Why is Power Point Okay for the Military…And You?

An Actual U.S. Military Power Point Slide

By now, you have certainly heard about, or read, the prominent
front-page article in today’s New York Times, entitled, We Have
Met the Enemy and He is Powerpoint
.”
Its focus is on the
prominence of this popular presentation software in the U.S. military
and the dangers it poses. General Stanley A. McChrystal, the leader of
American and NATO forces in Afghanistan, concluded, “Power
Point makes us stupid.”

The program, commanders feel, stifles discussions, critical thinking
and thoughtful decision-making. It “relieves the briefer of the need
to polish writing to convey an analytic, persuasive point.”  General
H.R. McMaster claims, “It’s dangerous because it can create the illu-
sion of understanding
and the illusion of control.”

They bandy about affectionate terms for the program, such as “Dumb-
Dumb Bullets
,” “death by PowerPoint,” and “hypnotizing
chickens
” (25-minute PowerPoint presentations with 5-minute Q
and A). I’m sure you have slung a few choice words toward the
screen yourself.

Despite all of this, the article concludes that the Microsoft program
is staying put in the military—the one faction of our population
we’d like to hope isn’t occupied by stupid, hypnotized chickens.

 So, I have one question for today: Why is this okay?

 Why is it okay for our military, corporations, schools—for ANYONE
—to not just perpetuate stupidity, but produce it? Why is it okay
for ANY leader to stifle discussions? To bank critical thinking?? To turn
decision-making from “thoughtful” to robotic? Why is it okay to
“relieve the briefer of the need to polish their writing to convey an
analytic point”? Where does writing originate? In thinking! If
writing isn’t polished, then we know the thinking that generated it had
ragged edges and holes—and there’s nothing more dangerous than sloppy,
careless thinking.

Why is this okay?

Why is it okay for you to give a presentation that “creates the illusion
of understanding”?? Do not get me started on the ineffectiveness of
knowledge-transfer in this world; how far too many “experts” are out
there teaching without any innate skill or training in teaching. “Creating
the illusion of understanding” is epidemic in this information-age and
why are we allowing it?

Why is it okay that the brains in our audiences are flat and unaffected?

Why is it okay to insult them, by dulling their senses with slides?

Why is it okay to give a presentation that disables the group
energy
because the humming monster up front sucks it all into
itself?  How is it okay, for anyone serious about making
an impact, to completely deny group energetic connection?

Why is it okay to disrespect the audience’s time, with content that is
going unprocessed?

Why is it okay for you that your audience is bored? Where are your
own high standards?

Why is it okay for you to think you cannot persuade without a
software program?

Why is it okay for you to think you cannot remember what needs
to be said, without the crutch of slides?

Why is it okay for you to suppress your own genius? To fail to
experience your own creativity, mental ingenuity and audience
leadership
—everything that rises to the surface when you give up
your dependency on Power Point?

Why is it okay for you to tamp down your own passion in favor of
the Power Point “intellect”—which DOES not sell, and DOES not
influence??

Why is it okay for you to speak and lead others—and yet harbor
insecurity about your own ability to touch, inspire and influence
without a machine?

Why is it okay for you to disconnect emotionally from the very
people who have the true power in the room: to move your message
forward, or squelch it?

Why is it okay for you to conform? To be more invested in “getting
approval” than getting results?

Why is it okay for you to be average as a leader??

The dangers posed to our national security because of “death by
Power Point” are varied and, for some, arguable—but one thing is
certain: this tolerance for substandard methods of knowledge-
transfer is pervasive.

We have become far too seduced by what others are doing, by what
is easy–to offer what works, what truly effects change…in rooms of
lively discussions, critical thinking and thoughtful decision-making.   

And my one question about it all is, why is that okay?

My public speaking training (coming in June)  teaches how to truly
“talk to the brain”–so your creativity explodes, and with it, your 
abilty to impact and influence audiences–without PowerPoint!
 Click here if you’re ready to “escape the wannabees” with your
presentations
.

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