Old habits die hard. Such as cramming bulleted lists onto Powerpoint slides.

Remember overhear projectors? OK, I’m dating myself here, but I do recall when overhead projectors were the last word in cutting edge presentation technology. Woo-hoo!

It was my job to type up my boss’s presentation data (for which I used a spanking new IBM Correcting Selectric) and then photocopy the sheets onto clear acetates. I than had to laboriously Scotch tape the acetates onto cardstock frames. (Some people might earn danger-pay, but, alas, secretaries never earn boredom-pay.)

When Powerpoint replaced overhead projectors, it wasn’t just the presenters who were exultant.

But it’s been 20 years since people first embraced Powerpoint. Our fervor was understandable. Slide-making became automated! They could be dressed up ever so pretty with backgrounds and graphics, and didn’t require tedious framing. Powerpoint was indeed a better mouse trap.

Trapped is the word. Many of us stuck with our habits for overheard slides and transferred them over to Powerpoint. Are you still using decades-old methods—bulleted lists, Microsoft-supplied clip-art, the seductive appeal of the prepared template? Powerpoint slides have become the presentation, rather than assistance to the presenter.

Free yourself! Free your audience, poor things.  Take a hard look at how you’re presenting. Take a hard look at how you’re using Powerpoint.

And then take Avoid Causing Death by Powerpoint, which MB/I collaborators Scott Stiefvater and yours truly will be holding this month in Walnut Creek.  Stay tuned for details.