form of rationale, proof or steps.
What is evidence?
Minto helps to structure your presentations, and it can help to structure these.
What are all forms of communication - such as emails, reports, white papers and even verbal communication?
The pyramid is a series of these types of questions.
What are "Why?" and "How?" questions?
This states the issue or problem within the situation.
What is the complication?
This section includes things like your "ask."
What is the conclusion?
This is answered by the use of Minto principles like SCQA, the power of 3, and supporting arguments.
What is the key question on the minds of our audience?
Minto encourages presenters to utilize this traditional form of communicating events.
What is story telling?
You run into trouble if the audience has more than 1 of these on their minds before your answer.
What is your question?