Visual Thinking

Visual Thinking is a technique that takes advantage of the human brain's innate ability to process visual information quickly and effectively.

It is based on the idea that representing ideas, concepts and processes through drawings, diagrams, mind maps and other visual forms can significantly improve comprehension, retention and communication, compared to relying solely on text or the spoken word.

This practice is not new; in fact, it dates back to cave paintings, demonstrating a fundamental human tendency to communicate and record information visually.

In the context of coaching and facilitation, Visual Thinking becomes a powerful tool for clarifying complex ideas, encouraging participation and ensuring shared understanding.

Harnessing the Power of Visuals for Comprehension and Retention

The brain processes information through two main channels: verbal and visual (Dual Coding Theory).

However, our ability to process and retain visual information is markedly superior.

It is estimated that we remember a much higher percentage of what we see compared to what we only read or hear. A large part of our cerebral cortex is dedicated to visual processing.

By combining verbal and visual elements (such as text with images, diagrams or colors), we not only capture attention more effectively, but we also achieve a higher level of comprehension, increase long-term retention of information, stimulate creativity and can even improve listening skills by having a shared visual referent.

A well thought out image or diagram can convey a complex message more intuitively and memorably than paragraphs of text.

Practical Applications in Coaching and Facilitation

Visual Thinking has numerous practical applications in the field of agile coaching and facilitation:

Working Meetings: use whiteboards, flipcharts or digital whiteboard tools to map ideas, draw process flows, create affinity diagrams or visualize action plans.

This encourages participation, clarifies discussions and ensures that everyone shares the same understanding.

Coaching Sessions: Employ visual metaphors, simple drawings or mind maps to help the coachee explore their thoughts, define goals or visualize obstacles and solutions.

Teaching and Training (Classroom): Support explanations with diagrams, graphs, icons and visually appealing presentations to enhance understanding and retention of agile concepts.

Light Documentation: Create visual summaries, infographics or "sketchnotes" as an alternative or complement to traditional textual documentation.

It is crucial to remember that the goal is not to create art, but to use visuals to solve problems, facilitate understanding and improve communication.

Effectiveness lies in the clarity and purpose of the visual element, not necessarily in its aesthetic beauty.

Summary

Visual Thinking is a technique that takes advantage of the brain's ability to process visual information. It improves comprehension, retention and communication.

The brain processes visuals better; we remember more of what we see. Combining text with images conveys complex messages more intuitively.

In coaching, it is used in meetings and workshops to map ideas. Helps clarify discussions, encourage participation and ensure shared understanding.