pyramid-principle
Pyramid Principle
Organize communication into main message → supporting points → evidence. Lead with the recommendation, answer, or conclusion, then develop its support. Apply to the requested message, document, talking points, or presentation outline; an outline does not authorize producing a deck. This skill stands alone. Combining it with SCR is separate work unless requested.
Establish the message
Identify the audience, purpose, requested format and length, intended conclusion, and available evidence from the supplied context. Ask a focused question only when missing information would materially change the result.
Preserve a supplied recommendation while checking whether the evidence supports it. If the evidence contradicts it, expose the conflict rather than manufacturing a persuasive case or silently substituting a different decision. If no conclusion is supplied, derive one only as strongly as the available evidence permits; identify a material gap when it prevents a sound conclusion.
Build the pyramid
- Main message: Lead with one concise overall point. Favor an actionable recommendation when the task calls for one; use a direct answer or conclusion for informational requests. Replace a chronological buildup with the central point while retaining context necessary to understand it.
- Supporting points: Group the reasons for the conclusion or the parts of the proposed plan. Keep sibling points at comparable levels of detail and use a coherent organizing principle within each group. Let substance determine the number: three is a convention, not a quota.
- Evidence: Place facts, examples, and concrete rationale under the point they support. Distinguish factual evidence from illustrative examples, assumptions, and reasoning; preserve available source attribution when needed to assess a claim. Missing support is a gap to expose, not a reason to invent data.
Adapt the depth and formatting to the audience, medium, and requested length. The three levels describe the logical structure, not mandatory headings or a requirement to make every message long.