What Is Synthesis?
Synthesis is the skill of combining all your analysis, insights, and data into a clear, concise, single message that answers the problem directly.
It is NOT summarizing.
Summaries list everything you found.
Synthesis pulls out only what matters and connects it into one logical story.
Consultants are paid for synthesis.
Why Synthesis Matters in Consulting
- Clients don’t want data — they want the answer
- Helps leaders make decisions quickly
- Turns complex analysis into simple logic
- Shapes every slide, storyline, and recommendation
- Makes your communication sharp and executive-friendly
- Avoids info overload, which kills presentations
Strong synthesis = strong storytelling.
How to Practice Synthesis (Step-by-Step)
1. Start with the answer, not the analysis
This is the Pyramid Principle.
Begin with:
“The key insight is…”
or
“We recommend…”
Then support with 2–3 reasons.
2. Identify the top 2–3 drivers that matter
Look at all your insights and ask:
- Which ones actually move the metric?
- Which explain most of the problem?
- Which directly connect to the objective?
Ignore everything else — even if it’s interesting.
3. Group related insights together
Cluster insights into MECE themes such as:
- Customer behavior
- Product issues
- Pricing factors
- Operational bottlenecks
Grouped insights become your storyline pillars.
4. Prioritize based on impact
Put the highest-impact point first.
Example:
- Onboarding issues (60% impact)
- Pricing perception (25% impact)
- Competitor features (15% impact)
Order = logic.
5. Connect the dots into a story
A strong synthesis explains:
- What is happening
- Why it’s happening
- Why it matters
- What should be done next
One flow. No detours.
6. Keep it incredibly crisp
Your final message should be:
- 3–5 sentences max, or
- A 1–3 bullet “so what”
- One slide headline + 2–3 supporting bullets
Executives appreciate clarity, not detail.
Mini Example of Synthesis
Analysis you did:
- 70% of churn from Week 1 users
- 55% drop-off at Step 2 onboarding
- Page load time increased by 40% after last update
- Competitor added faster sign-up flow
- Pricing unchanged
Synthesis:
“Churn has increased primarily due to friction in the onboarding process — specifically at Step 2 where slow load times drive most early drop-offs. This issue accounts for ~60% of total churn. Fixing Step 2 performance should deliver the fastest impact.”
This is clear, logical, actionable.
Synthesis Templates You Can Use
1. Answer-first structure (most common)
“X is happening because of A, B, and C.
A is responsible for the majority of the impact.
Fixing A will deliver the quickest improvement.”
2. Opportunity-first structure
“To achieve the target, the biggest levers are A, B, and C.
A offers the highest upside with the lowest effort.”
3. Risk-first structure
“The biggest risks to achieving X are A, B, and C.
A poses immediate concern due to high impact.”
Common Synthesis Mistakes
- Listing everything you found (summary, not synthesis)
- Not answering the main question
- No clear prioritization
- Too many bullet points
- Jumping between unrelated insights
- Presenting data without a story
The test:
If your synthesis can’t be understood in 10 seconds, it’s too complex.
Where Synthesis Is Used
- Every executive meeting
- Every consulting deck
- Every case interview
- Every recommendation
- Every project update
- Every email to leadership
Synthesis is the core communication skill of consulting.