Pyramid Principle · IN SHORT
Clarify a memo, email or presentation by leading with its main message. The skill groups arguments without unnecessary overlap and links them to concrete evidence before drafting the final text.
Your brief
My delay memo starts with five paragraphs of history. The decision needed is one extra week of testing.
Possible draft
The opening becomes: “Reserve one additional week for acceptance testing.” The remaining checks, available capacity and delivery implications then support that request.
01 / THE FOUNDATION
An argument pyramid, a concise executive summary and a situation-complication-question-answer introduction.
02 / SEE HOW IT WORKS
My delay memo starts with five paragraphs of history. The decision needed is one extra week of testing.
The opening becomes: “Reserve one additional week for acceptance testing.” The remaining checks, available capacity and delivery implications then support that request.
This example shows the approach. It is not a client result or a guarantee of a particular outcome.
03 / GET STARTED
State the recommendation that resolves the reader’s question.
Group three to five distinct arguments at the same logical level.
Support the arguments and write from the central message downwards.
04 / MAKE IT YOURS
Take the instructions, add your own context and review the draft. You stay in control.
Full informationDownload. Apply. Refine.
File language: English