No more bullets, please

goFirst off, I have a great admiration for those who are effective communicators, particularly those who can stand up and present to a group of people. I have long thought that if you can do that (while also having something interesting to say) you would have a great chance of success.

That's why I am particularly fascinated by PowerPoint and its misuse. The fundamental problem with PowerPoint is that people underestimate how effective they can be. Instead, many people make PowerPoint the show and make themselves and added thought.

Seth Godin recently rehashed an old post which brings up some sensible guidelines. (Click here for full post.)

Some helpful excerpts from Seth:

• No more than six words on a slide. EVER. There is no presentation so complex that this rule needs to be broken.
• No cheesy images. Use professional stock photo images.
• No dissolves, spins or other transitions.
• Sound effects can be used a few times per presentation, but never use the sound effects that are built in to the program. Instead, rip sounds and music from CDs and leverage the Proustian effect this can have. If people start bouncing up and down to the Grateful Dead, you’ve kept them from falling asleep, and you’ve reminded them that this isn’t a typical meeting you’re running.
• Don’t hand out print-outs of your slides. They don’t work without you there.