{"id":4652,"date":"2016-10-06T00:01:39","date_gmt":"2016-10-06T04:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/?p=4652"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:31:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T17:31:36","slug":"meeting-graphics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/","title":{"rendered":"Meeting Graphics &#8212; Increasing Complexity from Posters and Lists Through Matrices and Mandalas"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span class=\"\">Meeting graphics such as illustrations capture concepts and ideas that substitute for words. <\/span><span class=\"\">Why should we care about meeting graphics and illustrations? <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Meeting graphics can substitute for words. Illustrations, icons, and symbols make it easier to capture complex ideas and concepts. Hence, making it easier to build consensus and get meeting participants to . . .<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"\">\n<ul class=\"\">\n<li><span class=\"\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Agree on concepts<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Create a memorable strategic plan for vision, mission, and objectives<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Explore complex ideas<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Find common ground and overcome communication problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Identify key problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cSee\u201d what we mean<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span class=\"\">Visualize the scope of\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #333333; font-family: 'normal Arial', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">issues<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">We typically depend on the written or spoken word to express our ideas. Professional facilitators extend beyond narrative. Thus they enable groups to better and more fully express themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Facilitator\u2019s Role<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The facilitator\u2019s role makes it easier for groups of people to communicate effectively. Participants use all of their senses to communicate, not solely sound. We interpret what we see and hear\u2014but each one interprets it differently. When one person has a vision of the business, that vision is buried in the back of the mind. They hold an image that is different than the image in the back of the mind of the next person.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">For example, if you heard the term \u201cbuilding,\u201d what pops into your mind? Is it a verb? Does it represent a noun? Is the building two stories, a skyscraper, or a house? Words leave much to the interpretation of the person hearing them. If we draw pictures to support words, we embrace more senses and increase the precision of the message.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Why are Graphics Important?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Graphics leverage the logic that \u201cPictures are worth a thousand words\u201d. Images help us communicate and cross cultural boundaries. Notice that international road signs are symbols\u2014not words. The terms \u201chouse,\u201d \u201c<em>casa,<\/em>\u201d or \u201c<em>Maison<\/em>\u201d\u00a0are less important than understanding\u00a0what we are talking about a . . .<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4654\" style=\"width: 189px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4654\" class=\"wp-image-4654 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/House.png\" alt=\"Why care about illustrations? Visual Basics\" width=\"179\" height=\"140\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4654\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Meeting Graphics<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Hence, other graphic examples include blueprints, maps, process flow diagrams, and analytical models. Most of these can be described using words. However, few narratives are as clear as ideas supported with the appropriate graphics.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Seven Graphic Formats<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Seven different graphic formats are useful at differing stages of meetings and workshops. The seven formats, from least complex to most complex, are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Poster<\/strong>\u2014a central theme<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>List<\/strong>\u2014a sequenced list of ideas<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Cluster<\/strong>\u2014an arranged collection of ideas<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Matrix<\/strong>\u2014a forced comparison of ideas<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Diagram<\/strong>\u2014a model of an idea<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Drawing<\/strong>\u2014a metaphor or image of the idea<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Mandala<\/strong>\u2014a unifying, centered image<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Each graphic format provides an increasingly complex layer to help the group&#8217;s\u00a0understanding and commitment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Application<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Designing a\u00a0workshop requires understanding and coordinating several issues and people. Stepping through the seven formats, we may use a . . .<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Poster<\/strong>\u2014to announce the workshop, date, time, and place.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4661 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Poster-150x150.png\" alt=\"Why care about illustrations? Visual Basics - Poster\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>Poster<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>List<\/strong>\u2014the items that must be available for the workshop.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_4658\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4658\" class=\"wp-image-4658 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/List-150x150.png\" alt=\"Why care about meeting graphics and illustrations? Visual Basics \/ Meeting Graphics: List\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4658\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>List<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Cluster<\/strong>\u2014to organize items into appropriate groups, such as roles, logistics, and actions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_4655\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4655\" class=\"wp-image-4655 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Cluster-300x178.png\" alt=\"Why care about meeting graphics and illustrations? Visual Basics \/ Meetings Graphics: Cluster\" width=\"300\" height=\"178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Cluster-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Cluster.png 707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4655\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Cluster<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Matrix<\/strong>\u2014to associate a role to the action or logistics for which the role is responsible.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_4660\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4660\" class=\"wp-image-4660 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Matrix-300x78.png\" alt=\"Why care about meeting graphics and illustrations? Visual Basics \/ Meeting Graphics: Matrix\" width=\"300\" height=\"78\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Matrix-300x78.png 300w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Matrix.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4660\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Matrix<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Diagram<\/strong>\u2014to lay out the workshop room in two dimensions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_4656\" style=\"width: 299px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4656\" class=\"wp-image-4656 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Diagram-289x300.png\" alt=\"Why care about meeting graphics and illustrations? Visual Basics \/ Meeting Graphics: Diagram\" width=\"289\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Diagram-289x300.png 289w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Diagram.png 422w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4656\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Diagram<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Drawing<\/strong>\u2014to illustrate a three-dimensional view of the workshop room to help us visualize the environment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_4657\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4657\" class=\"wp-image-4657 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Drawing-150x150.png\" alt=\"Why care about meeting graphics and illustrations? Visual Basics \/ Meeting Graphics: Drawing\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4657\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>\u00a0Drawing<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Mandala<\/strong>\u2014to pull all of the elements together illustrating how each relates and how each contributes to the overall success of the workshop.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_12203\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12203\" class=\"wp-image-12203 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FEVNMANDALA2-300x300.png\" alt=\"Facilitation Skills\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FEVNMANDALA2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FEVNMANDALA2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FEVNMANDALA2-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FEVNMANDALA2.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-12203\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Mandala<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Roadblocks<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Many facilitators are afraid to use graphics because:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cHow do I turn them into words or actions?\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI\u2019m not artistic enough.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThe participants don\u2019t think they are artistic enough.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThe participants won\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cWhen do I use them?\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Unfortunately, we have been taught to \u201cstay within the lines.\u201d In workshops, drawing a stick figure is just as effective as drawing a well-proportioned figure. The idea is to communicate. Take confidence that content is more important than presentation. Facilitators need to become comfortable with both drawing images and using graphics in gathering ideas. They should also feel comfortable asking their participants to draw out their ideas. Learning some simple approaches and becoming comfortable drawing simple lines and circles helps us find the \u201cchild within\u201d that encourages using graphics.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>In Workshops<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Therefore, it is not enough to be comfortable drawing pictures. One key problem with graphics and workshops is \u201cWhen do I use them and how?\u201d \u00a0Knowing \u2018which graphic format to use when\u2019 is important for a facilitator. Using a matrix to define a vision is ineffective. Using a drawing to identify roles and responsibilities becomes too complex. The graphic is the means to an end. Knowing the end and finding the appropriate means makes for a more effective workshop. Realize that graphic formats help people think through a problem when developing consensual solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Use different graphics at different points to help an organization develop a strategic plan\u2014a vision of where they are going. Drawings help with vision and mission (The \u2018Coat-of-arms\u2019 tool works wonderfully for a mission). Listing supports objectives, strategies, and critical success factors. As a complement, illustrate your entire strategic plan as an evolving mandala. Create your mural with the various elements as you develop them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The following provides basic guidelines for using graphics during meetings and workshops:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Do make graphics a means to an end. Don\u2019t make them the reason for the effort.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Don&#8217;t worry about content. Don\u2019t worry about \u201cartistry\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Do explain instructions clearly. Don\u2019t be vague or too restrictive.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Do let them know that this is important\u2014part of the process. Don\u2019t let them think that this is \u201cjust fun stuff\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">To learn if it doesn\u2019t work. Don\u2019t get worried if it doesn\u2019t work. Fail fast.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Facilitators need to use more graphics in their workshops. More than creating presentations, our responsibility makes it easier for people to communicate. Verbal\/ language communication is one of the vaguest tools we have as people. We should support the narrative with graphics. As session leaders, we should prepare the right tool for the right problem. Often, facilitators get a new hammer and everything looks like a nail. To avoid that, develop a clear understanding of which format to use. Determine what it does for the group and where to take it next to get DONE.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>______<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Don\u2019t ruin your career by hosting <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/bad-meetings\/\">bad meetings<\/a>. Sign up for a <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">workshop<\/a> or send this to someone who should. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20260106090117\/https:\/\/mgrush.com\/\">MGR<span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">USH<\/span><\/a><\/em> workshops focus on meeting design and practice. Each person practices tools, methods, and activities daily during the week. Therefore, while some call this immersion, we call it the road to building high-value facilitation skills.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meeting graphics such as illustrations capture concepts and ideas that substitute for words. Why should we care about meeting graphics and illustrations? Meeting graphics can substitute for words. Illustrations, icons, and symbols make it easier to capture complex ideas and concepts. Hence, making it easier to build consensus and get meeting participants to . . [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55884429,453185955],"tags":[9868,453192358,453192359,453192356,453192360,453192357,453191081,453192355,453191082],"class_list":["post-4652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meeting-support","category-meeting-tools","tag-cluster","tag-diagram","tag-drawing","tag-list","tag-mandala","tag-matrix","tag-meeting-graphics","tag-poster","tag-visual-graphics-in-meetings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Meeting Graphics With Beauty Ranging from Posters To Mandalas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Meeting graphics can substitute for words, making it easier to capture complex ideas and concepts, thus making it easier to build consensus.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meeting Graphics --- Increasing Complexity from Posters and Lists Through Matrices and Mandalas\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Illustrations capture concepts, ideas, processes, etc., which replace the use of words. Why should we care about meeting graphics and illustrations?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MG RUSH Facilitation Best Practices Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FacilitationTraining\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FacilitationTraining\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-10-06T04:01:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-21T17:31:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Why-Use-Graphics.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"780\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"490\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Facilitation Expert\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TerrenceMetz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@terrencemetz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Facilitation Expert\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Facilitation Expert\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/33b05e43036ff09de0ddfccfef9a4497\"},\"headline\":\"Meeting Graphics &#8212; Increasing Complexity from Posters and Lists Through Matrices and Mandalas\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-10-06T04:01:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-21T17:31:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1155,\"commentCount\":3,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2016\\\/09\\\/Mandala.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Cluster\",\"diagram\",\"drawing\",\"list\",\"mandala\",\"matrix\",\"meeting graphics\",\"poster\",\"visual graphics in meetings\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Meeting Support\",\"Meeting Tools\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/\",\"name\":\"Meeting Graphics With Beauty Ranging from Posters To Mandalas\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2016\\\/09\\\/Mandala.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-10-06T04:01:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-21T17:31:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"Meeting graphics can substitute for words, making it easier to capture complex ideas and concepts, thus making it easier to build consensus.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2016\\\/09\\\/Mandala.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2016\\\/09\\\/Mandala.png\",\"width\":676,\"height\":517,\"caption\":\"Meeting Graphics: Mandala\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/meeting-graphics\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Meeting Graphics &#8212; Increasing Complexity from Posters and Lists Through Matrices and Mandalas\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"MG RUSH Facilitation Best Practices Blog\",\"description\":\"Compelling observations about structured, facilitative leadership\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"MG RUSH Facilitation Best Practices\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/SquareLogo800X800.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/SquareLogo800X800.png\",\"width\":700,\"height\":700,\"caption\":\"MG RUSH Facilitation Best Practices\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/FacilitationTraining\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/terrencemetz\",\"http:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/teammetz\",\"http:\\\/\\\/pinterest.com\\\/teammetz\",\"http:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/mgrushfacilitation\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/33b05e43036ff09de0ddfccfef9a4497\",\"name\":\"Facilitation Expert\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6a3c33817cc970e9f1c2d60b6bd170c755f6a66e51205d2f0e41842b9814efa9?s=96&d=identicon&r=pg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6a3c33817cc970e9f1c2d60b6bd170c755f6a66e51205d2f0e41842b9814efa9?s=96&d=identicon&r=pg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/6a3c33817cc970e9f1c2d60b6bd170c755f6a66e51205d2f0e41842b9814efa9?s=96&d=identicon&r=pg\",\"caption\":\"Facilitation Expert\"},\"description\":\"Terrence Metz, president of MG RUSH Facilitation Training, was just 22-years-old and working as a Sales Engineer at Honeywell when he recognized a widespread problem\u2014most meetings were ineffective and poorly led, wasting both time and company resources. However, he also observed meetings that worked. What set them apart? A well-prepared leader who structured the session to ensure participants contributed meaningfully and achieved clear outcomes. Throughout his career, Metz, who earned an MBA from Kellogg (Northwestern University) experienced and also trained in various facilitation techniques. In 2004, he purchased MG RUSH where he shifted his focus toward improving established meeting designs and building a curriculum that would teach others how to lead, facilitate, and structure meetings that drive results. His expertise in training world-class facilitators led to the 2020 publication of Meetings That Get Results: A Guide to Building Better Meetings, a comprehensive resource on effectively building consensus. Grounded in the principle that \u201cnobody is smarter than everybody,\u201d the book details the why, what, and how of building consensus when making decisions, planning, and solving problems. Along with a Participant\u2019s Guide and supplemental workshops, it supports learning from foundational awareness to professional certification. Metz\u2019s first book, Change or Die: A Business Process Improvement Manual, tackled the challenges of process optimization. His upcoming book, Catalyst: Facilitating Innovation, focuses on meetings and workshops that don\u2019t simply end when time runs out but conclude with actionable next steps and clear assignments\u2014ensuring progress beyond discussions and ideas.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/MGrush.com\",\"http:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/FacilitationTraining\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/terrencemetz\\\/\",\"@teammetz\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/TerrenceMetz\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=j4x3-Qo9Ez4\"],\"birthDate\":\"1955-09-23\",\"gender\":\"male\",\"jobTitle\":\"Managing Director\",\"worksFor\":\"MG Rush Facilitation\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mgrush.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/teammetz7\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Meeting Graphics With Beauty Ranging from Posters To Mandalas","description":"Meeting graphics can substitute for words, making it easier to capture complex ideas and concepts, thus making it easier to build consensus.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Meeting Graphics --- Increasing Complexity from Posters and Lists Through Matrices and Mandalas","og_description":"Illustrations capture concepts, ideas, processes, etc., which replace the use of words. Why should we care about meeting graphics and illustrations?","og_url":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/","og_site_name":"MG RUSH Facilitation Best Practices Blog","article_publisher":"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FacilitationTraining\/","article_author":"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FacilitationTraining\/","article_published_time":"2016-10-06T04:01:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-21T17:31:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":780,"height":490,"url":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Why-Use-Graphics.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Facilitation Expert","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@TerrenceMetz","twitter_site":"@terrencemetz","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Facilitation Expert","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/"},"author":{"name":"Facilitation Expert","@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/33b05e43036ff09de0ddfccfef9a4497"},"headline":"Meeting Graphics &#8212; Increasing Complexity from Posters and Lists Through Matrices and Mandalas","datePublished":"2016-10-06T04:01:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-21T17:31:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/"},"wordCount":1155,"commentCount":3,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Mandala.png","keywords":["Cluster","diagram","drawing","list","mandala","matrix","meeting graphics","poster","visual graphics in meetings"],"articleSection":["Meeting Support","Meeting Tools"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/","url":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/","name":"Meeting Graphics With Beauty Ranging from Posters To Mandalas","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Mandala.png","datePublished":"2016-10-06T04:01:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-21T17:31:36+00:00","description":"Meeting graphics can substitute for words, making it easier to capture complex ideas and concepts, thus making it easier to build consensus.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Mandala.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Mandala.png","width":676,"height":517,"caption":"Meeting Graphics: Mandala"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-graphics\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Meeting Graphics &#8212; Increasing Complexity from Posters and Lists Through Matrices and Mandalas"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/","name":"MG RUSH Facilitation Best Practices Blog","description":"Compelling observations about structured, facilitative leadership","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"MG RUSH Facilitation Best Practices","url":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/SquareLogo800X800.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/SquareLogo800X800.png","width":700,"height":700,"caption":"MG RUSH Facilitation Best Practices"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FacilitationTraining\/","https:\/\/x.com\/terrencemetz","http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/teammetz","http:\/\/pinterest.com\/teammetz","http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/mgrushfacilitation"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/33b05e43036ff09de0ddfccfef9a4497","name":"Facilitation Expert","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6a3c33817cc970e9f1c2d60b6bd170c755f6a66e51205d2f0e41842b9814efa9?s=96&d=identicon&r=pg","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6a3c33817cc970e9f1c2d60b6bd170c755f6a66e51205d2f0e41842b9814efa9?s=96&d=identicon&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6a3c33817cc970e9f1c2d60b6bd170c755f6a66e51205d2f0e41842b9814efa9?s=96&d=identicon&r=pg","caption":"Facilitation Expert"},"description":"Terrence Metz, president of MG RUSH Facilitation Training, was just 22-years-old and working as a Sales Engineer at Honeywell when he recognized a widespread problem\u2014most meetings were ineffective and poorly led, wasting both time and company resources. However, he also observed meetings that worked. What set them apart? A well-prepared leader who structured the session to ensure participants contributed meaningfully and achieved clear outcomes. Throughout his career, Metz, who earned an MBA from Kellogg (Northwestern University) experienced and also trained in various facilitation techniques. In 2004, he purchased MG RUSH where he shifted his focus toward improving established meeting designs and building a curriculum that would teach others how to lead, facilitate, and structure meetings that drive results. His expertise in training world-class facilitators led to the 2020 publication of Meetings That Get Results: A Guide to Building Better Meetings, a comprehensive resource on effectively building consensus. Grounded in the principle that \u201cnobody is smarter than everybody,\u201d the book details the why, what, and how of building consensus when making decisions, planning, and solving problems. Along with a Participant\u2019s Guide and supplemental workshops, it supports learning from foundational awareness to professional certification. Metz\u2019s first book, Change or Die: A Business Process Improvement Manual, tackled the challenges of process optimization. His upcoming book, Catalyst: Facilitating Innovation, focuses on meetings and workshops that don\u2019t simply end when time runs out but conclude with actionable next steps and clear assignments\u2014ensuring progress beyond discussions and ideas.","sameAs":["http:\/\/MGrush.com","http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FacilitationTraining\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/terrencemetz\/","@teammetz","https:\/\/x.com\/TerrenceMetz","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=j4x3-Qo9Ez4"],"birthDate":"1955-09-23","gender":"male","jobTitle":"Managing Director","worksFor":"MG Rush Facilitation","url":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/author\/teammetz7\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Mandala.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4652"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4652\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}