MetodicMETODIC | learn
Build a Session
Session Flow

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.

6 phasesSession Flow
When to Use This Framework

When your sessions feel disjointed or participants lose focus

Your meetings or sessions need better pacing, clearer transitions, or more engaging sequences to keep participants engaged.

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

The 6 Steps
Follow this sequence to apply 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.

What You'll Achieve

Creates natural rhythm and momentum that keeps energy high throughout.

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.

Practical Tips
How to get the most out of this framework
  • 1
    Vary the pace between high and low energy activities
  • 2
    Use clear transitions between sections
  • 3
    Build complexity gradually throughout
  • 4
    End with actionable takeaways
Best For
  • Executive briefings
  • Recommendations and proposals
  • Board and client presentations
  • Status reports
Key Principles
  • Answer first
  • One governing thought
  • Group supporting ideas logically
  • Ideas at each level are distinct and complete
  • Introduce with Situation-Complication-Question
Watch Out For
  • 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
Related Frameworks
Other Session Flow frameworks you might find useful
Derby & Larsen's Five Stages of a RetrospectiveA five-stage arc for team retrospectives from Esther Derby and Diana Larsen's book Agile Retrospectives. It works as a container: any retro activity, such as a timeline or a sailboat, slots into one of the stages, so the meeting moves from data to insight to commitment instead of stopping at venting.
Daily Scrum (Scrum Guide)The Daily Scrum is the Scrum Guide's 15-minute daily event in which the Developers inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal and adapt their plan. The 2020 Guide no longer prescribes questions; the team picks any structure as long as it focuses on the goal and ends in a plan for the day.
EOS Level 10 MeetingThe weekly leadership meeting of the Entrepreneurial Operating System, with a fixed 90-minute agenda. Short reporting segments surface problems quickly so most of the time goes to solving the top issues through Identify-Discuss-Solve.