What do YOU see that makes you say that?

Just freshly trained in Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS ) facilitation, I hosted my first session with Genie Ventures this week and got those rookie nerves out of the way - for now! I also had the wonderful opportunity to share my thoughts about VTS as a tool for teams at the Edufication Masterclass on Creative and Design Thinking.

Having been in many, sometimes very intense product team meetings, I wholeheartedly believe that VTS can be a powerful tool in the corporate space where we need pragmatic ways to hone in on deep listening skills and encourage diverse perspectives.?

VTS is a dialogue and shared discovery tool developed in US museums and adopted by educators worldwide. Given that dealing with ambiguity and complexity is the reality of building new products, services and ventures, I think VTS provides an impactful way for teams to embody behaviours for collective problem-solving at work.

It is intriguing to look at art together and the three main VTS questions are designed to be open and encourage interesting discussions and exploration. The aim is not to come to a solution but rather, to develop a mindset of open-mindedness, curiosity and a sense of shared discovery.

The simplicity of the VTS framework means that it can be used time and time again alongside other work techniques and activities. Through careful facilitation, teams are guided to:

• Focus on the same thing
• Each person is heard and valued
• Listen to understand
• Diversity of thought is welcome
• Psychological safety for all to express themselves
• Critical thinking based on evidence
• Collective meaning-making
• Have fun!

Do you want to approach your teamwork with a fresh perspective? Try thinking together through art!