The Pyramid Principle

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Welcome to Week 16 of TechExec - the newsletter that turbocharges your growth to become a Tech Executive!

Some of you might remember the podcast I started called Careers Not Ladders. In that podcast, I interview people who I personally admire, who have had tremendous non-traditional careers, and who are out there doing incredible stuff in life and positively affecting society. The big news is that the first episode with my dear friend Shardule Shah is out on YouTube. That was my first time recording anything of that sort, and I am glad it came out really cool. The majority of credit goes to Shardule himself and, obviously, my editors. The YouTube link is below. Consider subscribing to the YouTube channel and liking and/or commenting on this video😄.

As always, we are sharing a new set of BLTs this week

• 💼 B - a Business concept / theory / story

• 💝 L - a lifestyle advice

• 🤖 T - a Tech explainer

Here is the schedule:

Monday —>💼 B - a Business concept / theory / story

Wednesday —> 💝 L - a lifestyle advice

Friday —> 🤖 T - a Tech explainer

This week we covered Cloud Kitchens on Monday, and we will cover the Product Requirements Document on Friday.

Today’s lifestyle advice is on The Pyramid Principle!

💼 L - The Pyramid Principle

If you have ever worked at a consulting firm, you have most likely heard of the “Answer First” approach or the “Top Down” communication method. What both terms refer to is essentially the Pyramid Principle, coined by Barbara Minto. Like most people I talk about in this newsletter, Barbara is a badass. She graduated with an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1963. That class had just 8 women out of 600. Even more impressive is the fact that she was the first female hire made by Mckinsey & Co. She is also the author of an international bestseller called The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking

So that’s her! Now, let’s come back to the Pyramid Principle. The Pyramid Principle is essentially a communication technique that allows you to organize your thoughts and arguments in a coherent and logical manner. The main idea, or the pinnacle of the pyramid, is introduced first. This is followed by supporting arguments, which are further backed by evidence or facts. Barbara describes it as:

Here is an example: Let’s say your boss asks, “What should we do about situation X?” Most people’s response is along the lines of, “Boss! We tried A and it failed, and B works but is not fast enough. We need something that meets our needs and causes the least disruption. Our only option is to implement C as it is guaranteed to work.” If you were following the Pyramid Principle, you would say something like, “Boss! We are going to implement C as it meets our needs and causes the least disruption. Additionally, approaches A and B have been attempted already, and they did not solve our issue.” That does sound better, isn’t it?

So why does the Pyramid Principle work?

By presenting your key message first, you guide your audience's understanding and ensure they're on board before delving into more complex details. This way, even if they zone out during the subsequent points, they will have grasped the main idea.

The Pyramid Principle also encourages logical thinking and clarity in communication. Each point should logically support or provide evidence for the main point, creating a coherent and persuasive argument. This structural clarity not only helps in conveying your message but also aids your audience in remembering it.

Another reason why the Pyramid Principle works is because it respects your audience's time. In today's fast-paced world, where everyone is vying for attention, being clear and concise is highly valued. By stating your main point upfront, you ensure that your message is heard even if the listener or reader has limited time.

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Until next time!

Gaurav