The Magic of the Whiteboard
While reading the good ol WSJ I found this great video of Steve Ballmer on stage with Bill Gates. The hosts gave him some gentle ribbing about being know as "the maestro of the whiteboard" and they wheeled one out for all to see. Much to his credit, Steve stepped up and did a very clear and concise description of the online advertising industry using the whiteboard. But here's the thing - he doesn't just use it to diagram. He uses it to illustrate.
As he speaks he begins to draw each of the main players. Then as he describes their relationships - he draws the corresponding cycle on the whiteboard. As this continues a diagram forms - mirroring the complete picture being drawn in the audiences' minds. When he's finished creating the diagram he continued to use it by re-circling and highlighting concepts which were important - adding accents to the diagram.
I like this WAAAAAY better than powerpoint.
For years I've struggled with finding new ways to create a compelling presentation. Everything from using animations, videos, to hand props. Recently I'd taken a liking to Beyond Bullet Points (lots of pictures no words) as a great way to capture an audience's attention - and it does. However, you loose their retention. There's no common thread for them to see that big picture. Steve's white boarding technique seems like the perfect centerpiece for any talk I give. As topics are discussed - the concepts are drawn (quite literally) onto the core model.
Only question is - can anyone read my handwriting?
