I recently worked with a company that wanted to translate its annual plan into concrete action plans. This was done in five separate sessions spread over two weeks. The goal? Clear visual plates that made action progress tangible. These plates now proudly adorn their office premises, where teams use them to tick off progress.
The annual planning sessions followed a clear format: short, energetic meetings in which plans were forged at high speed. To keep attention, an experienced speaker was present. This speaker delivered the same story in each session, but always adapted to the group.
For a visual recorder, this means paying close attention. Because while the basics of the story were the same, the real nuances were in how the speaker adapted to the group. Every team is different, which led to different dynamics each time.
This constant switching required flexibility not only from the speaker, but also from me. A spontaneous comment, an inspiring example or a specific group dynamic are important to capture in order to make a drawing truly of the group. This distinguishes a ‘standard’ record from a personalised visual recording.
The result? Five drawings that seem similar at first glance, but after a second look, all differ from each other. Side by side, they tell a complete story, with each department reflecting its own emphases and drawing inspiration from them.
Even though it may seem like duplication, capturing multiple sessions visually offers enormous value. Every group is different. By capturing this difference in drawings, teams really feel heard and engaged. Moreover, the slides serve not only as mnemonic devices, but also as a visual roadmap to turn plans into action.