As readers know by now, I am always looking for effective and beneficial ways to incorporate images and visual thinking processes, both personally and professionally. For example, take a look at the terrific graphic recording of my presentation last Saturday at the 19th Annual Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference.
Today I was in e-mail contact with Fredrike Bannink, author of two books I often recommend: Handbook of Solution-Focused Conflict Management and 1001 Solution-Focused Questions: Handbook for Solution-Focused Interviewing.
She told me of a creative way that she uses images in her mediations. With her permission, I pass her wisdom on to you:
I agree with you that pictures and drawings can be very important in our work.
In mediation I sometimes invite my clients to make 4 drawings on a big sheet of paper, folded in 4 parts, based on my 4 basic Solution Focused Questions.
What are your best hopes?
What difference will that make?
What is already working?
What will be the next sign of progress/your next step.
I find it amazing to see what comes out of these drawings, which the clients explain to each other.
That's a fine idea, don't you agree? If you read her books, you will see Fredrike has many good ideas.
Because I am hearing of more and more visual processes such as this one being used by mediation practitioners and trainers, I am optimistically looking forward to the use of images increasing greatly, hugely, enormously in the field of conflict resolution. It will be one of the many changes we can incorporate to bring dispute resolution into the brave and illuminated new world of the 21st century.
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