[01] One Principle Applicable to All Presentations

Company

Source

Description

Slide Type

Storyline

Industry

Use Case

Common Mistakes in Business Slides (Communication)

Have you heard of the Pyramid Principle? If you haven't, you're probably making a common mistake when creating slides or communicating in other ways at work.🤔

This mistake is to create slides with a bullet list structure, where you present data and then conclude at the end.

Slide 1: Data Point 1
Slide 2: Data Point 2
Slide 3: Data Point 3
Slide 4: Data Point 4
...
Slide X: Conclusion

Structuring slides or creating a communication storyline in bullet points is a natural way of thinking in Korean. And because we've been learning this communication style since school, it tends to be unconsciously reflected in business communication as well.

The problem is that in business presentations, most of the audience, especially senior executives, are not really interested in the details of the data and don't have time to look at it. All they are interested in is the conclusion!

Therefore, it is important to follow the Pyramid Principle when creating presentation slides for work.

What is the Pyramid Principle?

The Pyramid Principle was devised by Barbara Minto, a McKinsey partner.📝

According to Barbara, the Pyramid Principle is a top-down approach to structuring communication that makes it more accurate and efficient.

So, what exactly is a top-down approach?

It is to present the answer or conclusion first in the communication, then show the arguments that led to that conclusion, and finally show the data that supports it.

In other words, start with the most important information and then show the details that support it at the end.

How McKinsey Creates Presentation Slides

So, how can you actually apply the Pyramid Principle when creating slides?

Slide 1: Executive Summary - Key overview and proposal (or recommendation)
Slide 2: Summary of Argument 1

Slide 3: Data | Information 1 supporting Argument 1
Slide 4: Data | Information 2 supporting Argument 1
Slide 5: Data | Information 3 supporting Argument 1

Slide 6: Summary of Argument 2

Slide 7: Data | Information 1 supporting Argument 2
Slide 8: Data | Information 2 supporting Argument 2
Slide 9: Data | Information 3 supporting Argument 2

Slide 10: Summary of Argument 3

Slide 11: Data | Information 1 supporting Argument 3
Slide 12: Data | Information 2 supporting Argument 3
Slide 13: Data | Information 3 supporting Argument 3

...
Slide X: Conclusion / Proposal and Recommendation / Next Steps

There are a few key points to keep in mind when structuring slides in this way.

Start your presentation with an Executive Summary that includes the answer or conclusion.
The conclusion becomes the body of the presentation, supported by supporting arguments (arguments).
Each argument is supported by data.

This is a very simple framework, but the main reason why most presentations are criticized for being illogical is because this framework is overlooked in business practice. 🫡