Leadership Communication. Summary chapter 5

Leadership Communication
Summary Chapter 5
Using graphics and Powerpoint for a leadership edge

This chapter explain the importance of how and when to use graphics in leadership presentations. It is said that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Graphics help explain concepts easier than plain words, especially when dealing with quantitative subjects. Knowing how to deliver a message with words and visual is a great skill and gives the speaker a leadership edge.

A few years ago I attended a presentation by William Schraeger, who wrote the book “Serious play”. His message was about the value of conducting extensive prototype testing before new products reached a production stage; the benefit would be great in terms of cost savings, quality improvements, and time to market. I was struck by his presentation style; there were no written words in his Powerpoint slides, other than the title. His slides contained only pictures which he explained in such an effective and engaging manner that written words would have been superfluous. That presentation clearly reflected Schraeger’s superb intelligence and mastery of the subject.

Since then I have tried to imitate that style by introducing appropriate graphics in my presentations hoping to achieve, in a modest way, a similar effect on the audience as William Schraeger did that day.