Executives, sales teams, and project managers
Preparing a high-stakes business presentation where audience engagement is critical.
Use cases
About
The 'How to avoid death by PowerPoint' mind map template, curated from BBC journalist Jane Wakefield's 2015 article, provides a structured guide to rescue audiences from 'boredom and frustration' and prevent them from looking like 'zombies'. With 36 nodes across one sheet, it covers seven major branches including 'Terrible presentation', 'Images to avoid', 'Advices', and 'Alternatives'. Key nodes like '85% stolen from Google' and '1.2 bn users' of Microsoft's software offer concrete data points. The template emphasizes storytelling, a focused message, and simple photos with meaning, making it a practical cheat sheet for presenters.
Terms and ConditionsWhen to use this template
Marketing professionals and internal trainers
Revamping an existing slide deck that has received negative feedback for being boring or cluttered.
Trainers, educators, and team leads
Teaching a workshop on presentation skills for colleagues or students.
How to use this template
Step 1
Open and review the template
Download the .xmind file and open it to explore the structured guide for avoiding common presentation pitfalls.
Step 2
Apply expert advice and visuals
Navigate through the 'Advices' and 'Images to avoid' branches to refine your storytelling and optimize your visual assets.
Step 3
Customize your presentation flow
Personalize the map by adding your own notes or rearranging the branches to fit your specific presentation goals.
Frequently asked questions
The template includes 36 nodes covering seven key areas: terrible presentation symptoms, images to avoid, advice for better slides, alternatives to PowerPoint, Microsoft's software stats, image sourcing tips, and the original BBC article credit.
Open the .xmind file in Xmind, then explore each branch. Start by reviewing 'Terrible presentation' to recognize common pitfalls, then apply the 'Advices' such as storytelling and focused messaging. Use the 'Images to avoid' list to replace clichés with unique photos.
Yes, the template is free to download and fully editable in Xmind (desktop or web). You can customize nodes, add your own examples, or reorganize the branches to fit your specific presentation needs.
The template lists clichés like Cogs, Thumbs up, Archery target, Puzzle, Businesspeople running, and Handshakes. These images are overused and fail to engage audiences.
It mentions Prezi, Keynote, and other tools that are freely available online. These alternatives can help create more dynamic and non-linear presentations.
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