Or how to avoid killing people with your slides
Earlier this year I came across the blog post Death by PowerPoint: The slide that killed seven people. Not only dramatic, but sad reality in companies today.
Here’s a typical encounter: At the end of the meeting, the meeting owner asks the fearful question: “Who wants to summarize?” Silence. Avoiding eye contact. After a few silent seconds that feel like minutes, a shy hand goes up. The new employee. Ah! Still innocent.
Two days later, a link to the meeting notes arrive in the inbox. Keeping it there. Unread. Postponing clicking on it until 5 minutes before the follow up meeting. Time passes. On the way walking to the meeting, swiping through it on the phone. Shocked.
The new employee took initiative. By creating something that wasn’t just a report. Something that wasn’t meeting the existing low standards. It was establishing something new. A new way of thinking. Taking initiative by interpreting the meeting. Making suggestions. Drafting solutions. Stating decisions.
The whole “report” ended up as the baseline of the new project. How it was done. What was done. Who works together. After a few minor tweaks, everyone nodded. Key decisions usually taking hours of discussion were taken away in a few slides. By the new employee!
It’s your chance to change culture and influence your team. Make bold and clear statements in executive summaries, team reports and presentations.