Replacing PowerPoint with Narrative Memos: The Six‑Page Memo Approach
The article argues that traditional PowerPoint presentations hinder clear communication and decision‑making, proposing instead a six‑page narrative memo format that increases information density, encourages deeper thinking, and levels the playing field for all participants in S‑Team meetings.
Drawing on Amazon’s experience, the author contends that PPT slides often overload audiences with fragmented points, limit information density, and allow presenters’ charisma to obscure critical analysis.
To address these issues, a six‑page narrative memo is recommended: a concise, high‑density written document that can include text, data, and occasional visuals, but forces authors to think deeply and present arguments clearly.
The memo format promotes equal participation, reduces reliance on presentation skills, and enables faster, more informed decision‑making by allowing readers to absorb more information in the same time frame as a PPT presentation.
Implementation guidelines include limiting each slide to six points of no more than six words, restricting the memo to six pages, and distributing the memo at the start of meetings for silent reading before discussion.
FAQs address concerns about preparation time, use of visuals, and measuring success, emphasizing that the memo’s higher information density and forced clarity outweigh the convenience of PPT.
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