On episode 038, I speak with Sam Bradd, graphic recorder and facilitator, change-maker and principal of Drawing Change. With his team, Sam contributes to positive change by helping their clients to solve complex problems and distil big ideas that promise to make the world a better place.

Sam helps me and the audience to grasp the complexity of visual facilitation - we begin with the basics, such as the difference between visual facilitation and graphic recording, explore the concept of the graphic recorder being a "public listener" and dive deep into the concept of psychological safety.

You will learn techniques to get the maximum impact from the visual recording - in terms of the connection between the participants, their engagement with the topic and their contribution. I was particularly intrigued by Sam's view on workshops and group dynamics - from the perspective of the graphic recorder, the observing facilitator. 

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Questions and Answers 

[2:00] What is the story behind your company's name "Drawing Change"?

[3:41] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

[7:09] What do you have in mind when you refer to visualisation as a translation? 

[8:58] How do you organise information in a visual?

[10:54] What is the difference between a visual recorder and a visual facilitator? 

[15:02] How can you create a safe space for a group while your focus is on the drawing? 

[22:06] Are visual facilitators always working in duos? 

[22:55] Would you have a conversation about the visual with the participants during the session? 

[30:18] How long did it take you to stop overthinking everything you draw? 

[34:16] What is the best way to integrate the visual in the post-workshop process?

[36:51] Do you have a story that showcases the impact of the visual?

[39:53] From the perspective of the "public listener", what makes a workshop fail?

[44:08] Which exercise provides you with the most insights for drawing?

[50:31] Do you also work with corporate clients?

[37:55] This means that you would first expose all the extreme differences in perspectives?

[50:31] And then it comes to decision making in step 4?

[54:13] What is the nugget to take away from our conversation?  

Links to check

• Sam's business page: www.drawingchange.com
• Anthony Weeks on "Public Listening"
• Episode 033 with Oscar Trimboli on Deep Listening
• Kelvy Bird, levels of listening and generative scribing: kelvybird.com 
• Sam's articles on how to use photo facilitation cards
• Our sponsor Session Lab - An online agenda builder and exercis

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