Pyramid Principle Task (75 minutes)
Choose your message and audience (5 mins)
Study the Pyramid Principle (15 mins)
Formulate your key recommendation and group your arguments (30 mins)
Create your supporting slide deck (25 mins)
Bonus Material: Get your audience on-board with a powerful Hook
1. Choose Your Message and Audience
Think of an upcoming presentation where you are to:
Present a solution, or
Present a recommendation or
Present key findings that are relevant to a problem/request
Identify the key question at the center of your presentation and formulate it in one sentence.
Example: Which solution do we choose to move forward with on project X?
2. Study the Pyramid Principle
When communicating using the Pyramid Principle, you:
Start with the answer. Communicate the key message first.
Group and summarise your supporting arguments into a pyramid backed by supporting facts. Use graphs and figures here.
End with a clear Call-to-Action and a Benefit.
A Visualisation of the Pyramid Principle
Watch this video on the Pyramid Principle
3. Formulate Your Recommendation and Group Your Arguments
Formulate your recommendation
This has to be one sentence only. For example: “Let’s choose [X] going forward” or “let’s move on with [Scenario X]”.
Group your arguments and supporting arguments
Get some post-its for this part.
Write all of your arguments, supporting arguments and (optionally) supporting facts – one per post-it.
Group and move around your arguments until it makes sense and you are satisfied. Use the structure below.
4. Create Your Supporting Slide Deck
Create an overview slide that you repeat in your slide deck to guide your listener continuously about where we are in the pyramid. Use circles:
Bonus Material
Hook Your Audience From the Start
A Hook is an attention-grabbing activity you do before starting your presentation.
