The Pyramid Principal for Business Writing

Background

I was asked to read and write a review on The Pyramid Principal. The purpose of this document is to summarise the 180 page book in 420 words, using the tips recommended in the book.

Have a structure that is easy to follow

• Open with an Introduction and if it's going to be a long document signpost the key headings. This one is so short there is no need for text which says 'I have used the following headings...'
• Use easy to follow headings and format. Use of bold, bullets and numbering really help group ideas into bite-size chunks that can easily be understood.

Explain the situation, complication and considerations

• Explain the purpose of a document so they know the aim of the document and their reason (and reward) for reading it.
• Open with a succinct introduction that the reader will agree so as to engage them on common ground.
• Pose a challenge, question or complication which will provoke interest or questioning.
• Put forward your ideas and reasoning in a structured way, answering one question at a time.

Make an impact, then follow with the detail, one point at a time.

• Too many documents start with lots of waffle before they get to the point. Structure the document so that they could get the point only if they read the headlines
• Give answers to questions as they arise, making it easy to see the problem and resolution within a couple of lines of each-other.
• Use additional bullets only to offer detail to support the headline. If a different point needs to be made, start a new headline.

Avoid conclusions, and use Next Steps instead.

• If the document is so long and complex that it needs a conclusion to explain what has just been said, then you need to re-think your document!
• However it can be useful, having presented your proposal, to suggest immediate steps which the reader can implement in order to achieve this goal.

Next Steps.

• Most of Project Management documents are excellent, principally because we do use structure and logic.

• Our Proposals use a SPIN (Situation, Problem, Implication and Need) approach.

• Our Project Management approach uses all sort of tools to group and analyse data; 4Ds (Data, Diagnosis, Decision and Do), or 4Ps (Problem, Prognosis, Possibilities and Plan), or AIDA ( Attention, Interest, Desire and Action).

• There is however always room for improvement, and perhaps more of these techniques could be build into future documentation.

See http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pyramid-Principle-Logic-Writing-Thinking/dp/0273710516/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321002006&sr=1-1

Unity of purpose, Ownership of outcome

My experience of some organisations is that where leadership and processes are dis-organised or weak. Two things happen...

1. People may be confused, upset and defensive about the silos within the organization.

2. Few feel empowered (able or responsible) to make the necessary changes for the better.

Without unity of purpose, ownership of outcome and responsibility for process the organisation is bound to be sub-optimal.

I have become a fan of the FIRO model, because this notes the processes and benefits toward team building as a means of gaining commitment and channeling resources to achieve the organisational goals.

MORE TO FOLLOW SOON....

The power of sharing ideas

If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.

What it is to be a team, and what leadership looks like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rFx6OFooCs

No need to say anymore, the video says it all.

Leadership lessons from the Dancing Guy

Leadership lessons from the Dancing Guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPShQ_hVJqY&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLE039B3B562A1A888

No need to say anything, the video says it all.

The role of a Manager

The role of a Manager is to ensure that the following questions are answered positively, and if not, to make the necessary changes.

a)I know what is expected of me at work
b)I have the materials and equipment I need to do my job right
c)I have the opportunity to do what I do best every-day
d)In the last 7 days I have received recognition or praise for doing good work
e)Someone at work encourages my development
f)At work, my opinions count

What should go into a Business Plan?

What should go into a Business Plan?

Having done an MBA I know that the answer is "…it depends.." indeed when you've done an MBA you realise that this is the answer to every possible business question. I loved doing the course, and got a lot from it but having an MBA doesn't make you Alan Sugar or Richard Brandson. Indeed I think I know every possible way a business might fail, but I don't have a recipe for guaranteed success.

The same might be applied to a Business Plan, I know what a bad one is, but its hard to prescribe an ideal one that would suit everyone. The key is to address the external environment (PESTLE) and internal resources (SWOT) and some up with a Strategy (Long Plan) Aims (Medium Plan) and Objectives (Immediate Plan) to use your resources to best advantage delivering a Product or Service to a Customer.

There are lots of lists and models you can use to inform your business planning. My favourite models are EFQM Business Excellence Model and Balanced Scorecard. They can be really helpful to thinking through the issues and picking the elements that are most appropriate to the circumstance.

Key rules
1. The business plan should tell a compelling story about your business, explaining who, what, when, where, how and why.
2. Your plan should be focused and clear. It’s not about the number of pages or style of the cover.
3. The plan should define specific business objectives and goals with general parameters to guide the organization.
4. Writing a business plan should force logic and discipline into a business.
5. A good business plan is a living document. It should be updated regularly.

A simple list of contents might be as follows, but the content will be different of the intended readership is the Bank (for a loan) or the staff (to direct activity)

Executive Summary
Business Description & Vision
Definition of the Market
Description of Products and Services
Organization & Management
Marketing and Sales Strategy.
Financial Management.

Another great resource is bench-marking: Look at the published business plans or strategy announcements of companies you admire or compete against. Look also at the plans or announcements of your customers and check that your strategy fits their needs!

Best books include Exploring Corporate Strategy (Johnson and Scholes) and Operations Strategy (Nigel Slack)