I really needed something to take my stressed mind off the worldwide pandemic. I had done the Mindfulness Unraveled colouring posters before but not mindfully. Now was the time to revisit them and hopefully take in the benefits of doing anything (in this case colouring-in) mindfully. The poster was open and waiting, the pencils sharpened and ready for action. I took the time to check-in with what was going on in my mind, heart and body; how I was feeling mentally and physically. Taking slow but deep breaths I started. As I coloured I observed the physical experience of colouring-in;...

I’ve been working from home long before the current COVID-19 situation demanded it and taking a morning walk before starting my workday really helps me. These are some of my tips: Structuring your day with what you will do and when you will do it; create a to-do list. Get started early: It’s best to start your to-do list as soon as you can before your motivation wears off. Behave like you are going to office by setting an alarm, making coffee, having a shower and wearing nice clothes. It can make you more productive. Dedicate a room or surface...

Upskilling is a process of learning new skills to aid you in your work. In the fast-paced world of today, you need Upskilling as it: enhances competencies and thereby ensures job security boosts employability brings new opportunities with added benefits opens up new possibilities with changing job perspectives With the current uncertainties this is a good time to learn something new or practice a skill, put on the backburner because of a lack of time.   I’m using this time to work on my flipcharts, practicing the Bikablo icons. By looking again at the icons I can see newer and fresher...

Whenever we are trying to comprehend complex topics or make difficult decisions, it can be helpful to ask everyone involved to grab a pen. At the bikablo akademie, we call this type of small-format visualisation “thought sketching.” It helps you to analyse everyday problems, arrive at informed opinions, and gain clarity about the situation at hand. Here’s a practical real-life example: A few years ago, a colleague and I were working together to find suitable office space to rent. After one of our appointments to look at an office, the usual happened: we just couldn’t make a decision. Instead, we found...

Imagine a working environment where everyone is able to quickly and effectively communicate their ideas across lingual and cultural barriers.Groups can resort to visual metaphors at a strategy conference in order to express things that they would not have been able to verbalise. E.g. company HQ depicted as an ivory tower with people starved of information, departments portrayed as isolated silos, teams paddling aimlessly in a sea full of reefs and sharks. The ability to communicate an idea visually can increase alignment, reduce potential conflict and misunderstanding, allowing teams to work effectively and productively. Therefore, visualization can help a participative...

Meaning, discernment, and the fascinating relationship between words and images – this is what visualization is all about. If you not only know the rules for visualization, but also know which conventional wisdom and beliefs you should toss out the window, it makes it easier to use translate concepts into visual language. You’ve no doubt heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. I’ve heard it a lot, myself. It’s often the first thing people think of when they begin to learn about visualization, and in fact, many articles that have appeared in the press about the work we...

Meaning, discernment, and the fascinating relationship between words and images – this is what visualization is all about. If you not only know the rules for visualization, but also know which conventional wisdom and beliefs you should toss out the window, it makes it easier to use translate concepts into visual language. Rules for Visualization, Part 1: The simpler, the better? Not necessarily. You could, of course, attempt to draw the world using only three lines – as long as it truly helped the observer to better understand your point. Usually, though, one of the greatest challenges for visualizers is...

Our modern business world is often dominated by complicated structures. If we want to change or optimise these, we first have to understand them – and this is not always an easy task! Using posters to visualise complex topics or processes is an ideal way to bring clarity to the seemingly incomprehensible. Here are some tips for what to pay attention to when preparing a visual presentation. My great-grandfather was a carpenter. Using just a few tools, he built tables, cupboards, and cabinets – one of which still graces my kitchen today. What was special about his work was its...

Bikablo®1 Bikablo 1 introduces you to the world of pictures and can be used as reference material or simply as a source of inspiration. This book covers 6 areas over 131 pages: Script and graphics Objects Symbols Figures Situations Picture worlds   Bikablo®2 Building on a strong base of Bikablo 1, Bikablo 2 takes visualisation to the next level. You will find even more specialized pictures and poster templates for organizational issues ranging from personnel, individual personality, organisational development, strategic planning, project management, marketing and the general economy. This book covers 4 sections over 134 pages: Tools for visual facilitation:...

When, during discussions with colleagues or clients, you once again get that feeling that there is a lack of mutual understanding, what you’re really missing are just three things: a pen, a sheet of paper, and a couple of drawing basics. With these, visualization opens a second channel of communication, and immediately, people begin to better understand each other’s point of view. Back in 1971, Allan Paivio, a native Canadian, introduced his Dual Coding Theory at the University of Western Ontario. His theory was based upon the assumption that, since we mentally process images differently than we do verbal or written information,...

It is very hard to have clear thought processes due to the bombardment of ideas, information, & observations. It is helpful to put your thoughts on paper be it text, graphics or pictures. More and more people are using 'thought sketching' to make ideas visible. By using icons, symbols, pictograms or graphics as key visuals you can make an abstract idea tangible. Content you have written or drawn is easier to remember and recall as most people learn by seeing and doing rather than hearing. An illusion of having understood something arises when too complex information is delivered too quickly. Slide...

Visual language is defined as a system of communication using visual elements. Just as people can verbalise their thinking, they can visualise it. Our brains are constantly busy with observations, ideas and arguments so it is helpful to put everything that comes into our head down on paper. More and more people use thought sketching in the form of text, graphics or pictures in order to make the ideas visible. Research has proved that people grasp things bette by doing rather than by seeing or hearing them. Visualisation offers learners a chance to "do" something in a manner that is accessible...