PowerPoint slides, bullets, data,
Waffle, jargon, handouts (paper),
Anecdotes with no punchline,
Or point to help you underline.
Music, graphics, sound effects,
That simply, don’t support the text.
Images that make no sense,
Or patronise the audience.
Graphs and charts of pie or venn,
The thoughts of Chairman Mao or Zen,
Buddhists when your thoughts would do,
And clear conclusions reasoned to.
So in short, a simple story,
Beginning, middle, end no more,
All key messages pointed out,
With evidence that leaves no doubt,
You’ve thought things through from every side,
So all we do is just decide,
A yes / no / maybe decision,
Not ‘we don’t understand’- Derision.
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