Minto Pyramid Principle and Structured Communication

Communication involves speaking and writing through which we reveal ourselves to the world. About our potential, wealth or poverty deep within us. Communication can either make us prosperous or miserable. Good articulate and structured communication can catapult an individual high a career ladder as was the case with President Barrack Obama that revealed him to the world in 2004 and made him ascend to presidency in 2008. This shows how prosperity in personal branding and the need of designing a thought process can really make us acceptable and loved by a diverse group of people.

The Minto Pyramid Principle has helped me to appreciate the essence of structured communication. It emphasizes on producing a good draft in a short time from a complex source. It captures every detail and allows for a proper top-down representation and summary of information. It explores on the use of magic number 7 with either 5 points or 9 points for comprehension and easier summary.

In most cases, the rule of 3 has been on conventional use as human minds easily conceive and recall it fast. Pyramid ideas start conversation by thinking logically to present a message. It highlights a logical writing and thinking for problem solving. This is a concept widely used by top executive in communicating their ideas as it is logical and argumentative manner.

The Pyramid structure involves grouping to clarify and simplify a problem. The presentation starts with a conclusion, a top-down thinking structure by executives who want to drive an idea first in a presentation. The main point is followed by other smaller ideas to justify it. In this mode of presentation, executive’s attention will be drawn to the idea as justification follows. It also saves the time for most executives as they always have a short attention span due to several engagements they must think through. Therefore, by highlighting recommendations and logic ideas first, it allows them to focus their energy on the areas of interest.

Minto Pyramid structure emphasizes on starting with the solution and coherence to support the argument and with the evidence at the bottom. The Pyramid Principle is not only valuable for communicating with executives but also effective in communicating with anyone whom you wish to persuade with logical argument.

As an entrepreneur, I would use structure to communicate with prospective investors or board members. It also relates to organizational leaders who can use it with their peers to communicate about a project to stakeholders about any proposals and progress.

In conclusion, a structured communication process starts with thought processing, by thinking through the intended message and how it will be received. The delivery process to the recipient could be words, actions or signals. The receiving process should be clear enough for the intended recipient to understand. By getting all the three processes right, it leads to effective communication. I believe from my own point of view, the corporate gates with this course on effective and structured communication.