Crafting Clarity: How Visual Templates Transform Group Decision-Making
One of our favorite tools in meeting facilitation is visual templates. Visual templates are large-format and structured frameworks for participants to populate with their ideas. Visual templates are powerful tools to help to draw out information, converge ideas, and make decisions. They serve as a structured canvas to map out ideas, connect concepts, and visualize outcomes.
We like to think of templates as “the silent facilitator on the wall.” They are THE tool to facilitate small group conversations, and thus bring more voices into the conversation than can be achieved in a large-group discussion. Information becomes more digestible, and the shared task of completing a template creates an inclusive atmosphere of unity and collaboration. Whether it’s strategic planning or team-building, visual templates keep the group focused and engaged, ensuring that no idea is lost in translation.
The Vision Mandala, a template for defining an organization’s future vision, by the Grove Consultants
In strategic planning, visual templates act as a roadmap, outlining key objectives and the steps needed to achieve them. They provide a clear overview, helping teams to align their vision with actionable plans.
The Context Map, a template for understanding environmental factors, by the Grove Consultants
For team building, these templates illustrate roles and relationships, fostering a deeper understanding of team dynamics and collaborative potential.
The Yearbook Canvas, a template for individual reflection, designed by Heather Martinez for Lizard Brain
Change management and culture change are often daunting processes. Visual templates simplify these complexities by breaking them down into manageable parts. They offer a visual representation of the change process, highlighting milestones and potential challenges. This transparency helps in building trust and buy-in from all stakeholders involved.
The Persona Profile, a template for understanding stakeholder interests through a change initiative, designed by Lizard Brain
Organizational development efforts benefit immensely from the use of visual templates. They present a holistic view of the organization’s structure and processes. They facilitate discussions around restructuring, process improvements, and future growth, allowing for a more greater system awareness and more collaboration towards achieving development goals.
The Science Fair, a templates for understanding an organization’s internal programs, designed by Lizard Brain for Volunteers of America
Visual templates can become catalysts for effective communication and decision-making. They transform meetings into collaborative experiences where every participant can visualize, contribute, and take ownership of the outcomes.
At Lizard Brain, we are passionate about using graphic facilitation tools like visual templates to transform complex discussions into actionable insights. Our expertise lies in visual and experiential methods that enhances strategic planning, team building, change management, culture change, and organizational development. Our visual notetaking and experiential design services complement our facilitation techniques. By capturing discussions visually, we ensure that the essence of every meeting is preserved and easily revisitable. Our experiential design methods further enhance the engagement, making sessions not just informative but memorable. Contact us today and learn how we can help you achieve your organizational goals.
