Graphic Facilitation

Transform your next learning event!

Move toward problem solving and planning

Graphic facilitation is a unique facilitation technique that uses large scale visuals to help groups of people see what they mean resulting in engaging, creative, and productive meetings and workshops. A graphic facilitator helps groups talk and think together, and get clear and focused to move toward problem solving, visioning, and planning.

Benefits!

Working graphically is efficient and effective- it saves time, money and produces results! Comprehension, participation, and the quality of decision-making increase. Working visually fosters:

• sharing prior knowledge
• Brainstorming
• highlighting patterns, and making connections
• Developing, organizing and communicating ideas
• Deeper engagement
• High energy and interest levels
• resolving conflict and misunderstanding

A graphic summary that functions as a group memory of the information and decisions made. Having the group remember their work directly improves productivity and follow-through.

Common venues

• Planning and visioning retreats
• Leadership retreats
• Focus groups
• Brainstorming sessions
• Dialogue sessions
• Conflict management sessions
• Meetings and conferences

And anytime people are gathered together to discuss options, ideas, strategies, potential conflicts, history or future- it’s a good time to get out the paper and start mapping.

The Graphic Process

Before Meetings-

• Pre-charting -- helps leaders think through and align on activities
• Graphic agendas -- for clearer outcomes, agendas, roles, and rules
• Context maps -- get the meeting started before it officially begins and reinforce important themes

During Meetings-

• Active graphic recording-- listening and acknowledgement increases participation and engagement
• Graphic templates
• Agenda murals-- keep objectives and ground rules in clear view
• Imagery-- stimulates right brain, intuitive thinking
• Multiple visuals-- support many things and ideas happening at once
• Moveable sticky notes—support data gathering from everyone
• Productivity--is visible

After Meetings-

• Digital reproduction--makes it easy to share graphics
• Graphic reports-- support participants telling the story of the meeting to others
• Agreements-- are reinforced
• Online posting-- of graphic displays allows broad access to information
• Meetings continue where they left off—as past graphics are built on

SAMPLE GRAPHIC MEETING AGENDA

Graphic facilitators Corrie Melanson and Janet Rhymes can transform your group process using their well-honed facilitation skills and unique visual tools. This powerful approach fosters engagement, clarity, big picture thinking and effectiveness in meetings, workshops, and conferences.