What sensemaking is and why we need it

When the Institute for the Future said sensemaking was something we'd need for 2020 and beyond, I'm sure many people thought 'Huh? What is that, why do I need it?'

We have some natural abilities to make sense yet we also need sharper skills when problem solving and dealing with complex issues and information.  

I wrote a book called 'Making Sense: A Handbook for the Future of Work'. This books proposes that using visuals isn't about pretty pictures, but rather functional and practical tools that help us get to grips with information and ideas quickly.

The sooner we make sense of what's going on, the sooner we can make decisions ... and the sooner we can act.

We usually try to make sense by talking to (or at) each other. But making a 'map' is more effective.

How do you make a map? In 'Making Sense' I've provided: 40 thought starters 10 thinking tools 21 techniques 32 templates to help you make maps for sense. So when you need to make sense of things, get the book out, start mapping and sensemaking. You'll be equipped to decide and act... sooner.

Q: How do you currently make sense of things? 

Managing the overload

Do we consciously think how we’ll manage the deluge of information we’ll be exposed to today? Or do we just hope for the best?

Yes, we read, think, assess, evaluate and make sense of so much stuff. Every day. And while we’re trying to make sense of the information that’s INCOMING to us, don’t forget we also need to make sense of the information that we’re preparing for others : our OUTGOING.

We can spend too long on how things look - a presentation or report for example - when it may actually be all wordy, with jargon, cliched. That’s hard work for people to make sense of.

As you manage your own cognitive load, be aware you need to help others manage their load too. When preparing information, make it easy for them. If it’s easy - that doesn’t mean simple - if it’s easy, it gets digested, absorbed and, importantly integrated into our learning and understanding.

You'll feel less zombie-ish and more alert if you make conscious cognitive load management one of the ways you go about your day. I’m opening the SIRF Roundtables National Forum with a keynote on this super skill, cognitive load coping.

I’ll share more on cognitive load coping this week.

How did that happen?

In a recent workshop with a senior leadership team, the highest priority topic of the day wasn't strategy, or competition or finances. It was death and injury. 

'How did that happen?' asked the leaders when it was reported that one of the team had been killed and another injured at work. 

The stark reality is that safety is the most important thing in the workplace. 

After discussion of key points from the day and identifying actions for leaders of all levels to implement, the visual I share with you this week is a reminder that none of us can take safety lightly. 

In your own environment, and with your own team, family and community… please, be safe. 

 

Do you do the things successful people do?

Of the many lists and hints on how to be successful, the 12 things successful people do before breakfast by Jenna Gourdreau in Entrepreneur magazine was … quite tasty!

 
My visual this week is a pictorial reminder, based on the article (which was based on the book of similar name by Laura Vanderkam.)
 
Here they are… 12 things to do before breakfast:



Who could remember the written list after reading it?

The picture I sketched and doodled helps me recall the tips with greater ease… certainly in the early hours of the morning!
 
As always, visuals do a lot of the heavy lifting for you when there's detail or complexity at play.

Pictures help people hear each other… when they're not listening. 

Visuals help people digest smaller pieces of information and make for a more engaging piece of communication than a spreadsheet, data pack or dump of information.
 
How can you help the people you're working with at the moment to digest some of your important information more easily?
 
 

Do you do the things successful people do?

Of the many lists and hints on how to be successful, the 12 things successful people do before breakfast by Jenna Gourdreau in Entrepreneur magazine was … quite tasty!

 
My visual this week is a pictorial reminder, based on the article (which was based on the book of similar name by Laura Vanderkam.)
 
Here they are… 12 things to do before breakfast:



Who could remember the written list after reading it?

The picture I sketched and doodled helps me recall the tips with greater ease… certainly in the early hours of the morning!
 
As always, visuals do a lot of the heavy lifting for you when there's detail or complexity at play.

Pictures help people hear each other… when they're not listening. 

Visuals help people digest smaller pieces of information and make for a more engaging piece of communication than a spreadsheet, data pack or dump of information.
 
How can you help the people you're working with at the moment to digest some of your important information more easily?