Visual Meetings: How Graphics, Sticky Notes and Idea Mapping Can Transform Group Productivity

Chapter 3. Four Easy Ways to Get Started: Personal Visualization, Napkins & Flipcharts, Graphic Templates, & Getting Others to Draw

There are many simple ways you can succeed with visual meetings right from the beginning. I've included samples of different kinds of things you can draw yourself and suggest to a group, even if you aren't the leader. It is important to have fun right from the beginning, and get a solid sense of how productive and creative working visually can be. This is the fastest way to fuel your imagination about what is possible in this way of working.

1. Personal Visualization: The best place to start learning about visual meetings is to have some with yourself—in a blank sketchbook or journal. Most people who really get hooked on working visually keep visual notebooks, and record their meeting and teleconference notes using text and graphics. (So do most people who are good at being creative.) The notebook work will get you over any inhibitions you have about making simple drawings and writing out notes. While you can disappoint yourself, having a meeting with yourself in a journal is a real no-lose proposition.

   

2. One-on-Ones: The next easiest place to begin is in one-on-one meetings, in a restaurant, or a pickup meeting at the office.

3. Graphic Templates: Another super easy way to get started is to use graphic templates. This is a term that is commonly used for large, ...