Encyclopedia of Leadership

key words from a complex idea, and still keep the tone and meaning of the speaker. On

the other hand, the few chosen words can convey the heart of the idea and add to

understanding.

• Recording information on a flip chart may at first appear to slow down a meeting. In
  fact, the investment of a few minutes up front to capture ideas and comments and make
  them visible to the entire group often yields substantial dividends later in a meeting.


• The leader needs to develop these skills:
  
  
  • Write large, legibly, and quickly.
  
  
  • Spell reasonably well.
  
  
  • Think about what to write, write clearly, and listen at the same time.
  
  
  
  


• The proper equipment must be available (e.g., whiteboard, flip chart, pens, tape, and so on).


• It takes practice for a leader to be able to record information on a flip chart or some
  other form of common text, contribute to the content of the discussion, and guide the
  process, all at the same time. Consider using another person as a recorder or scribe until
  you are comfortable handling these roles simultaneously.

HOW TO USE THIS LEADERSHIP TOOL

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Signs of frustration in meetings include:

✗ wandering conversations,

✗ agenda items not concluded with clear decisions or plans,

✗ revisiting decisions from previous meetings,

✗ low creativity, and

✗ people feeling that they are not being heard.

Making information visible can help alleviate these frustrations. Keep a whiteboard or flip

chart in your group’s regular meeting room to capture brainstorming items, and visibly record

decisions and plans. Your meetings will soon become more effective.

WEB WORKSHEET

1. Here are just a few of the opportunities you might have to make information visible. Check

off those that fit, and add your own specific uses.

324 SECTION 10 TOOLS FORLEADINGTEAMS ANDGROUPS

❑ Working toward closure on decisions

and action plans

[☛10.10 Closure]

❑ Brainstorming (e.g., recording data related

to an issue)

[☛6.9 Brainstorming]

Opportunities for making

information visible What you will do to maximize these opportunities