Time-Value of Information

We probably all have some appreciation for the time-value of money.?We know that the value of the cash we hold on to decreases every day.?In some situations, this value loss can be even worse.

Consider for instance, the hyperinflation in Zimbabwe that caused its currency to be printed with an expiration date.?See here.

In an information economy, information takes on “currency like” attributes.?One of those attributes is time-value due to inflation.

The knowledge we invest in today will be worth less tomorrow and worthless soon after.

Successful business leaders and investors (hopefully you) around the world are educated in ways to support and grow the value of money.?They seek to grow a balanced portfolio of long-term and short-term investments.?They also want investments that can be converted into cash at different rates.?This protects them against undisciplined decisions because they cannot spend all their invested value on a short term emotionally motivated scheme.

Although we use the term “Information Economy,” we don’t think about information in the same terms.?We behave like hoarders. We produce presentation decks with tables of data and streams of words whose value will diminish faster than a Zimbabwe bank note.?What is the value of a year-old newspaper??What is the value of a year-old presentation deck??

I’m not saying yesterday’s information is completely worthless.?No, but yesterday’s newspaper certainly is.?And old presentation decks don’t fare much better.?The average business presentation is printed and sent to the recycle bin faster than we digest our breakfast.

If this horde of old newspapers were for sale, how much would you pay for it?

Notice these two odd facts:

1. We say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
2. E-books ALL have cover art.

We even make cover art for books that don’t exist!

Source: https://earthlymission.com/the-miserable-life-of-todays-librarian-told-in-1950s-pulp-fiction-covers/

Why on earth do we do this?

Because it turns out that adding the right kind of visual support to information increases its exchange value over time.

Whatever presentation standard your company has developed does not support the information on your slides.?Its repetition becomes noise that obscures information rather than supporting it.

What does graphical support for information look like?

• It looks like something related to the information.
• It looks familiar yet unique to this conversation.
• It should support our thinking process, not make a slide interesting.
• It does not look like some clipart we downloaded.
• It helps if it doesn’t look too polished.?
• It should look like it is inviting interaction.

The real bonus comes when the graphics for the information unfold throughout the conversation so that attendees can see their thoughts emerge together.

We still need to pre-coordinate and send out pre-read packages.?We still need a projector and slides. We still need an agenda.

These things are all needed, they just don’t support the value of the information over time.?They are missing a mechanism to provide for some permanence in value.?

Graphic recording, sometimes called visual scribing, has been developed to provide exactly this kind of support for the exchange of information.

Graphic recorders generally work on large format plotter paper or foam-core boards.?They stand at the front of the room, off to one side.?As the meeting progresses, they use markers, chalk, pastels and sometimes paint to capture the meeting content in pictures and words.?These graphical illustrations have a natural flow that uses spatial relationships, whitespace, and colors to connect and emphasize meaning.

Watching the meeting content unfold graphically has a profound effect on the attendees.?It tends to cement the meaning in their minds.?The graphics relieve a significant cognitive load, freeing their minds to absorb information and providing a structure for them to interact with it mentally.

Try this in one meeting and you’ll be hooked.

Where does somebody get a skill like that?

Do a quick web search for "Graphic Recorder" and you'll find plenty.

Can I hire a graphic recorder for just one meeting?

You certainly can.?Your contracted resource will provide the skills, along with any markers, chalks, paints, etc. You will usually need to provide the foam-core or roll paper since those don’t travel well.?And they will be happy to sign a confidentiality agreement to ensure the protection of your content.?In addition, they should provide a digital copy of their final work within a week of the meeting.

Want more information??Contact me at [email protected] and I'll help you connect with a graphic recorder to meet your needs.