Slides don’t change organisations: Why communication matters more than PowerPoint
Most businesses do not have a communication problem. They have a PowerPoint problem. That’s what I wrote recently on LinkedIn, and it kind of went a little bit viral.
Too often, slides are used as a crutch. Mountains of decks get created, talking about solving problems instead of actually solving them. People assume that producing slides is doing the work, when in reality it often reflects uncertainty or lack of clarity. That’s what I wrote and I included four simple ‘rules of thumb’ that we’d trialled with a client to reduce the PowerPoint footprint.
What were my original “rules”
This particular client has some specific problems. We talked about banning PowerPoint all together but we tested was the following practical rules:
Set a max number of slides per deck, we chose 6. One page of value beats 40 of waffle
One message per slide. Make group understanding the highest priority
If it is complicated, draw it out on the whiteboard. Sometimes a physical conversation is clearer than any deck
If it is not going to be shared, do not make it. Avoid creating slides just for the sake of it
These “rules” helped my client shift from being a slide factory to being an impact factory. Even these rules need context. They were more guides than rules, and gave people the ability to call out instances where people hadn’t thought about what they were doing. Limits alone will not solve the problem.
The response to the post was intense and divided. Some people agreed that slide limits help. Others argued it is all about engaging your audience. On reflection, both camps are right. But that wasn’t my point; my point was that PowerPoint slides aren’t the same as real change.
The debate is an old one and it reminded me of an quote from Blaise Pascal(who didn't use PowerPoint really given that he died in 1662):
“If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.”
Clear communication takes thought and effort, not just slides.
Why slide obsession persists and why it’s a problem
PowerPoint has become its own industry. Templates, animations, and so-called best practices convince people that producing slides equals producing impact. It feels productive because creating decks is tangible, measurable, and satisfies the urge to do something.
The problem is that slide obsession often substitutes for clarity, conversation, and real action. Consequences include:
Overloaded decks that nobody reads (some are never even shared!)
Important points buried under unnecessary detail
Hours spent formatting slides instead of solving the problem
Stakeholders focusing on the deck instead of the decision it should support
PowerPoint can create the illusion of progress, while real change stalls. Understanding this is the first step toward designing presentations that actually work. Rules are guides, not laws.
The goal is impact, not slide compliance.
What did I learn from the original post?
As the dust settled on the comments, I had time to pause and reflect. My first reflection was that there are lots of people out there who will help you. There are also people out there who are very very good presenters (whether they use PowerPoint or not). There are also some terrible presenters out there too, and we all know the feeling when youre sitting in front of a bad one. You want to be seen as one of the good presenters. This led me to a new, uber-rule, one-rule to guide them all:
If you engage your audience and achieve your purpose, the rules do not apply to you.
I managed to develop my original rules to a little more insightful guidelines:
Start with the purpose, not slides. Ask yourself what the job of this deck is. Is it a single-use guide for a meeting? A document to be read later? A 'slidument' trying to do both? The answer should guide structure, not arbitrary slide counts.
People only remember three things. If you do not choose the key points, your audience will not either.
Tell a story. Most decks fail because they are collections of facts, not coherent narratives.
Use visuals over words Visuals allow more slides without overwhelming people. Dense text invites confusion.
Recognise the crutch Throwing everything at a deck signals unclear thinking. More slides will not fix fuzziness.
Content matters more than count The number of slides is almost always irrelevant. The real problem is communication discipline, clarity of purpose, and understanding your audience.
Revised guidance for effective PowerPoint (not change!)
Start with purpose Define why you are creating the deck. What does your audience really need to know? Let purpose guide structure and content, not arbitrary slide limits.
Focus on one message per slide Clarity matters more than quantity. Make sure each slide communicates a single key idea.
Use visuals over words whenever possible Visuals allow you to add more slides without overwhelming your audience. Dense text leads to confusion.
Be practical with complexity If the idea is complicated, use a whiteboard, diagram, or live demonstration. Sometimes a deck is not the best medium.
Only create slides that add value If it is not going to be shared or used, do not make it.
Avoid arbitrary slide limits Rules like maximum slide counts often encourage cramming, which undermines clarity.
Decide what people should remember Humans typically remember three things. Make sure your deck supports those points, not buries them.
Tell a story A coherent narrative is more impactful than a collection of bullet points or data.
Recognise when slides are a crutch Throwing everything at a deck often signals unclear thinking. More slides will not fix fuzziness.
Appropriateness beats quantity Tailor your communication style and deck structure to the audience and action you want. If you truly engage the audience, format matters less.
There is no shortage of expert to help you with Story-telling, effective communications and really good PowerPoint slides, if it matters to you, seek some help.
But if it’s real change you want to deliver, consider following the Transformation Guide for practical lessons in building a transformation mindset.