Structuring a deck as a pyramid

A clear recommendation deck is shaped like a pyramid:

1. The answer at the top (one sentence — sometimes called the governing thought)
2. A few supporting points underneath that together prove the answer
3. Evidence under each supporting point (data, examples, facts)

Someone should be able to stop at any level and still understand the message.

Those supporting points should cover the ground without overlapping — no messy “other / miscellaneous” bucket. Two to four points is usually right; five or more often means the grouping is wrong.

Start with the situation

Before you write the pyramid, frame the story in four short pieces (a common consulting habit called SCQA):

• Situation — what’s true and agreed
  (“EU revenue grew 18% a year for the last three years.”)
• Complication — what changed or what’s at risk
  (“But market share is now shrinking in every EU country except Germany.”)
• Question — the question that follows
  (“How do we defend share across the EU?”)
• Answer — your recommendation in one sentence
  This becomes the top of the pyramid.

Example (board recommendation)

Situation. EU revenue grew 18% a year for three years.
Complication. Share is shrinking in every EU country except Germany.
Question. How do we defend EU share?
Answer. Focus on Germany and France; exit smaller markets by Q3.

Top of the pyramid: Focusing on Germany and France restores EU share within 12 months.

Supporting points:

1. Germany and France are where we already outperform local competitors.
   Share 22% / 18% there vs 6% or less elsewhere; better win rates against Competitor X.
2. Leaving smaller markets frees about 40% of the sales team for those two countries.
   Clear headcount numbers and a redeployment plan.
3. This focus matches live acquisition work in those same countries.
   Two German targets in review; one French deal at term sheet.

Titles test

Write the slide titles from the pyramid and read them in order. If they don’t tell the story on their own, fix the structure — not just the wording. See Writing action titles.

To draft this with PowerSlide, turn on Pyramid outline and ask for an outline you can approve before any slides are built. Executive storyline is a fuller version for board or investment-committee decks. Status updates can be flat lists; recommendation decks should not be.