The Value of Graphic Recording

What is the value of a room full of talented people discussing the issues of the day and the future of your organization if they aren't on the same page at the end of the day?

You’ve spent time and resources to share information. Your audience may be excited during the event or meeting, but when they leave they can’t communicate it to others later.

Have you been frustrated after your key events by the lack of retention of valuable information or, just as bad, little to no action based on that information?

These are very real problems in today’s “information overload”, poor use of PowerPoint and lack of time for reflection. Graphic charts, created real time, can help you minimize these unwanted outcomes.

What IS graphic recording? It goes by a variety of names: “Mind mapping”, “visual mapping” or “graphic murals” are some. As a graphic recorder, I listen to the flow of the presentation(s) or conversation and take notes in pictures and words, on wall-sized paper, real-time. I capture the nuggets of information that I think will be important for your audience to remember after the meeting has ended. The graphic charts also serve to capture the energy in the room!

Roughly 80% of your audience learns visually. They want to see what they hear. When they hear it and see it unfolding on a colorful graphic wall-size chart, their retention of that information increases from 15% to 65% or more.

There are many different ways to use graphic recording. Live recording is the most common. Click, for more detail about other ways graphic recording can be used to help you communicate and manage meetings.

How does this help you? You now have a graphic artifact of that key event for reference beyond that day—one that can be referred to time and again to help keep it “front of mind” for all those talented people.

“…The final output was useful for participants to share the main thoughts and connections with colleagues and was also used by our senior management as a strategic planning tool.” Rebecca Marquardt, Project Manager

How does this help your meeting attendees? They now have a visual map to help them remember their excitement and why! These graphic recordings help them share that excitement and information with others. They don’t have to look for their notes or find the report on their shelf and dust it off.

“I love being able to refer to the graphic charts for the CONCEPTS rather than reading minutes or trying to recall the dialogue.” …Crista, a meeting attendee.

So, when would you use graphic recording?

You want people to retain the ideas they hear or discuss--graphic records are key to the retention of ideas
You want to communicate and disseminate the results of the meeting to others not present--graphic records can be used in reports and on websites
You want people to feel listened to--when people see their own words captured they feel acknowledged
You want to engage your organization in aligned action--visual graphics, process tools, and templates help people quickly see common themes and gaps

Adapted from "Visual Language: Global Communication for the 21st Century" by Robert E. Horn

Can you think of a situation within your organization or one or more key events where one of these bullets may be of concern to you? If so, graphic recording can help you address them.

Want to try it for yourself? I have a simple template you can download for your own use in the next meeting you attend. Test it out. See if it’s easier to refer to afterwards than your plain notes. Let me know.

Thinking bigger? Check out my services and how I can help.