The Minto Pyramid
Includes your SCQA and begins all forms of your communication.
What is the introduction
This is one way we ensure we only share the most important and compelling information.
What is editing to the 3 most important things?
A key 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 present our reasons and build to our recommendation we do this.
What is start with the answer?
This is the core purpose of your communication.
What is the answer?
Comes in the form of rationale, proof or steps.
What is evidence?
While Minto is often looked to for structuring your presentations, it is also very useful for these things.
What are all forms of communication - such as emails, reports, white papers and even verbal communication?
The pyramid is a series of these.
What are "Why?" and "How?" questions?
This states the issue or problem within the situation.
What is the complication?
Includes things like your "ask".
What is the conclusion?
Because Minto forces us to plan and structure our communication, it benefits our audience in what way?
What is it answers the key questions on the minds of our audience and/or What is it provides only the most compelling information the audience needs to know?
There are only 3 key rules of Minto we want you to remember so this question is intentionally left blank.
What is the power of 3 - we can likely only remember 3 things so make them the 3 most important?
What is your question?