Reflection – Visualization

Challenge and Selection

As a coach and consultant, I use visualization often to help my clients connect to  possibilities and option that may not feel accessible in the current moment, or to  internalize concepts in a deeper way. In working with teams, I have found that people  are often able to express their thoughts more clearly with images than words. I am  currently working with several teams to transition into a more innovative, non- hierarchical mindset within an organization. Rather than distributing information on the  new elements of what is required of them as leaders in a more didactic format, I decided  to incorporate the use of visual imagery to help the team connect to the leadership  concepts.

Application

In our team session, after explaining the high-level definitions of the various leadership  qualities they would need to step into, I asked them to find images and create a collage  the represented their interpretation of the qualities. After they created the collages, each  team member went into detail about the images they selected, and why. The ideas they  expressed were incredibly thoughtful and much more in-depth than I anticipated.  Additionally, they were tied to personal values and experiences from their own lives that  their fellow team members were able witness in a more tangible and vivid way.

Insight and Approach

What I learned from this exercise was the power that visual imagery can bring to an  otherwise perfunctory team learning session. By incorporating the collage into the  learning process, the team walked away with a deeper understanding and connection to  the new leadership concepts they will need to move the organization forward.  Visualization takes learning beyond the boundaries of PowerPoints into the true human- centered focus of development. The team was not only able to understand the concept,  but they had a tangible idea of how they wanted to embody the leadership qualities.

As a reformed accountant, my comfort zone has always veered toward the more “left- brain” thinking of spreadsheets and logic. There was a time I would have scoffed at the  idea of putting pictures on a board as a way of developing leadership or fostering  innovation. In recent years, as I moved into coaching and consulting, I now recognize  the importance of using a variety of modalities to communicate, collaborate, and teach.  Additionally, I also see that my own learning and retention is enhanced by more visual  engagement.

This course has truly demystified Design Thinking for me. Understanding it is a  mindset/philosophy of problem solving, not just another process has been a wonderful  discovery. Design Thinking is not a replacement for traditional problem solving, but a

complement to it that allows for a more holistic approach to innovation. In business,  there are indeed both mysteries and puzzles, and the ability to recognize which  approach will be most effective is what creates opportunities to move an organization  forward with both efficiency and innovation depending on what is best suited to address  the challenge.

