The Field Guide to the 6Ds: How to Use the Six Disciplines to Transform Learning into Business Results

H2 D3.1

How to Use (and Not Abuse) PowerPoint

Introduction

PowerPoint^® and its variants are ubiquitous in the business world. It's rare to attend a meeting or presentation that doesn't include some sort of projected slides. And while it is true that well-chosen visuals can enhance learning and retention, the misuse of slides is now so rampant as to have spawned the popular phrase “Death by PowerPoint.”

While a full discussion of the use of visuals is beyond the scope of this book, application of a few principles will greatly enhance the effectiveness of training.

Guidance

1. Avoid text-dense slides. Garr Reynolds, in Presentation Zen (2008), calls ...