| name | mckinsey-slide |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| platform | cowork |
| description | Create McKinsey-style slide decks as polished .pptx files:
Pyramid Principle, MECE structure, SCR narrative, action titles,
and pptxgenjs output.
|
| allowed-tools | ["Read","Write","Bash","AskUserQuestion"] |
Update Check (run first)
_UPD=$(~/.claude/skills/lenshub/scripts/lenshub-update-check 2>/dev/null || true)
[ -n "$_UPD" ] && echo "$_UPD" || true
If output shows UPGRADE_AVAILABLE <old> <new>: read ~/.claude/skills/lenshub/skills/lenshub-upgrade/SKILL.md and follow the "Inline upgrade flow" (auto-upgrade if configured, otherwise AskUserQuestion with 4 options, write snooze state if declined). If JUST_UPGRADED <from> <to>: tell user "Running lenshub v{to} (just updated!)" and continue.
"Start with the conclusion. The reader should never have to wonder where you are going."
ā Barbara Minto, The Pyramid Principle
š MCKINSEY SLIDE CREATOR
Philosophy
You are not here to make pretty slides. You are here to build a logical argument ā then render it visually. McKinsey's method: the conclusion comes first (Pyramid Principle), the structure is airtight (MECE), and every slide title is an insight not a topic. If you covered the body text and read only the titles, the story must still be complete.
Core frameworks applied in order:
- Pyramid Principle (Barbara Minto): Lead with the governing thought. Support with 2-4 MECE arguments. Back each argument with evidence.
- SCR Arc: Situation (what's true now) ā Complication (why that's a problem) ā Resolution (what we recommend).
- Action Titles: Every headline is an insight sentence ("Revenue declined 23% due to customer churn in SMB") not a topic label ("Revenue").
- So What? Test: Every slide must answer the "so what?" ā if it doesn't, rewrite or cut it.
- Cover Test: Hide all body text. Read only titles. The full story must survive.
- Rule of 3-5: Max 3-5 bullets per slide. Max 7 words per bullet. One key message per slide.
Do NOT make the deck until you have completed Steps 0ā2. Structure first, content second.
Step 0: Context Intake
AskUserQuestion to collect (all required before proceeding):
- Topic / problem statement ā what decision or situation does this deck address?
- Audience ā board, C-suite, external client, internal team, investor?
- Key message ā complete this sentence: "After this deck, the audience will believe _____."
- Available data / evidence ā what supporting facts, numbers, or analysis exist?
- Deck length ā executive brief (3-5 slides), pitch (8-12 slides), full analysis (15-20 slides)?
- Output format ā structured markdown only, or generate pptxgenjs code for .pptx?
STOP. AskUserQuestion. Do NOT proceed until user provides context.
Step 1: Pyramid Structure
Build the logical argument tree before writing a single slide.
GOVERNING THOUGHT (= Executive Summary headline)
āāā ARGUMENT 1 (MECE bucket 1)
ā āāā Evidence 1a
ā āāā Evidence 1b
āāā ARGUMENT 2 (MECE bucket 2)
ā āāā Evidence 2a
ā āāā Evidence 2b
āāā ARGUMENT 3 (MECE bucket 3)
āāā Evidence 3a
āāā Evidence 3b
MECE check on arguments: Do they overlap? (If yes ā merge or split.) Do they cover all the ground? (If gaps ā add or acknowledge.) Mark: ā
MECE or ā MECE VIOLATION.
Present the pyramid to the user. AskUserQuestion to confirm or adjust before proceeding.
Step 2: SCR Narrative Arc
Map the deck sections to the SCR arc:
SITUATION | What is currently true? (shared context, no controversy)
COMPLICATION | Why is that a problem or opportunity? (the tension)
RESOLUTION | What should we do? (the recommendation)
If the key message is a recommendation: full SCR arc.
If the key message is a finding/analysis: Situation + Complication, Resolution = "therefore" summary.
STOP. AskUserQuestion to confirm the SCR framing. Do NOT proceed until confirmed.
Step 3: Deck Architecture
Generate the full slide outline based on the pyramid and SCR arc:
SLIDE # | SECTION | ACTION TITLE (draft) | EVIDENCE
---------|---------------|-----------------------------------------|----------
1 | Cover | [Topic + audience + date] | ā
2 | Exec Summary | [Governing thought as insight] | "So What?" test ā
3 | Situation | [Action title] | [data]
4 | Situation | [Action title] | [data]
5 | Complication | [Action title] | [data]
...
N-1 | Recommendation| [Action title] | [data]
N | Next Steps | [3 concrete actions with owners/dates] | ā
Appendix | Appendix | [Supporting detail] | ā
Step 4: Framework Pass
For each slide in the approved deck outline, read references/frameworks.md for full descriptions, visual layouts, and markdown rendering specs. Select the appropriate McKinsey framework and annotate each slide. No content yet.
Read references/visual-identity.md before writing any slide content.
Framework types: Pyramid Principle | MECE Issue Tree | McKinsey 7S | Three Horizons | GE-McKinsey Matrix | Value Bridge | Structured Action Plan
Step 5: Action Title Pass
For every slide in the deck outline, apply this test to the title:
So What? Test: Does this title tell the audience what to conclude?
- ā Topic title: "Market Share" ā ā
Insight title: "We lost 8 points of market share in 18 months, concentrated in Gen Z"
- ā Topic title: "Customer Feedback" ā ā
Insight title: "NPS dropped 22 points because onboarding takes 3x too long"
Rewrite any title that fails. Every title must be a complete declarative sentence.
Cover Test: Read only the action titles in sequence. Does the story make sense without any body content? If not, restructure.
Step 6: Content Generation
Write each slide in full:
Slide [N]: [ACTION TITLE]
Bullets (3-5 max, 7 words max each, MECE):
- [Bullet 1]
- [Bullet 2]
- [Bullet 3]
Visual Proof Point: [Chart type + data description]
- Suggested chart: [bar / waterfall / scatter / table / 2x2 matrix / process flow]
- Key data: [what the visual shows]
Speaker Notes: [1-2 sentences the presenter says aloud ā context not on slide]
Repeat for every slide in the deck.
If output format is pptxgenjs: after all slides are written, generate a complete slides.ts file using the pptxgenjs code patterns from references/visual-identity.md.
Output
Produce the complete deck as structured markdown. Sections:
- Pyramid structure (reference)
- SCR arc (reference)
- Full slide-by-slide content (the deliverable)
- pptxgenjs
slides.ts (if output format = pptx)
If the user wants to save: Write to slides.md (or slides.ts) in the current directory.
CRITICAL RULES
- Every slide title MUST be an insight (declarative sentence), NEVER a topic label
- Every deck MUST pass the Cover Test: read titles only ā story complete without body
- MECE check is mandatory on every group of bullets: no overlap, no gaps
- The So What? test applies to every slide ā if a slide can't answer it, cut or merge it
- Maximum 3-5 bullets per slide; maximum 7 words per bullet
- One key message per slide ā if you're making two points, you have two slides
CRITICAL RULE ā How to ask questions
Every AskUserQuestion MUST: (1) present 2-3 concrete lettered options, (2) state which you recommend FIRST, (3) explain WHY in 1-2 sentences. No batching. No yes/no questions.
Completion Summary
+====================================================================+
| š MCKINSEY SLIDE CREATOR ā COMPLETION SUMMARY |
+====================================================================+
| Topic | [topic] |
| Audience | [audience] |
| Slides generated | ___ slides + ___ appendix slides |
| Pyramid structure | ___ arguments, MECE ā
/ ā |
| SCR arc | Situation / Complication / Resolution |
| Cover test | PASS / FAIL |
| Action titles | ___ of ___ passed So What? test |
| Output format | Markdown / pptxgenjs (.pptx) |
| Output | Markdown deck / Written to slides.md|ts |
+====================================================================+
"The reader should never have to wonder where you are going."