Powerpoint Lessons from Microsoft - Technology Evangelist

Powerpoint holds an interesting position as the most popular yet hated presentation software. Of course, the reasons for being hated have nothing to do with the software itself. They're caused by PowerPoint abuse: using a great tool to create awful presentations. Just like a hammer, PowerPoint can can make something beautiful or ugly.

With this in mind, I noticed the following photo in Steve Rubel's Flickr photostream from his recent visit to Microsoft's HQ for Microsoft MixNMash 2006. I figured the people working for the company that sells PowerPoint would be PowerPoint masters:

Wow, is that a lot of text on one slide.

The body language of Niall Kennedy (and I believe Jeremy Zawodny behind Niall) [Update: That's not Jeremy - according to Jeremy.] shows illustrates how engaging the content is to audiences. If I was to guess, Kennedy and Zawodny probably read the slide at a much faster rate than the presenter presented it, then went back to work on their laptops while the presenter caught up.

How could this slide be improved?

Check out www.beyondbullets.com for some interesting thoughts about how to make a good powerpoint presentation.

It's hard to stay engaged when the content isn't engaging. A direct conversation would likely be more effective than flying people in to read slides.

To simplify, use the four icons in a column and place the user numbers next to each icon ("45 Million," "260 Million," etc.). If you like, add a build for each icon/number combo so that you can reveal it as you talk about it.

1. The actual words presented should be only verbal not on the slide. This forces the attendees to pay attention to the presenter.

3. The slide should offer graphics the support the words of the presenter. Very minimal text (titles and so on)

4. If necessary a handout could be distributed at the end of the presentation (announced in advance) with the presenters words so attendees can pay attention and not worry about taking notes.

Comments

1. Posted by: Jeremy Zawodny on December 27, 2006 1:40 PM:

Actually, I was on Niall's right side and am not in the shot.

I was a bit annoyed at how many of the folks in the room burried their faces in the laptop during most of the day. I figure that if Microsoft is going to fly me up there, feed me, and let me meet Bill Gates, the least I can do is pay attention.

I used ma laptop a few times, but it mostly sat in front of me on the table with the lid closed.

Most presenters seemed to use PowerPoint sparingly that day, opting instead for just talking to us. I liked that a lot.

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