As they entered the conference room, I could tell the team was nervous.
A division of an important department in a big company, they were troubled by a number of issues they felt hadn’t been properly addressed. How was the stranger with the big piece of foam core supposed to help?
But the team’s trepidation evaporated as the meeting—and the visual note-taking—began in earnest.
They described how management was disregarding their concerns and not supporting them when they were called to take risks. As they saw their comments transformed into visuals, participants became both fascinated and inspired. They started engaging not just with each other, but with the images as well.
An attendee’s statement that “no one wants to get thrown under the bus” would normally be merely a briefly-noted figure of speech. But as a drawing, it had an emotional resonance that really highlighted what was at stake. That one image became a touchstone for the entire meeting and was referenced repeatedly for the rest of the afternoon.
By the end of the session, there was a new resolve to work together for change, and gratitude for the experience everyone had just shared. The group that left the room wasn’t the same as the one that entered it.
Visual note-taking is a powerful tool for making meetings truly transformative. If you’re interested in exploring the possibilities, let’s schedule a call!