PowerPoint = enemy or a friend ?

An interesting article from The New York Times caught my attention as the heading read:

We Have Met the Enemy. He is PowerPoint.

First, I didn't know about the PowerPoint culture in the U.S. military - Microsoft must've made some good dough getting them addicted to PowerPoint. Second, I didn't know that they were obsessed with bullet points - they should check out the Beyond Bullet Points methodology. Third, it surprises me because military folks are supposed to be detail-oriented and Powerpoints are usually not delving in the details. One of my acquaintances had an opinion that Powerpoints are for folks suffering from ADD.

PowerPoint is a way of life for management consultants, especially when you make tons of presentations to clients. If your job lurks around sales or pre-sales, all the more necessary to know powerpoint well. That brings me to the point to share some of important tips:

1. Learn how to make a good pot file.

A good consultant must always have a .pot file as a tool at his/her disposal. This helps you put up good decks in minutes. You don't have to run helter-skelter.

2. Learn how to present a PowerPoint effectively

A polished flawless PowerPoint deck by itself is not the key to success. It is a necessary condition but not sufficient for an effective presentation. Know how to present a powerpoint effectively and this takes us into the realm of why effective communication is important. Beyond Bullet Points is an interesting concept that started in the last decade and one should read it as a tool in their toolkit to effectively apply it if you know the audience hates bullet points.

3. Learn when to use them and when not to

As much as a polished powerpoint is important, it is imperative to know when to use it and when not to. Certain situations, especially in sales, may not require a powerpoint deck.

communication in a geographically dispersed team !

A recent article at NYTimes indicates how email/calls can lead to more conflict and miscommunication at work. The article outlines possible solution for the same towards the end. I didn't know about the Asperger's syndrome until I read this email. You can read the article here.

I can relate this back to a course by Ed Barr at CMU on Professional Writing. Specifically, he had devoted one whole lecture (8% of course time) on email communications along with an interesting assignment.