Youth suicide prevention is such a moving topic; it’s almost hard to delve in deeper here because of the sadness surrounding the stories and reports. That’s why it’s so important that events like this happen, and as a graphic recorder I’m hoping my work will help the community come together in support of strategies that will help prevent more tragedies.

The event organizers (key staff from NEED) invited me to a meeting last week, where we discussed the meeting format. They have 2.5 hours and will be having a panel presentation and then a World Cafe-style discussion. I provided input for the World Cafe table questions, based on my background as a facilitator. In a nutshell, having a really clear idea of what information you want to get out of a community consultation is very important: if you’re not clear on what you want, you can get a lot of information but no knowledge. As a group we discussed how the questions would elicit useful knowledge for the organizers in their next steps.

Today is my preparation time. I have read the websites of a variety of involved organizations, and reviewed reports on the topic. I went through my Neuland Bikablo and put paper-clips on pages that have images that might come in handy. I’ve also done a walk-through of other graphic recording images online to see how other people have recorded topics related to mental health, and World Cafe work. After about 30 minutes of reviewing other people’s work, I force myself to stop and focus on what I’m going to be doing.

I’ve made a list of keywords that I can expect to come up during the session, and through my research I’ve learned that last year there was a World Suicide Prevention Day, and one of the images used in the materials supporting that day was “kites.” So I have been drawing a variety of kites and thinking about how I can use a kite as a “grounding theme” around which to record the information. I used my big 4×8′ whiteboard to test a few layouts in full size, and I know how I’m going to capture the World Cafe report-backs… or at least I have a loose concept in mind. I’ve also got some of those keywords drawn out in various types of lettering, and I’m putting together a “scratch page” where I’ve drawn a variety of icons, configurations of people-shapes, etc. which I can use as a crib sheet when I’m recording. Usually I don’t actually refer to these crib pages when I’m working, but it helps me to know that I’ve drawn these things at least once before so I can relax in the moment.

I know that the panel presentation has three speakers, each answering a key question from their own perspective. I have yet to settle on a strategy for how I’m going to record that presentation – I need to get one before I go in there, because it will be the first thing on the agenda and I may get the jitters when I first get up to the drawing board in front of all those people (almost 50 people have registered). I may plan to use a mandala with each speaker’s identity at the centre, and overlap the mandalas on the page… or I could do something that ties together common themes across what each person has said. Must think more about that.

My last step in preparation will be to go over the agenda carefully and note where I’m going to be moving a chart paper from my working space to another space. I think I’ll be working on a blackboard across the front of the room, so there should be space for about 3 charts to be up at the same time. I’ll also note on the agenda where there will be times that I’m just listening and gathering ideas, and when I can expect to be really bombarded with information to record. If this was going to be a longer event, I might even pencil in bathroom breaks and when to remember to drink water!

I have to re-assemble my recording kit because I’ve been snatching supplies from it for a variety of other projects. I like to know I have everything I need right in my kit. I have to test all the markers in that kit to make sure I’m not carrying around dead markers.

At our Visualocity meeting last night, Lisa (Get the Picture) mentioned another graphic facilitator who always includes the cost of markers and a roll of paper in her quotes for clients, and she leaves the markers and leftover paper with the client. That is a BRILLIANT idea which I intend to implement with my very next client, because worrying about whether my markers are fresh is just another distraction that I don’t need; also, leaving the markers and paper will encourage clients to take the pen into their own hands and use visuals in the future meetings.

The TrainerMarkers were very fun to use, especially the light grey. It’s fantastic for adding shading and dimension to things. The yellow and orange were also nice for highlighting word clusters. I found that it took a little extra concentration to make a good strong line with the full nib width: I’m going to need to do some more practice work in the studio to get the hang of these tools. The royal blue one is actually a little on the purple side for my tastes, but the other colours are pretty true.

Having the icon library on hand was great. Especially important was having “iconized” versions of my client organizations’ logos so I could reproduce them around the edges of the chart for the introductory session. I was missing one logo out of the four – must remember next time to have ALL logos on hand for titles, etc. I’m glad I didn’t have the Bikablo with me, as it would have been a distraction. Having put advance thought into various icon concepts meant that when I went to the wall, I had a good visual vocabulary to draw from even without my cheat-sheets.

During the session there were three discussion segments. For the first one, I knew that the facilitator wanted to draw a particular model. He had given me a text document describing the type of model in advance so I had a plan for how to lay out my page. For the second and third discussion segments I had less of an idea about what the questions and desired outcomes were, so I think the graphics were less effective as a tool to “draw things together” for the group. Next time I work with this facilitator, we’ll both know more about what to discuss ahead of time so that the graphics can be more supportive of his outcomes.

All in all, the session was very enjoyable and the participants were lovely people. It reminded me how much I love this work! Woohoo!

BIKABLO!

Bikablo is a pocket-sized coil-bound book containing hundreds of icons for use on flip charts / murals, depicting soft concepts like “global connections” as well as symbolic icons like a turtle, horse, sheep, buildings etc. The purpose of the book is to give you ideas about ways to depict concepts and objects with quickly-drawn illustrations. There are three to five icons in each page with a variety of words that could be associated with the icons. There’s also an index in which you can look up concepts and find icons in the book. The trick is to study the book and then practice drawing the icons with your own hand, using their shading suggestions.

TrainerMarkers (basic and colourful sets)

These are monster-big refillable water-based markers for large titles or shading. I splurged and got myself 12 – the four basic colours for titles and outlines, as well as the assorted colours set because I just can’t be restrained to red, black, blue and green. These things are BIG! The nib is 12mm wide and 6mm thick so you can do a variety of thicknesses of lines. The barrel of the marker itself is also big and thick so they’re not good for small writing, but excellent for broad brush strokes.

I have a graphic recording engagement next week in Vancouver and I am SO looking forward to whipping out the BIG pens. *glee!*

Prepping for an Engagement

Right now, I have a long list of words that I’m preparing ideas for, based on the project. Here are some of the concepts I’m brainstorming: planning, mobilize, community, assessment, evaluate, gaps, model, barriers, relationships, collaboration, innovation, respect, capacity-building, access for all, strength-building, representation, impact, social network, sustainability, joy, funds, mentors, conversations, meetings, stewardship, inventory, goals, action plan, partners, implementing, needs, consensus, demographics.

I’ve taken a few pieces of letter-sized paper and folded it so there are 8 sections on each page. Right now I’m using pencil to put a different icon into each section. I’m not really labelling the sections, just collecting the icons. Then when I’m at the engagement I’ll have these pages tucked into my kit and if I hit a wall (recorder’s block?) I can whip out the pages and peruse for an image I like. The reason I’ve created my own pages is because I know that I can draw each one of these icons quickly. If I simply took my Bikablo or computerized graphics with me, I would be stalled while my brain communicated with my hand on how to reproduce the image.

When I’m done with these pages, I’ll scan and upload them in case you want to borrow!

Quick addition: One of the things I do when I’m trying to find an icon for something specific is I google the word, then go to “Google Images” and choose Clip Art only from the search options. This gives me a bunch of thumbnails of online images relating to the word. I find one or two simple ideas and then draw them out freehand in pencil a few times to get the “flow” of the lines. This is a great way to generate your own icons because you’re not actually copying anything, just re-interpreting!

When our writing/drawing surface is bigger than our arms reach, we’re presented with a huge amount of potential. Yes it can be quite daunting to feel like you have to fill up that piece of paper or board, but at the same time that bit of discomfort can push us outside our comfort zone. Going outside the comfort zone is where you can discover all kinds of new ideas and fresh, fertile imaginative power. By moving the limits of your working surface outside of your arms’ reach, that loosening of the boundaries also works on your mind.

If you’ve been reading this blog and wondering if you could try some of the stuff I do, I urge you to give it a shot. Get yourself some pieces of flipchart paper and tape them together, or head on down to Island Blueprint (if you’re in Victoria) and request a roll of 42″-wide 20lb bond paper. 50 yards will cost you $20. Use masking tape to put it up on whatever available flat surface you have, get some non-bleeding markers (Mr. Sketch are easy, fun and cheap) and just start DOODLING BIG. Start with big circles and broad lines. It doesn’t have to mean anything. You can turn the paper over and use the other side if you feel guilty about killing trees. Just start pushing your own perceptions of your limits and see what comes out.

Managing Facilitated Processes was delivered by Marian Pitters. The content was driven by the book (same name as workshop) which is available for purchase here. We were given a copy as part of our workshop registration. The workshop covered pretty much all of the organizational and practical details of putting on successful meetings, conferences, workshops etc. From initial contact to post-meeting followthrough, the workshop and book provided tools that I can use and customize for my own practice. Since I’m generally not a highly detail-oriented person, this book will be a very useful prompter to keep me safe from the “uh ohs” and “darn its” that inevitably happen when organizing events. One of my favorite sayings is, “if you’re going to fly by the seat of your pants, you’d better have a darn good tailor” — this book is the pattern by which I’ll be able to keep things on track.

Making Questions Work was delivered by Dorothy Strachan, based on this book (see bottom of the page). It opened with a very healthy and meaningful discussion about core facilitator values and what it means to be in a participant-observer role. We used a variety of small group exercises to explore the five process frameworks Dorothy provides in this book for opening and closing a session, enabling action, thinking critically and addressing issues. The book provides 1800 questions you can ask to groups to promote discussion that is on-topic and relevant to outcomes. I really appreciated the honest, open way that Dorothy shared her knowledge and experience from 35 years of facilitation, without being self-important. It inspired me to continue my journey and development as a professional facilitator.

Jeff was running a stop-time image capturing software on his laptop – the video from that will be posted next week when we both get our respective homework done – and also took some snapshots, which he so kindly Twittered (click for that image).

Looking at that image, I began thinking about how my graphic style changes when I’m doing different kinds of work. With Jeff (and with other clients where we’re focusing on marketing) much of my charts consists of longer bullet points, and is quite text-oriented. When brainstorming names or discussing values, I tend to use fewer words with more icons and line work. I don’t think it’s so much that my style is evolving to-or-from less text-based or image-based… it’s just that different discussions call for one approach or another. There’s a spectrum from pure graphics to pure words, depending on how literal or technical the topic is.

Either way, my style has certainly evolved from the early days… I look fondly upon the first Intrepid Theatre board retreat charts and call them my “acid trip work” because of the no-holds-barred use of bright colors. My primary colours nowadays are just that… primary… because I find they show up better on photographs. Also, I’ve found these Dixon Readimark markers at Island Blue Print that have a gorgeous strong tip, bold colour and nice thick barrel. Right now I can only get the Dixons in Black, Red, Blue or Green so that’s what I’m using. Soon I will order some Dixons online and hopefully will have more colour choices. Mr. Sketch markers are fun and have lovely colours (and smells) but their nib softens very quickly so it’s hard to do sharp, crisp linework or writing. I guess the tools have affected the development of my style as well as the topics I’ve been working with.

Some of the testimonials on that page made the phrase “See it to believe it” ring around in my brain. Graphically presenting your company or organization’s strategic plan can be an excellent way to build awareness and buy-in from your staff, customers, suppliers, funding sources (e.g. banks, investors, donors). If you need to communicate with visual learners (and SO many of us are visual learners), then graphic facilitation or graphic recording is a tool that you should seriously consider incorporating into your strategic planning or marketing plan.

Visual language can be such a powerful tool for doing your own personal planning as well. Christina Merkley has opened up a whole field of graphic coaching with her Shift-It process. Starting next month I’ll be doing three workshops with Roaring Women, offering a visual planning process that I’m calling Va-VA VOOM! Visual Business Planning. Using templates that I’ve developed and tested with private clients in one-on-one sessions, I’ll be guiding groups of entrepreneurial women through an exploration of their personal and business values, their vision/goals, and mapping out how their current activities support those values and goals. You can sign up for that session at the Roaring Women Website. (August 10 in Nanaimo, Sept 8 in Duncan and Oct 26 in Victoria).

When I started out in doing this graphic facilitation, I really focused on developing my skills in drawing and visualizing things as icons, etc. Use of color and backgrounds and visual metaphors was a big thing for me. What I’ve slowly shifted towards now is realizing it’s much much more about the facilitation than about the graphics. When I’m able to enchant a group with an impromptu sketch (airplanes are one of my faves) it gives a sense of levity to the atmosphere, but what’s more important is the space and time that graphic facilitation gives to a group. That was very evident with the Family Violence Project.

This organization has pioneered peer-led therapy groups for men who use violence and abuse in their family relationships, and has made amazing contributions to Victoria’s families in their history. Faced with a loss of their funding last year and a transfer of their main programs to a partner organization, they are now needing to redefine themselves and set a new course. The graphic recording was a supporting aid but did not draw the focus from the interaction between the board members as they compared ideas and shared their interests and beliefs about the group. I felt honoured to be in the room with these people who share the common goal to transform the way men and families heal and recover from abuse.

Graphic recording also serves to keep a discussion on track, and this was evident with the Intrepid board. This was a larger group of people who hadn’t been working together for very long, and many of them were fresh to the board so they didn’t have an insider’s knowledge. The Skills Inventory was a major eye-opener, as the group saw all that they as a board had to offer the organization, and also compared it to the “Skills We Need” segment of the Skills Inventory done by the previous board. The discussion of Scope, Scale, Reach and Structure (a framework pioneered by Mitchell Temkin of Associatus Consulting) nearly went off the rails, as there seemed to be a certain gravity towards discussing detailed tactics at great length, at the expense of taking a big-picture view. I had to crack the whip a few times to bring the group back to the focus, and as it worked out we barely had time to put together a very rudimentary action plan at the end.

The GM for Intrepid Theatre suggested to me that I devise a way to “prime” the group for making an action plan, perhaps by doing an up-front action preview at the start and not leaving action planning until the end. Reflecting on this I think that if there is going to be an “action planning” segment at the end of a day (which maybe there doesn’t need to be) then instead of having to brainstorm actions, I should collect them up by putting star post-its on any “action-like” ideas that show up on other charts. This can be done throughout the day so when it comes time to do action planning, all the group has to do is look at the stars and flesh out the details of who, what, when, where, why and how.

Reflecting on my own development as a facilitator (please excuse the navel-gazing) I think I am learning to step back out of the group and be a fly on the wall during the productive parts of conversation. This is always tempered with the instinct and timing to step in and keep a discussion going when it’s stalled. I tend to be a little hesitant to interrupt people who are passionately debating something, even if they’re off track and we’re blowing the agenda. That’s where I may need to work with group sponsors more effectively and ask ahead of time, “how will I know if you want me to intervene or let this trail lead to a natural end?”

All right all right. I’ll step away from the keyboard now and start working on these charts so I have them finished by tomorrow afternoon. I’m going on a four-day road trip to a regatta in Portland (for those who don’t know, I’m a competitive rower).

The chart has space left in it still for Paul and Sheila to add new ideas or epiphanies as time goes by, or possibly for their family members to draw themselves into the picture.

It was a fantastic session – thanks Paul and Sheila for trusting me with this integral work!

Response from Paul and Sheila:

Just wanted to thank you for giving so much of yourself, your time and expertise yesterday as you helped us navigate our ideas, dreams, and passion for service. It was delightful working with you and getting to know you better. I am particularly grateful for the time you took with me to speak directly to me and “give me permission” to follow what I feel called and inspired to do. I am at this very moment sitting under a tree in my back yard enjoying the sun and doing some research on childhood trauma. I intend to become a trauma specialist and help heal the deep pain that childhood trauma brings. The meeting with you yesterday helped me commit myself to this cause.  ~Sheila