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 are based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 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.