Because I believe that any process
can benefit from visual thinking I have designed this core set of large format
templates to support great conversations.I also believe that people doing good work should have access to good
tools, regardless of their budgets – so I am open-sourcing all of them.
If you would like to use one or
more of these tools for your next meeting please contact our production house,
R&J Productions, for access to the hi-resolution, print-ready digital files.The files will be provided to you
electronically and you can print the templates at your cost.Or if you prefer, R&J Productions
can handle your printing and shipping for you (please ask for pricing).
Train-the-Trainer training is available on request and a Facilitation Guide will be available shortly.
Creative Inspiration & Attributions
Creative inspiration for these tools have come from many sources over the years and each deserves acknowledgment. I encourage you to visit the websites of these professionals to appreciate their versions of visual thinking and to find additional tools:
Dan Roam - who wrote The Back of the Napkin, and simplified beautifully the art and science of visual thinking (link).
The Grove Consultants International - pioneers in bringing visual tools to the meeting room; check out their on-line store for a line of fabulous templates and additional tools (link).
Juanita Brown & David Isaacs - who understand the power of making conversation visible and have built it into the World Cafe technology; a global movement that is changing conversations everywhere (www.theworldcafe.com).
In addition I would like to acknowledge several individuals, who are also pioneers in the area of visual thinking, for their significant contributions to my thinking and growth as it relates to visual tools and language: Suzanne Zilke, Pete Abrahams, Karen Stratvert, Jon Sagen, and Leslie Salmon-Zhu.
The “Meta” Maps to
a Strategic Thinking Process
A Map for Strategic Thinking (left) | print
Break it Down (right)
| print
A Map for Strategic Thinking is a “big picture” or outline of what a strategic thinking process can
look like.This will look familiar
to many as this is the process we all use at some subconscious level when we
are considering new situations or old problems.I have found that when participants can see a map of where
they are going they are more willing to trust the process.
Break it Down is a
series of questions and statements to help participants understand what is
involved in each step of the process.
Tools for the SIGHT Phase
UNDER CONSTRUCTION - COMING SOON! Our
History as Prologue | print
Use this chart to help your organization understand it’s
story-to-date and identify the “Take Withs” and “Leave Behinds” for the next
chapter.
The tried & true “SWOT” analysis pictured in a way to
encourage appreciative inquiry.Use
this chart to help your group identify where to focus their energy and
resources.
Use this chart to help your group think through the larger
context they are operating within – the forces at play and the difference
between trends and fads.
One of the most common mistakes made in strategic planning is to jump from the data download phase to the create phase.Use this chart (flipchart size) to
debrief each of your exercises so that you really encourage your participants
to sort through the data, identify relevant info right now, and seek the
insight beyond the obvious.When
you’ve completed your planning process and drafted your Mission or Vision or
whatever guiding document you were after, step back and look at all of your
inSIGHT charts side-by-side – have you addressed the insights you
identified along the way?
