If you see or hear the word “chair,” what’s in your mind? Straight back? Rocking? Ergonomic? Beach? Our ideas about concepts depend on sensory experience, memory, knowledge, and imagination. What if the “chair” being discussed was a controversial topic such as healthcare or education? What if it was a new product or service to meet diverse needs? Through visuals, a facilitator can elicit empathy, creativity, and rationality in intelligent proportions.

Visualization is central to creative processes used by designers and is a powerful innovation and communication tool for leaders and organizations. Visuals inform imaginations and spark new possibilities. 

Visualization processes guide group revelation, unify visions, and draw stories together. 

Visualization comes naturally to children, though many people unlearn this ability as they grow into adults. Discovering latent visual thinking abilities and exercising the muscle of imagination expands human potential.

Whole-brain, whole-body awareness is powerful.

Why visualization works for groups: If two or more of us are talking about an idea for which we each have a different framework, then our communication suffers. If we see where our thoughts intersect and contrast, then we discover opportunities for imagining and realizing visions together, along with greater empathy for each another and enhanced creativity and rationality for solving problems.

Why visualization works for individuals: In order to evolve careers or deepen personal growth, our individual visions must become more distinctive and relevant to our individual interests, talents, and desires. If we see where our choices have brought us and may take us in the future, then we can more truly fulfill our dreams.

Why visualization works for groups of individuals: Organizations with thousands of employees or a handful must recognize and nurture strong individual intentions and talents while inspiring common goals for executives, managers, and staff. If people see where they fit in the bigger picture, they can more readily color their part.

• Visioning & planning strategically
• Discovering intentions and stating them for personal & professional growth
• Innovating for projects, branding, products & events
• Capturing narrative for historical reference and future visions
• Defining purpose and activating passion
• Facilitating storytelling and “story catching”
• Creating content for application across many presentation platforms

Contact Christine Walker, MA, MFA

Header photo by Shmulik Almany. America’s Promise Community Convention, Washington, D.C.