What will compel us in 2020?

As we head (ok, race!) into 2020, we've taken a moment to reflect on 2019 and are pondering.... where will we take our practice in 2020? No, we're not talking about that New Year's Resolution stuff which we know we can't keep (pull doubles at the gym five times a week! ha!) — but where are we centering our priorities and focusing our attention?  Well, here you go....

1. Relationships bring strength to the fabric of our work

Growing stronger, more robust relationships takes work. With our clients and within our team, our investment in people matters. We don't always get this right — we're busy, or tired, or just not-our-best-selves — but we're dusting that all off and getting up to ask for forgiveness and doing it again. People matter.

2. We’re growing another ear.

Just kidding. 😉 But seriously, understanding clients and the world they live in is key to successful partnerships — which grows from listening well.  Being able to understand, synthesize, and make connections for our clients in the room is critical to their success (and ours) no matter if we're at the wall graphic recording or providing graphic facilitation. In 2020 we want to be more aware of what's out in the world and all the multiple perspectives we are listening to. Each person brings their own perspective into a room to work together — and our awareness of these perspectives will allow us to be better listeners, connectors, and sense-makers.

3. We are mentoring and giving back.

In our world today, we strive to think about how we give back to our community and how we approach expanding our field — not only for practitioners in the field but also those who are using visuals as a way of thinking and processing in their work. Whether it's mentoring to grow your own personal team or being able to offer non-profit rates to support communities that couldn't normally afford this work, investing in the communities we find ourselves always makes an impact. Mentoring and training others to do the work allows us to demystify the process and combat the notion that this is "magic" that only we can do. What's the driving force behind our work? Improving conversations. When we spread the skills of visualization through mentoring and training, communication becomes a powerful tool for change.

In this time when things are so divisive in our world, our team is taking time to spend with family and friends, pausing to truly appreciate what we have, and moving ahead into 2020 with anticipation and joy for what the new year holds. Thanks for coming along with us.

How will you improve your corner of the world in 2020? Use your sphere of influence to make a change!