Session Flow · 10-minute briefing to 45-minute presentation

Minto Pyramid Principle (SCQA)

Barbara Minto's method, developed at McKinsey, for structuring business writing and presentations top-down. A short Situation-Complication-Question introduction leads to the answer first, followed by grouped supporting arguments, so busy audiences get the point immediately and can follow the logic.

When to use Minto Pyramid Principle (SCQA)

Executive briefings, recommendations and board or client presentations where the audience wants the conclusion first.

How Minto Pyramid Principle (SCQA) works

Use the phases as the running order of an executive briefing, recommendation or board presentation: a short SCQ opening, the answer, then one block per key argument. Leave the remaining time for discussion.

Phases of Minto Pyramid Principle (SCQA)

  1. Situation: Start with something the audience already knows and accepts about the topic.
  2. Complication: Introduce what has changed or gone wrong, which creates tension.
  3. Question: Name the question this raises in the audience's mind.
  4. Answer: Give your main message, the governing thought, straight away instead of saving it for the end.
  5. Key Line Arguments: Present the three or so grouped reasons or steps that support the answer, each one distinct.
  6. Supporting Evidence: Back each argument with data, examples or analysis, only as deep as the audience needs.

Key principles

  • Answer first
  • One governing thought
  • Group supporting ideas logically
  • Ideas at each level are distinct and complete
  • Introduce with Situation-Complication-Question

Best for

  • Executive briefings
  • Recommendations and proposals
  • Board and client presentations
  • Status reports

Considerations

  • Minto's own materials call the introduction SCQ; the answer is the top of the pyramid, hence the common SCQA label
  • Answer-first can feel abrupt for audiences who need to be won over first
  • Less suited to inspirational or story-led talks

Attribution & sources

Developed by Barbara Minto at McKinsey & Company, 1960s-1970s

Primary source

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