Minto Pyramid Principle

instructor

Lead with the answer / governing thought, then support it with grouped arguments, then the detail - a top-down pyramid. Arguments at each level are MECE (m...

Summary

Lead with the answer / governing thought, then support it with grouped arguments, then the detail - a top-down pyramid. Arguments at each level are MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive) and answer the reader's next logical question.

Origin

Barbara Minto at McKinsey (1970s); the standard for consulting communication.

Structure

Governing thought -> 3-5 key lines that support it -> evidence under each.

When to use it

Any decision-oriented or professional audience. Nalanda's default and the safest all-round choice.

Star: one of the three models surfaced at the top of the picker.

In Nalanda

Each slide opens with an assertion headline; bullets are its MECE support; concepts group into a pyramid.

Notes & tips

Pitfalls to avoid. Grouping that isn't truly MECE (overlaps or gaps); burying the answer instead of leading with it.