- People are visual before verbal: visuals make more impact and memory
- More inclusive for nonlinear thinkers, introverts, marginalized folks who might not speak up
- When something is written during a meeting (like on a whiteboard) it helps people feel heard and seen
- Visuals give space for complexity in a system, revealing a more accurate picture
“I’m amazed you are able to put all of these things together – you are so organized.”
-Nonprofit staffer
There are many fun photos in this section – click on the dots or arrows to see them!
Organizational Clarity
Simple, colorful drawings tend to shift overwhelming feelings, complex relationships and nuanced ideas into something more approachable. I often take what I hear from a group and bring it back in a new visual format.
Engaging Visual Activities in Meetings – even Zoom!
Engaging with simple drawings and colors has a magical ability to release anxiety from conversations: when people draw they tend to think/feel differently and transform emotional reactions into connective conversations. I integrate these tools into meetings in person and online (using a whiteboard app called Mural).
Concepts and Communications
In this world of fancy computer graphics, sometimes it’s refreshing to work with handmade drawings! Simple stick figures and bubbles go a long way in explaining a complex concept.
Agendas
People like to know where they are going in a meeting, and having a colorful, playful agenda can bring new engagement and deeper understanding of the goals of the gathering.
Workshops
I teach leaders how to bring visual facilitation into their meetings. And I teach workshops based in visual thinking. Often these are reflection-based activities for personal or professional settings. For organizations we might map power dynamics, information flows, strategies or visions that can bring new insights and reveal blocks or places to focus. For personal learning, I lead people in mapping out their life stories, skills, lessons learned or visions.