Key Message. Delivered - Business Presentations with Structure

PYRAMIDS - THE MOST STABLE STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD

The Pyramids of Giza have fascinated mankind for over 4,000 years. It is not just their size and appearance that has aroused our interest: their stability, too, is unique. These tombs of the Pharaohs are the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. And this is due not least, of course, to their basic design. Each of the huge stone blocks from which they are made sits on at least two others. No single storm could ever leave a mark on these buildings, let alone topple them.

The same principles as those underlying the construction of the pyramids can and should be used by you when formulating your arguments. This will help ensure that you can successfully transmit what you are seeking to communicate.

ESCALATE TO THE MOST ESSENTIAL

We can thank Barbara Minto, an American communication consultant, for the Pyramid Principle. To improve the communication skills of her colleagues, this former McKinsey consultant developed the basics of pyramid thinking as practiced in business. That was in the late 1960s. Since then, the Pyramid Principle has been adopted globally as a tool for sorting large amounts of information and presenting important topics in a simple yet compelling manner. In short, it is the proven basis upon which strong communication structures can be built.

But what is it about the pyramid that makes it so special? Why is it so revolutionary in this context? The short answer to this is that by giving your presentations a pyramid structure, with the most important point you wish to make placed at the very top of the pyramid (and therefore at the beginning of the presentation), you can make it much easier for your readership or audience to understand what you are trying to convey. This is the case regardless of which presentation software you use, especially since such software did not exist in the 1960s.