Posted on Mar 14, 2014
What would happen if there was no PowerPoint?
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Have we become overly reliant on technology to do our jobs as leaders? As leaders we spend a lot of time putting presentations together to brief our superiors. Bullet points and quad-charts are endless. How would our military function if we couldn't organize briefings and presentations with PowerPoint? Would our verbal briefing skills improve? Would our map reading skills improve? Would leaders at higher levels loose the ability to micromanage? Would junior officers and NCOs be more empowered to take initiative and act on their own judgement? Sadly, a world without PowerPoint may only be a dream, but I have a suspicion it may be wonderfully freeing and empowering.
Posted in these groups: 
Technology
PowerPoint
Technology PowerPoint
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 84
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Human Sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.
No Powerpoint? This could lead to peace in the Middle East! But perhaps......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmzuRXLzqKk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmzuRXLzqKk
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Mark Merino, I second to that. I really liked what the SECDEF said about PowerPoint.
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/02/23/ash-carter-powerpoint-brass/23895027/
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/02/23/ash-carter-powerpoint-brass/23895027/
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Then much like the loss of a green notebook the officer would likely suffer an existential crisis. Link provided for entertainment.
FORT BRAGG, NC — A company commander with Echo Co., 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment has locked himself in his office and refused to come out after his psyche was apparently shattered ...
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SGT (Join to see)
Can't say I've ever heard that term before, but it sure does sound like it would fit!
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Staff officers would have to become 'artists'. ;)
PowerPoint is a useful tool to 'paint the picture' for our commanders. If there wasn't PowerPoint, something else would have been created.
We need to continually evolve and adapt as leaders AND as a society.
PowerPoint is a useful tool to 'paint the picture' for our commanders. If there wasn't PowerPoint, something else would have been created.
We need to continually evolve and adapt as leaders AND as a society.
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CPT (Join to see)
Great analogy MSG(P) Quick! Information without analysis is just numbers. PPT definitely helps us digest and make sense of the massive amounts of info we consume. Evolution and adaptation is absolutely essential if we are to grow as professionals. I guess I sometimes wonder if PPT helps us or hinders us in regards to this. We managed to plan Normandy without PPT! Do you think we still have the leadership skills to do the same thing today without it?
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SGM (Join to see)
We would adapt. I have witnessed and worked in the no cellphone, no computer Army. And you know what, missions were still accomplished. Instead of safety stand-downs we should have technology stand-downs. Get out of the office and see what the heck is really going on in your unit. Not directed at you CPT Johnson, just a general observation.
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CPT (Join to see)
I like the technology stand-down idea 1SG Anderson. And I agree 100% that you need to get out of the office to figure out what is really going on. I could find out so much more about what equipment was down and why by going to the motor pool and actually TALKING to my mechanics than I could from reading the maintenance report. You will never know what is really going on in your unit if you stay behind your desk with your eyeballs glued to your computer screen all day. The good leaders get out there to see what is going on with their own two eyes.
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I believe it was Patton who said Power Point is "the greatest implement of battle ever devised." No, wait, he was talking about the Garand. I guess when a proven, war winning leader can say something like that about PPT, I'll think the world of it.
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CPT (Join to see)
Awesome response SFC Callan!
"One good PowerPoint briefing is worth a thousand muskets," said no general ever.
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PO1 Ricky Allen
Jesus would come back, because we wouldn't be able to sit down and plan for his arrival via.....Powerpoint :))
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I had the honor and privilege to brief a high level commander in Afghanistan a few years ago. After a full day of prepping the slide deck and getting all jazzed up to do my song and dance he walked in and said "I hate Powerpoint". My commander looked like he was going to need to change his shorts, but I was undeterred. I had the big wall map behind me and just rolled right into my brief. I appreciate what Powerpoint can do for displaying information, but I make the info come to life, not the tech
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Just to be clear, Junior officers throughout the force would be getting high on mimeograph fumes and getting carpal tunnel from making 75 copies of graphics on acetate, and running to the shoppette because the red non-perm marker ran out of ink.
In all seriousness, bad PPT is a symptom the disease is not knowing how to think, present, and speak. PPT is used as a crutch.
In all seriousness, bad PPT is a symptom the disease is not knowing how to think, present, and speak. PPT is used as a crutch.
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SSG (Join to see)
Yes, Sir! We have fooled our people into believing that the tech will think for us and we just need to make it look pretty pretty. When the presenter is challeged with a question you can see the sheer terror well up from deep inside.
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Nothing. We didnt have powerpoint when I joined the Army, hell we barely had computers and we still conducted training, meetings, etc...
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Soldiers would have to actually brief. Information would have to disseminated from mouth to ear and not over a computer screen or paper.
I think the retention rate of information would go up, and we would have shorter briefs that are more to the point.
I think the retention rate of information would go up, and we would have shorter briefs that are more to the point.
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Regardless, powerpoint is a good tool when used properly. Like anything else, it's all about knowing when to use it and insuring that it's done in moderation. It should not be a crutch but, an enhancer.
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SFC Mark Merino
Agreed. I have a powerpoint presentation about the positive uses of powerpoint presentations.
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Everything would completely stop for daily operations and the net would be down so no one could send an email to DOIM or ASO for a work order.
People would be running in the streets screaming that Armageddon had come and the world was coming to an end.
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CPT (Join to see)
ROFL! SFC Baber, your flair for the dramatic is always appreciated! I can definitely see some overly reliant staff officers and NCOs completely befuddled. I just hope some resilient and creative leaders would quickly figure out how to adapt and overcome.
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CMC Robert Young
CPT, your point about "resilient and creative leaders" is the key. Good leaders have always found a way to accomplish the mission regardless of apparent limitations. We did without a myriad of technologies in the past, and truth be told much of what we use today will be outdated in the future. Improvising, adapting and overcoming existing circumstances will lead us forward far more and better than introduction of another new or improved technology.
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