Map out the conversation

When you're heading off to a meeting today or tomorrow, take your notepad along, sure. Only this time, map out how the conversation goes.

Rather than jotting your own notes or actions, capture what the conversation is about. What are the key points? Where are the forks in the road? Where are the blocks or barriers? Where is the humour and lightness? You'll soon see so much more - and the person or group you're having the conversation with will too. 

Last week I met with a client about a customer engagement project. I mapped out our chat and before long, we had three phases, a series of key questions and some follow-up actions. I can recall greater detail of that meeting just by looking at my 'conversation map'. It's a few wavy lines, squares, circles and cloud shapes - just like the cloud shape in the left column of this newsletter. And there were words too. Make sure you've captured words!

Visual notes are engaging, powerful and effective. They serve as one of the greatest mental filing cabinets you have. Just looking at the notes from that conversation helps me recall detail. Here are the notes from my meeting - though they might mean even more if you'd been there. So next time we meet, I'll map out our conversation too. Pick up your pen and map out your next conversation with a client, customer, or colleague. It will stay stronger in your mental filing cabinet!