When solving complex challenges, try using our 8 mental models to help frame your thinking.

1. The Fish Hook: Represents agreeing on things you’ve already done or achieved, so that you can move forward in an aligned manner. This is primarily based on the idea of “Parallel thinking” rather than critical thinking.
2. The Eye Compass: Inspiration can come from diverse sources and sometimes in the least expected places. Being open and observant is helpful in recognising alternative solutions.
3. The Clay Tablet: Many challenges whether visual or otherwise can be solved or addressed by returning to “first principles”. Start with a question like “What do we know already” or “What do we know is absolutely true”. Breaking down a complex challenge into its fundamental parts can allow us to better understand what we are dealing with.
4. The Light Bulb: Is a symbol for convergent and divergent thinking which are two of the primary sources of creativity. Making use of both forms of thinking can help us tackle difficult problems, or even produce unexpected innovation. Convergent thinking activities like card sorting are useful for making links between things, but divergent thinking activities is all about the art of the possible.
5. The Funnel: Good synthesis takes time, and requires multiple sources or pieces of information. Whether you are listening to a live conversation, or sifting through research; your prerogative is gain insight by filtering what is useful from what is not.
6. The Pencil: Emphasises the need to iterate. Making marks whether in pencil or other means, places value on the process of exploration. The best ideas often don’t come instantly or on our first attempt, so explore and build on your ideas.
7. The Stairs: Movement in thought, like movement in body - helps to keep things fresh. Sometimes it might mean taking two steps back in order to go three steps forward, but the emphasis should be maintaining motion so that our ideas and approach doesn’t stagnate.
8. The Book: Almost all human conversation is conveyed through stories. We need to learn to listen for them, and use them to identify insights that help us progress. The emotional aspect of stories are what helps us make decisions and spur us to action. We are emotional creatures by nature, and stories appeal to this side of us more than anything else.

Sketchnoting using the 2x3 graphical layout can be used for a variety of occasions where organising ideas are conducive to learning or gaining insights.

Activity: 30-45 minutes.

Watch this video and produce the following:

1. A rough sketch in real time. Try filling out the 6 boxes with some points that stand out to you.
2. A more finished image using a felt tip marker, and a single colour to help the points stand out.

Tips:

When using colour, try underline certain words, gently colouring some of the imagery to help them stand out. Use a felt tip marker to make the words more prominent.

Try using this layout for the following activities:

1. Short Lectures
2. Pitches or Presentations
3. Meetups

Listening is an ability most of us possess, but few of us develop as an actual skill. Our process of listening can be divided into 3 layers that will help you filter select information.

Try listening for the following:

Keywords: This is usually specific information regarding the topic, and can be technical or take the form of jargon. This is a great place to start, as it helps you frame what you’re listening to, and quickly immerses you in what’s being said.

Sentiment: This is focused on the emotion and the way the words are delivered to you. Look for physical cues where applicable, but also listen to vocal cadence and tone. This usually reveals how a speaker feels about what’s being said.

Themes: This usually happens later in a talk or discussion, as the speaker/s will uncover more information as they continue. Themes often present themselves after multiple pieces of information are shared, and reveals the subtext of what’s being said.

Try this exercise to put into practice the basics of visual thinking

Step 1: Identify words to visualise.

EG. It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.

Step 2: Combine words and images to create a memorable graphic

Tips:

Use icons instead of overly complicated drawings or diagrams.

The easier something is to draw, the more likely you will reuse it.