Visual facilitation is the real-time capture in images and words of the conversation or presentation in meetings, and it can be used whether the meeting is with just a few people or thousands. Visual facilitators listen for salient points in the group conversation, synthesizing them and translating them into a visual form. This can be done in person or virtually. When working with groups in person, our facilitator uses a huge sheet of paper in front of the room. When meeting virtually, we create digital drawings that can be shared in real time or at key moments of group reflection and discernment.

Here’s what visual facilitation can bring to your meeting:

• Better decision-making, by keeping the information and ideas that have been shared, visible, groups can discern together based on the collective knowledge they have generated in dialog and presentations.
• Enhanced ability to retain and recall or review the content because there is a visual reference. In one view you get the big picture rather than relying on written notes.
• Transparency, trust, and focus are increased when the information is visible, allowing individuals and groups to see the ‘big picture’.
• Increased engagement in virtual and face-to-face sessions because content is available in multiple forms, allowing for different learning styles. Language challenges are also supported by including visual synthesis.
• For community engagement, seeing the thoughts and ideas captured enhances the sense of being heard and has the potential to decrease opportunities for conflict and misunderstanding.
• The ability to communicate plans to a broader audience. Not everyone wants to read a detailed report or a strategic plan but having a visual synthesis of a plan can be a way to expose a broader audience to the work being done and plans for the future.

Raftelis is one of only a handful of companies in the country that have an internal resource for graphic recording and visual facilitation.