Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer used a refined PowerPoint technique in his presentation to introduce a new tablet called Surface. Many observers call it technically impressive because of a built in ‘kickstand’ so customers can prop it up to watch movies and a thin cover that doubles as a keyboard. But equally as impressive to many bloggers watching the live stream of the announcement was Microsoft’s presentation. Ballmer and other Microsoft executives used a refined PowerPoint delivery style that has fewer words and more images.
An image-rich PowerPoint presentation is a stark contrast to typical Microsoft presentations. After one wordy presentation several years ago one prominent industry analyst told me that he had recommended one of my presentation books to Steve Ballmer himself. I don’t know if Ballmer took the advice to heart but if you watch just the first ten minutes of the Surface presentation, there’s no question that something has changed for the better.
Microsoft speakers use PowerPoint to deliver presentations. Some of their presentations in the past reminded me why people don’t like PowerPoint—too many words and too little imagery. But compare the two slides below.
Old Microsoft slide
Microsoft slide today
The first is a slide from a typical Microsoft presentation several years ago. The second is from the Surface presentation. What do you notice? Fewer words, more images.
As I’ve argued in past columns, PowerPoint is the not problem. In fact PowerPoint is a powerful and elegant tool when used correctly. The speakers are the problem. They feel the need to fill every inch of the slides with bullet points, words, and charts. Neuroscientists will tell you that words on a slide are the least effective way of transferring information. Images are more powerful than words. It’s a concept called picture superiority: information is better processed (easier to remember) when it is delivered as words and pictures and not just words alone.
The average PowerPoint slide contains 40 words. I’ve noted that inspiring presentations start with no more than 40 words on the first 10 slides. This observation prompted me to challenge people with the 10-40 Rule: no more than 40 words on the first 10 slides. Ballmer took it one step further. He only showed about seven slides in the first ten minutes of his presentation and the slides had a total of only eight words! He also included a video clip in the first ten minutes of his presentation which is a nice way to break up the slides and keep the audience engaged. By delivering slides with less clutter, Ballmer forced the audience to listen to the story behind the product and where the product might play a role in their lives: “People want to create and consume. They want to work and they want to play. They want to be at their house and on the go. Surface fulfills that dream.”
Try the 10-40 Rule. It’s a great exercise because it forces you to tell the story behind a product or a company before diving into the details. In other words, it takes the focus off the slides and puts it back where it belongs—on the speaker.