The pyramidal principle for the perfect presentation

The term "presentation" alone has something dusty about it. It suggests large lecture rooms with darkened windows and talks that lose the thread after an hour at the latest. The good news is that presentations can be just as captivating and inspire the audience from the very first moment. The pyramid principle is a way to not only get your audience's attention, but also their approval.

What is the pyramidal principle and how does it work?

The pyramidal principle is based on the idea of placing the core message of your presentation at the beginning instead of building up suspense. The main pointdoes not only come to light when the first listeners are already doing their weekly shopping in their minds, but is placed at the very beginning as a central element. This thesis is then underpinned with various arguments and points of view.

What is the difference to traditional presentation methods? These usually turn the pyramid upside down, start with facts and arguments and then lead to the core statement with facts and figures, which is placed at the very end. This approach is also common in scientific papers. The pyramid principle was coined by former McKinsey employee Barbara Minto, who thought about a sensible structure for presentations. Her findings were published in 2005 in a book entitled "The Pyramid Principle". This is why the pyramidal principle is also known as the Minto principle. 

These are the advantages of the presentation concept

Barbara Minto defended her developed presentation concept with the argument that listeners can absorb information better through a hierarchical structure. Once the core message has been announced, subsequent arguments can be better absorbed. It also has other advantages for both the presenter and the audience.

• Easier focus for the presenter
  The pyramidal principle is a valuable aid for the presenter to focus better on what is being said. Everything that is said has a direct link to the core message, which acts as a common thread, especially with complex topics.
  
• Structured presentations
  The strict rules of the pyramidal principle mean that the entire presentation is more focused and doesn't wander off to the side so quickly. This also makes it easier for the audience to follow the speaker's thoughts.
  
• Checking the validity of the information
  If information, data and facts are provided before it is even clear where they are supposed to lead, it is difficult for the audience to check the validity of the core message afterwards.

Where can the pyramidal principle be used?

The classic area of application for the pyramidal principle is the presentation given in a meeting or at a conference. However, the pyramid principle is also frequently used in consulting companies when presenting results to clients. The pyramid principle is appropriate wherever listeners need to be captivated and convinced or where quick decisions need to be made.

The application of this concept is always critical if you have to reckon with the audience rejecting the core thesis from the outset. In this case, it may make more sense to provide the arguments first and then build on them to lead to the core statement. Whether and when the pyramidal principle should be applied therefore always depends on the topic.

Our coaches will be happy to prepare you for presentations and help you to use the pyramidal principle as a basic structure!