Five Steps to Conquer 'Death by PowerPoint'
Changing the world one conversation at a time
By: Eric Bergman
Published: May 2, 2012
Format: Paperback, 172 pages
ISBN-10: 1469926377
ISBN-13: 978-1469926377
Publisher: CreateSpace
No; PowerPoint is not the problem. The problem lies with assumptions underlying its use. Those assumptions are moving us further and further away from conversational exchanges when people get together", writes world-renowned presentation expert, author, and communications trainer Eric Bergman, in his concise and straight to the point book Five Steps to Conquer 'Death by PowerPoint' Changing the world one conversation at a time. The author describes how presenters can improve their communication effectiveness, and how audiences can insist that presenters incorporate the author's five steps into all communication deliveries.
Eric Bergman recognizes that what he calls "death by PowerPoint" isn't that the tools are flawed, but that the way presenters use the system that creates the problem For anyone presenting information through PowerPoint slides, a failure to communicate effectively with the audience, results in the message not being heard or understood correctly. Eric Bergman shares the concept that PowerPoint can be a very effective communications tool, but the assumptions that underlie its use are flawed. For the author, those flawed assumptions reduce the level of conversation between people, resulting in less understanding and sharing of ideas.
Eric Bergman (photo left) understands that people making presentations have the assumption that slides are an integral and essential part of the communication process. The author provides compelling evidence that both presenters and their audiences need to rethink the assumptions made about PowerPoint and its slides, and focus on creating genuine conversation instead.
Eric Bergman offers the wisdom that the vast majority of presentations are a waste of time as they fail to achieve their goals. The audiences are forced to work hard to find any value in these flawed presentations, and that a simple conversation would be create a more desirable outcome. The flawed assumptions that underpin the problem of "death by PowerPoint" syndrome are as follows:
* Everyone uses it
* It is expected
* People have different learning styles
* A picture is worth a thousand words
* My slides are my notes
* The audience can take notes
* They can share the presentation with others
* People will remember our key messages
* The focus is off me
* It saves time
To correct these problematic assumptions, Eric Bergman offers five simple rules for presenters to follow, and for audiences to insist that the presenters put into practice:
* Put the audience first
* Structure the conversation
* Minimize visual aids
* Convey your message and personality
* Answer questions throughout
For me, the power of the book is how Eric Bergman combines an insightful analysis of why the underlying assumptions that lead to so many ineffective PowerPoint presentations, with a series of recommendations for improving communication between speaker and audience. Going beyond the usual PowerPoint books, that simply suggest ways to create what are believed to be better PowerPoint slides, Eric Bergman suggests that the best course of action may be to not use the slides at all.
To counter the usual reasons given for the use and overuse of PowerPoint slides, the author provides a series of techniques for building a strong and effective conversation between the presenter and the listening audience. At the same time, he also makes a strong case for the listeners themselves to insist that the conversational approach be utilized by the speaker, and that the danger of "death by PowerPoint" be avoided entirely.
I highly recommend the iconoclastic and idea filled book Five Steps to Conquer 'Death by PowerPoint' Changing the world one conversation at a time by Eric Bergman, to anyone seeking a straight talking guide to both providing more effective PowerPoint presentations; or for even avoiding the ubiquitous slides altogether. This book will change the way both presenters and audiences think about and approach the use of PowerPoint slides, resulting in more personal conversations and more effective communication of ideas.
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