Swiss Group Wants to Banish PowerPointBut if you can't get around using the widely-used presentation software, here are tips for making the best of it.

ByJason Fell

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

While most people might not love using Microsoft's PowerPoint to create presentations, at least one person is taking his distaste for the software to a global level.

Matthias Poehm, a former software engineer-turned-public speaking trainer has started --yes-- theAnti-PowerPoint Party(APPP) earlier this month. Headquartered in Bonstetten, Switzerland, the APPP calls itself an "international movement" that intends to "decrease the number of boring presentations worldwide." The goal is to make it so that people who don't want to use PowerPoint "will not have to justify themselves in the future," it says.

Right. Here's the real kicker: The APPP says people who attend "futile" PowerPoint presentations result in almost $500 billion in hourly wage losses for employers worldwide. Instead, APPP says people should consider using flip charts, which it claims are 95 percent more effective than using presentation software. Here's a video of Poehm explaining his reasoning:

While an APPP representative didn't immediately return an email seeking comment, the statistics above seem to originate from Poehm's book, "The PowerPoint Fallacy." Coincidentally, Poehm is offering the book at a 37 percent discount to APPP members.

If this doesn't seem wacky enough, the group says it also wants to participate in the Swiss national elections in October and become the country's fourth-largest political party.

与此同时,对于我们这些不是像using presentation software or just don't want to use a flip chart, business strategist, entrepreneur and venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki -- who's seen his fair share of PowerPoint pitches over the years --suggests abiding by a "10/20/30" rulewhen putting them together. Here are his tips:

Keep it short.It shouldn't take you more than10PowerPoint slides to explain your project or business, Kawasaki says. "A normal human being cannot comprehend more than 10 concepts in a meeting," he says.

Don't be long-winded.You should be able to present your 10 slides in no more than20minutes. "In a perfect business world, you would give your pitch in 20 minutes and then have 40 minutes remaining for discussion," Kawasaki says.

Make it readable.Kawasaki suggests using a font no smaller than30points and to use only the content that most convincingly communicates your points. "I guarantee it will make your presentations better because it will require you to find the most salient points and then know how to explain each of them well," he says.

How have you spiced up your presentations?Leave a comment below and let us know.

Jason Fell

VP, Native Content

Jason Fell is the VP of Native Content, managing theEntrepreneur Partner Studio, which creates dynamic and compelling content for our partners. He previously served as Entrepreneur.com's managing editor and as the technology editor prior to that.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

'Typically Gone Within a Few Hours': This $1,900 Costco Product Is Flying Off Shelves

Costco only offers the exclusive product online to members.

Business News

凯蒂·佩里是Fighting the Founder of 1-800-Flowers for a $15 Million California Mansion He Doesn't Want to Sell Her

The eight-bedroom, 11-bathroom estate sits on nearly nine acres in the Santa Ynez foothills in Montecito.

Business News

'No Question, We Probably Went Too Far': Delta Airlines CEO Backtracks on Sweeping Changes to SkyMiles Accounts, Sky Club Access

The unpopular changes set to roll out in 2025 were announced earlier this month.

Employee Experience & Recruiting

3 Truths About Unlimited PTO — Why Employees Are Worse Off With Endless Vacation Days

Three truths that might make you reconsider the appeal of unlimited PTO.

Growing a Business

Want to Sound Smarter? This Stanford Professor's Simple 3-Point Technique Will Help

With a little structure, you can impress audiences with your ad-libbing all day.

Business News

The Justice Department Is Suing eBay, Alleging Unlawful Sales of Over 371,000 Products

The lawsuit alleges that eBay violated several environmental laws.