To PowerPoint or Not to PowerPoint

Michael Gartenberg | December 03, 2003, 10:52 AM

My colleague Avi Greengart weighs in on the issues of PowerPoint. Personally, I like to see the PowerPoint slides ahead of time to set the framework for the meeting and so everyone is on the same page ahead of time. Meetings are more useful when there is prep work done ahead of time. Nothing worse though than a PR flack with a 40 slide presentation that's mostly background. PowerPoint is NOT evil bud presentations are!

"I received this question from a PR representative today (quoted here with her permission):

Avi – since you are an analyst and you are getting briefed ALL the time… Do you have a professional opinion on whether you should see a presentation or just “chit chat”? I have a VP of another client that gave me the below response after I requested the latest corporate presentation to update for our upcoming analyst briefings. ["I am not sure we should use a presentation. Why don't we just brief them by talking? I don't think it is a great way to get to know someone just giving them a pitch. I would rather talk to them....in essence walking through our positioning and talk with them."] Only one briefing is in person, and I can understand informality there, but the briefings that take place via phone/web-conferencing….you really need to SHOW something.

Would you agree? Or, am I just old fashioned here? Ack! Thanks for your candid opinion. I think you must have one!"

[Avi Greengart]