If what you want to communicate will benefit from some kind of support vehicle - whether that’s a PowerPoint or whatever else - then go ahead. But only if you know how to use that to support what you want to communicate and how you want to engage with the people you’re with.

Isn’t it about compelling story-telling?

Sadly, there are far too few Steve Jobs in most organizations.

What do you need to effectively convey the message that the audience wants?
Its important to understand the knowledge gap of the audience that needs to be bridged (Current knowledge to Required Knowledge)

The right medium helps communicate & get the message faster. The medium can be anything, a Power point presentation, a flash animation, a video, a hand written drawing, a visio diagram, a document or COMBINATIONS of these. We need to know the right media and organise them.

Not all of them have the knowledge or resources to get the right media. Powerpoint is quick to make and modify. There’s the advantage and disadvantage.

Powerpoint is also a very effective medium. Knowing the right ways to harness its power and making the point is very much needed.

But Steve Jobs is the proof that it can be done - compelling human communication combined with effective audio-visual support.

So I wouldn’t use ‘always,’ Jeremy! I’d agree with ’some,’ Terinea.