Visualization

Challenge

I am a business executive for a European retail chain, running our largest country network with  several thousand stores.

Each year we hold a multi-day conference for our operational senior and middle management  (around 200 attendees) with the focus on involving them in pan-company projects, providing a sense  of togetherness and outlining the agenda for the year ahead.

One of the key challenges is getting much information communicated in a delicately short time.

However, raw information is not enough, as all managers are responsible for employees themselves,  it is critical also to convey why decisions have been made, how they have been made and what  purpose lies behind them.

This gives them a better understanding, thereby enabling them to carry the messages back to their  teams within our organization.

Selection & Application

I have chosen visualization for this exercise as I believe it helps ‘us’ as an organization to better think  in the big picture and to focus on relevant topics.

I do not want my managers to use a pre-fabricated power-point presentation that they can just click  through, telling their teams exactly what they have heard.

Much rather want them to make these topics their own.

Not only for presenting and execution but when you are involved in how to communicate something,  you are also involved in how and why something is done, and you might just come up with an idea on  how to make it better – because nothing is ever completely finished.

Instead of using graphic recording at last year’s conference, we have asked teams of around five  people to create their very own visual recording after each session, using corporate pamphlets,  journal articles in which we were mentioned, company newspaper and other materials.

They succeeded in creating unique memory anchors for the topics which were covered last year and  were also able to make many connections on how these subjects might influence or be influenced by  topics mentioned in the articles.

They covered all topics and goals with their teams and sub-organizations by relying on their visual  recording during their own presentations.

Moreover, for this year’s conference, we borrowed on some of the visual records to kick-off our  conference. It was an excellent way of immediately reconnecting to where we left off last year.

Such visuals are ideal for evoking individual memories that the audience can draw on and helps in  creating a common frame of reference

They allow for comparisons and metaphors and open up discussions:

One example. By providing a picture of a soccer field, a game almost everyone in Europe knows at  least the fundamentals to, he or she could point out different relations and how certain positions on  the field compare to positions within our team.

It broadens the scope by not having to think too closely in terms of what you are used to during your  day to day work

Insights

Visualization is not in itself a solution to bad presentations or too narrow an approach in coming up  with ideas.

It rather demands meticulous thought and excellent preparation as you are a trying to find the right  material (sketches, pictures, photos, diagrams).

However, that in itself is an incredibly useful process, as I find it helps to broaden the scope of  thinking about a certain topic and encourages new ideas.

Also, any form of visualization helps me to get much faster back to where you have left off, as visual  cues in itself can be perceived as your team’s prior mind-map.

Approach

The last time we used Graphic recording, it was great to always come back to it and use it as a  reference canvas, but it by itself is not good for getting people involved who have not participated in  its creation by just ‘looking at it.'

I have discovered that this is true for almost all situations where you heavily rely on visualizations.  They immediately make sense for people who participated or are involved in the creation/design  process, but they are but a poor substitute for memos which are intended for people who need be  brought into the conversation/process.

It is not that it cannot be done, but you have to focus on actually introducing new team member to  the work done so far

As Angela Myer said: “The best way to start on visualization is practice.”

There is now right or wrong way to do it, just get started because – and I would like to close with one  of my favorite quotes by Edward O. Wilson:

“You teach me, I forget. You show me, I remember. You involve me, I understand.”


Visualization Challenge I am a business executive for a European retail chain , running our largest country network with several thousand stores . Each year we hold a multi - day conference for our operational senior and middle management ( around 200 attendees ) with the focus on involving them in pan - company projects , providing a sense of togetherness and outlining the agenda for the year ahead . One of the key challenges is getting much information communicated in a delicately short time . However , raw information is not enough , as all managers are responsible for employees themselves , it is critical also to convey why decisions have been made , how they have been made and what purpose lies behind them . This gives them a better understanding , thereby enabling them to carry the messages back to their teams within our organization . Selection & Application I have chosen visualization for this exercise as I believe it helps ‘ us ’ as an organization to better think in the big picture and to focus on relevant topics . I do not want my managers to use a pre - fabricated power - point presentation that they can just click through , telling their teams exactly what they have heard . Much rather want them to make these topics their own . Not only for presenting and execution but when you are involved in how to communicate something , you are also involved in how and why something is done , and you might just come up with an idea on how to make it better – because nothing is ever completely finished . Instead of using graphic recording at last year ’s conference , we have asked teams of around five people to create their very own visual recording after each session , using corporate pamphlets , journal articles in which we were mentioned , company newspaper and other materials . They succeeded in creating unique memory anchors for the topics which were covered last year and were also able to make many connections on how these subjects might influence or be influenced by topics mentioned in the articles . They covered all topics and goals with their teams and sub - organizations by relying on their visual recording during their own presentations . Moreover , for this year ’s conference , we borrowed on some of the visual records to kick - off our conference . It was an excellent way of immediately reconnecting to where we left off last year . Such visuals are ideal for evoking individual memories that the audience can draw on and helps in creating a common frame of reference They allow for comparisons and metaphors and open up discussions : One example . By providing a picture of a soccer field , a game almost everyone in Europe knows at least the fundamentals to , he or she could point out different relations and how certain positions on the field compare to positions within our team . It broadens the scope by not having to think too closely in terms of what you are used to during your day to day work Insights Visualization is not in itself a solution to bad presentations or too narrow an approach in coming up with ideas . It rather demands meticulous thought and excellent preparation as you are a trying to find the right material ( sketches , pictures , photos , diagrams ) . However , that in itself is an incredibly useful process , as I find it helps to broaden the scope of thinking about a certain topic and encourages new ideas . Also , any form of visualization helps me to get much faster back to where you have left off , as visual cues in itself can be perceived as your team ’s prior mind - map . Approach The last time we used Graphic recording , it was great to always come back to it and use it as a reference canvas , but it by itself is not good for getting people involved who have not participated in its creation by just ‘ looking at it . ' I have discovered that this is true for almost all situations where you heavily rely on visualizations . They immediately make sense for people who participated or are involved in the creation / design process , but they are but a poor substitute for memos which are intended for people who need be brought into the conversation / process . It is not that it can not be done , but you have to focus on actually introducing new team member to the work done so far As Angela Myer said : “ The best way to start on visualization is practice . ” There is now right or wrong way to do it , just get started because – and I would like to close with one of my favorite quotes by Edward O. Wilson : “ You teach me , I forget . You show me , I remember . You involve me , I understand . ”