The pyramid principle 1978 explains in detail how written documents and presentations can be logically structured, and the methods described in the book are used by almost every major management consultancy on the planet. The pyramid principle will show you how to communicate your ideas clearly and succinctly. Tens of thousands of people worldwide have benefited from former mckinsey consultant barbara mintos famous pyramid principle. The clear communication of ideas, whether to clients, colleagues or the management board, is a key factor in determining personal success. Topics covered range from the difference between deductive and. This is the only way to present your ideas clearly to clients. It is full of excellent examples of both good and bad writing. What is the minto pyramid principle, and how do i use it.
The main message is represented visually by the top of the pyramid and the key points and details that follow form the middle and base of the pyramid. The single thought is the answer to the executives question. The minto pyramid principle explained case interview. The pyramid principle encapsulates an efficient, functional way of communicating where you deliver key conclusions first and then go on to supply supporting information we can use the pyramid principle in many different contexts, but it is particularly crucial to adhere to in delivering your client recommendation at the end of your case study. Professionals whose work involves preparing documents, presentations or written communications. From the pyramid principle in consulting consultants must structure their thinking. The pyramid principle is barbara mintos powerful and compelling process for producing everyday business documents.
I cant read them all the time, so i swallow them in batches. Structure the case conclusion recipientfriendly by. The second half of the book focuses on pyramid thinking. Logic in writing and thinking 3 by minto, barbara isbn. Preface intro to part i the minto pyramid principle. It suggests that headings such as introduction, background, assumptions and findings should not be used in business memos, because they have no scanning value they do nothing to convey the ideas which are being communicated. The pyramid principle advocates that ideas in writing should always form a pyramid under a single thought.
The pyramid principle is a classic book written by barbara minto back in the late 80s. Developed by barbara minto from mckinsey to find a method for the consultants to structure their advice and consulting reports. Using minto pyramid principle for writing equity research reports, business plan, strategy reports and other consulting assignments presentations require a cohesive theme to be persuasive and inspire action presentations should make a strong recommendation, provide facts and conclusions in support of the desired option, and present the. For a more thorough treatment of the minto pyramid principle and how to effectively apply it during your case interviews i recommend buying my book or taking a look at the book by minto. Logic in writing and thinking 9780273710516 by barbara minto and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books. Buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this item may be available for instore purchase. The minto pyramid principle logic in writing, thinking, and problem solving new and expanded ed. That said, i have gotten some writing book leads and recommendations from other folks that i think are worthwhile exploring. The minto pyramid principle is difficult to grasp though. This work has been designed as an aid to the logical presentation of business communications. This is from 4 years ago and covers the mintos pyramid principle one of the most important concepts in executive communication and logical structuring of arguments. Structure the case conclusion recipientfriendly by applying the pyramid principle use the pyramid structure to provide syntheses and recommendations at the end or in between your case interviews. The book is one of those rare books on communication that relies less on feelgood prescriptions and more on how to think while writing.
The pyramid principle is the answer to this question. For those who dont know the pyramid principle is one of the classic books of the consulting industry. The pyramid principle is the international bestseller on how to produce crisp, clear, compelling business writing. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Applying the pyramid principle will enable you to present your thinking so clearly that the ideas move off the page and into the readers mind with a minimum of effort and a maximum of effect. The minto pyramid principle 1996 edition open library. Nowadays every mckinsey consultant is trained to learn and apply this method and it is also used by many other consulting companies worldwide. It involves using diagrams to help articulate and work through the decision problem, from initial recognition of the need through to communication of the decision and the thinking behind it bdm is designed for use in making deliberative. The pyramid principle is considered a mustread by most of my colleagues in management consulting and is definitely worth its reputation.
The pyramid principle lessons from mckinsey medium. This book, the pyramid principle by barbara minto was first published in 1987, and proposes a blueprint for communicating complex ideas clearly in writing. She now runs her own consultancy, minto international, inc. We think mckees and mintos ideas are extremely helpful for thinking through. This book also talks about how your horizontal logic and vertical logic, when arranged in a hierarchal and systematic structure, result in presenting to a topic to. This way i can show the interviewer i am 100% hypothesis driven and i dont ask any irrelevant data. At risk of selling barbara mintos book short, her book really focuses. The approach and structure of this book has survived the test of times and it is now up to its 3rd edition. Barbara minto reveals that the mind automatically sorts the information into distinctive pyramid like. Miller describes in his treatise the magical number seven, plus or minus two a pattern governing the process of our mind. These videos introduce the work of barbara minto and robert mckee, two experts on connecting and communicating with an audience. A clear example of how even the best professional books age badly. One excellent tool is the pyramid principle by an exmckinsey consultant by the name of barbara mi. Minto pyramid principle for writing equity research.
Pdf download the pyramid principle free unquote books. The pyramid principle explains in detail how written documents and presentations can be logically structured, and the methods described in the book are used by almost every major management consultancy on the planet. My revised thoughts 2016 shown in red color consultants must. Pyramid principle a summary of barbara mintos book. She authored a book called the minto pyramid principle here affiliate link which essentially defined the way consultants structure most of their. Little reference is made to this second section in the official book description and considering you lose half the book to it you may end up with.
Pdf download the pyramid principle logic in writing and. The pyramid principle by barbara minto waterstones. Never has clear, convincing communication been as important as in todays informationcluttered environment. The pyramid principle by barbara minto the logic of writing the pyramid structure a person that seeks to learn your thinking about a particular subject faces a complex task. It is the scaffolding of management consulting thinking. I read it in the mid2000s after it being recommended by the managertools team and recently reread it again. Barbara minto reveals that the mind automatically sorts information into distinctive pyramidal groupings. Here, you present your results first and then how you got there. One excellent tool is the pyramid principle by an exmckinsey consultant by the name of barbara minto. The pyramid principle in consulting consultants mind. The pyramid principle contradicts received wisdom about business writing in a number of ways. Pyramid principle in consulting interviews myconsultingcoach. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Recently i came across a book called the minto pyramid, you might know this book, by barbara minto, exmckinsey. The pyramid principle is barbara mintos powerful and compelling process for. How many times have you written an email to work, read and found that it didnt make sense as much as you would have hoped foror worse, someone else said they cant follow him. Is there a book on business writing better than the minto. Im having a flurry of reading professional books right now. However, if any group of ideas are arranged into a pyramid structure in the first place, not only will it save valuable time and effort to write, it. By giving the summarizing idea first, we are using topdown communication and giving our readers the main message first. Business decision mapping bdm is a technique for making decisions, particularly for the kind of decisions that often need to be made in business. The pyramid principle concept enables people to structure their reasoning into a coherent and transparent argument, helping them analyze their argument and confirm its effectiveness.