From cave paintings to web graphics to tablet pc’s, you use pictures or process maps to tell a story. This is an ancient–modern language that reflects how we think, communicate and structure our world.
Visual language is not owned by artists, advertisers, academicians. It is a universal language that you can use today. And you can use it to simplify complex situations, to imagine the future, to make practical plans and to get the results you seek.
If you are wondering why strategic storyboards work, here are the top reasons:
Simplify complexity
Why is “a picture is worth a thousand words?” It’s because the snapshot of a picture provides a frame of meaning.
Here is a picture of an apple—(XXX APPLE) right away you have a frame of meaning. You can imagine the color, texture, taste; you’ll remember times you ate an apple, how an apple tree looks, types of apples, recipes for apples etc. the picture is the frame on which you can hang more information.
It’s super fast
3M research, in 2001 found that the brain processes visual images 60,000 times faster than words alone. Our brains think in pictures and use visual images to select information.
When you draw a picture and combine it with a key word, your brain processes the information immediately.
It’s practical
A visual map is an overview made up of pictures plus words. It’s easy to use. Make notes on it. Use it. Change it so it is a living map. This isn’t about having a pretty map, it’s about being able to immediately use mapping to get results.
Use the visual steps to see what’s relevant to you. In learning theory, this is called: “WIIFM”: What’s In It For Me. When you see what’s in it for you, it’s easy to put into action. That’s the whole point of having a big picture map.
A picture is easy to remember
According to Stanford University research, when visuals and actions are combined with words, there is a 70% increase in memorability. In the Coachmaps kits, you’ll make it easy to remember your own ideas, goals and purpose.
With maps, you’ll find that it’s quicker to define your goals, values, strengths and action steps. And combining pictures, key words and actions all together—you’ll use every tool to make your plan memorable.
Reduce stress of change, design
How can you reduce the stress of change? How can you translate lots of options, or jumbled chaos into an opportunity? Draw a map. Organize information in a holistic web. It’s a fast way to get many ideas on one page. You can see relationships and patterns. You can identify what’s really important.
Very often, the way you’re thinking about a situation is part of the problem. So, if you imagine your current project as a long list, what happens if you think of the same information as a tree?
Suddenly, there is a place for each idea and its not so overwhelming.
Use your whole brain
You have both a right and left brain. You need and use both. One is not better than the other. Each side prefers to takes in information in a unique way.
The right brain sees information in pictures, color and space. It sees a holistic picture. The left brain focuses on numbers, words and detail. It focuses on detail and logic. These combine to form what’s called: multiple intelligences. ***ADD multiple intelligences list here***
In Design Yourself, you’ll find ideas, information, tools and techniques that stimulate both right and left brain thinking. And remember, if you are strong in one way of thinking, use it and add to your strength with new ways of mapping and processing ideas.
See, feel and hear
Check out the physical structure of the brain to understand why visuals are so important. The brain devotes one million nerve fibers per optic nerve. That’s two million nerve fibers for both eyes. By contrast, there are only 30,000 fibers for each auditory nerve. That’s a whole lot more information coming into the eyes!
Perhaps this explains why so many people are dominantly visual thinkers. According to research studies, over 60% of the population is dominantly visual. The 15% that are dominantly kinesthetic, still like to see an overview or big picture before moving into action. And again, you can see why by looking at the structure of the brain:
The brain devotes nerve cells to process information. Approximately 30% nerve cells process visual information. 8% are devoted to touch. And 3% for hearing.
Now, don’t you want to draw a map? And while you are at it, move and say what you see. The picture, movement and words stimulate all your senses to make the information memorable.
Ancient proverb makes sense now - I hear and I forget
- I see and I remember
- I do and I understand
Ancient Chinese proverb Visual maps engage your intuition
Visual maps seem to access the side of the brain that sees patterns and relationships. Maps act like a door to the intuition and feelings.
The way you get in touch with your intuition is very individual. You may get an image, have a gut feeling, or hear a message…a visual map is one way to open the door to this intuitive expression.
Charts help you navigate the unknown
A map helps you imagine what is currently invisible. The picture helps you identify a direction, take a step and actively explore territory where you have not been yet. True, the territory could be and most likely will be different from your picture. But, the beauty of the map is that it helps you take that first step into the unknown.
Your original ideas and maps provide a starting place, and provide an objective chart of unknown territory. It is most important that a map helps you begin, not that the map is totally accurate.
Take a look at the original map that Lewis and Clark had when they started their journey. It was rough and indicated only what was known—very different than the map they drew after their journey.
Your map of issues, current situation, resources and unknowns may be very similar. What’s critical is that you begin. Where you are. With what is known now.
Once you’ve started your journey, you’ll compare what you find with your original map. Even a few steps into your investigation, you’ll have more information. You know where you are now. After a little while, you’ll have more information, insights into where you’ve been, what questions to ask to learn more. You can refine your steps and make faster progress.
The charts you create are bridges to walk on—and just like a bridge, you can use them to go from where you are to where you want to go.
Shift perspective
A map helps you balance overview and detail. Learn how to shift your perspective so that you can see a situation from different angles, from the big picture to the smallest detail. This flexibility of perspective makes it easier to focus on at the level that is critical at every step.
|
