In Design Thinking, we apply certain tools to get the best outcomes for an individual and the growth of an organization. One such tool is Visualization. Visualization enables an individual or a team to see beyond years and envision their growth opportunities. It is important to visualize, to understand a clear picture of what we want and desire to achieve. This visualization could also be used to conceptualize imagination. Many designers who design tangible products immediately sketch thier vision.This allows their visualized idea to be put on paper and it is easier to let people know what they would possibly expect. Visualization also brings out clarity in thought as we draw it in our minds. Visualization enables us to quickly communicate through non-verbal communication because Human beings are visual animals, who think in images and pictures.
For example, when a leader talks of ‘growth’, the students see multiple avenues to gain knowledge, a Principal sees a bigger school or college, a Lecturer sees promotion as a HOD, etc. To avoid this bias in communication, visualization helps everyone understand the same goal.
The concept of visualization is inspired by the psychology of imagery; Human beings are visual animals and they understand better through imagery. Imagine an apple, we see either the fruit or the mobile phone company logo and not A-P-P-L-E as a spelling. Visualization helps individuals and teams to set a vision or a goal for themselves and for an organization to grow.
During visualization, one has to imagine being ‘ already in the future state’, which implies that the goal is already happening today. Visually creating scenarios of how the company would be or how an individual would be, is rewarding for the mind. This practice would automatically push towards the goal. Visualization would act as a guide, to accomplish what one wants to achieve in life. During the process of imagination, one should not be constrained by today’s circumstances as it would hinder future possibilities. Be without boundaries and question limitations.‘Being realistic’ or ‘Rational’ would not provide room for imagination.
Your visualized state should incite excitement and the will to achieve it. As Abdul Kalam mentions, ‘Dreams are not when you get when you are asleep. Dreams should not let you sleep.’ The visualised state should drive you towards it. We have to think about what is stopping us from achieving that dream. Dreaming ‘Big’ would invoke some amount of stress, but the idea or imagination of achieving that dream supersedes the stress element once the action is taken towards making it a reality. For a vision to become reality, there must be strong conviction – a belief in the vision.
How do we visualize:
Visualization is an art, One must start drawing his/her vision. Drawing makes the state of the vision much better and it becomes cemented in his/her mind strongly. Using stock pictures would also work, given that the person is also visualizing as the illustration /picture suggests. Challenge the visualisation board to observe, if it has multiple visions, interconnections, and predecessors. Assess the vision to see which would be tricky to achieve. The vision that one chooses which invokes some amount of fear is a good vision, Which means that he/she has dreamt BIG.
Stick the visualisation chart on a place where the team or individual can keep looking at it as it gets ingrained in the mind. We also talk about visualisation – as a reinforcement – a reminder to keep you moving towards the goal, Hence when the visualisation chart is there in front of you it not only acts as a reminder but also helps you to make improvisations to the goal that you want to achieve.
The vision is to at least target 5 years from today to see where we are now and where we would be later. For example: “I aim to be ______ in 2030”. This benchmark time would set a standard to be consistent in the efforts one is trying to achieve the goal. After the visual representation, it can also be written in words as bullet points to narrow down objectives to attain the goal.
Hence visualization is literally an ‘Art’ to be able to see, draw, have conviction, and attain that ‘future stage’ today. It helped many organizations and individuals to start today and avoid procrastination. Let us try to see where we are in 5 years’ time and Happy Visualizing!
