If you’re tired of PowerPoint presentations, you’re far from alone. Very large CEOs have even criticized the perverse effects of its massive use during meetings. Little by little, some alternatives are emerging. Explanations.
Why is PowerPoint so popular?
In a fascinating article, Business Insider looked back at the impressive success of this software over the past four decades. Thus, millions, even billions of PowerPoint presentations are given each year in this rigid format which simplifies thinking and which would have a negative impact on communication.
For his part, Jeff Bezos took the lead in June 2004 at Amazon. He judges that the famous slides, commonly called “slides” are “frustrating, inefficient, error prone”. They would make it difficult “evaluation of real progress”.
As for Elon Musk, he was also very clear in December 2020 in an interview with Wall Street Journal :
My advice would be to spend less time on finances, less time in conference rooms, less time on PowerPoint, and more time trying to make your product as amazing as possible. If you spend a lot of time giving presentations and reviewing spreadsheets, you’re missing the target. It is the effect of the cause.
What alternatives to PowerPoint?
Amazon has led the way in its internal organization. Concretely, executives abandon the Microsoft tool and produce a detailed six-page memo that describes in narrative form (and without bullet points) the commercial challenges and issues of a meeting. Participants therefore read this document before the meeting and everyone therefore has a clear idea of the issues before starting.
The American media presents another little-known solution developed by the startup Zeck created in 2022. It is based on a collaborative website which is a bit reminiscent of Notion, where collaborators can make modifications. Thus, they are more encouraged to participate. It is also a way to avoid the simplification that PowerPoints sometimes induce.
Do you share the point of view of these leaders and do you also feel tired of this software? Tell us in the comments.
What to remember:
- The massive use of PowerPoint is increasingly criticized
- Top CEOs like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk have denounced its use
- Alternatives are emerging within certain companies
