This set of unique, analog, retro workshop tools is now on the market!
Metaphor Mapping
for Process, Culture, Strategy
After applying Metaphor Mapping in United Nations agencies and European businesses, and later in scores of U.S organizations to solve complex problems, I’ve retired and finally decided to sell the IP and materials. Anyone interested in acquiring it or helping me place it should use the “To Reach Us” tab to make initial contact.
Metaphor Mapping uses sticker images within four metaphors:
- Two villages, one for today’s operation and one for the ideal future
- Wildlife, where the attitudes and energy of process participants are made clear
- A river flowing through time, around waterfalls, avoiding swamps, uncovering gold
- Playing cards, showing unmistakable responsibility for actions
Customers respond enthusiastically to Metaphor Mapping workshops
- They like dealing with reality in a process that leaves no room for positioning and theatrics
- They like being able to show the true cost of friction and weaknesses along with other process participants, rather than reading consultant reports
- They like the creativity and pragmatism generated in an informal atmosphere and peer-peer discussions
- They like hearing all their peers sign up to own the strategy, and seeing each task clearly owned by a ‘King’
Consulting firms can find new revenue with Metaphor Mapping
- A differentiator with a track record
- A novel entry point for quick, lasting solutions for departmental or organization-wide issues
- Open dialog in workshops shows further opportunities to help
- Enthusiastic participants “sell” workshops to the wider organization
* You’re reached the end of the elevator ride.*
There’s further information below if you want to learn more.
*****
Some of the principles Metaphor Mapping tools draw on:
Metaphor Mapping provides
- An open/inclusive atmosphere: for authenticity and dialog
- Serious-fun: that lightens the work and makes it safe to address charged issues
- Visual symbols: for big-picture, systems thinking, intuition as well as reasoning
“When you produce something with another person that is truly creative, its one of the most powerful forms of bonding there is.” Stephen Covey
A quick history of Mapping
This tool has been around for over 30 years but is new to most because it was invented for U.N. groups where lives could be at risk if teams couldn’t bridge cultural divides, align objectives, think collaboratively and commit to joint action. It helped overcome the multiple mother tongues at work in the U.N. because its universally familiar metaphors, symbol language and engaging process make meaning crystal clear and give it forceful, visual impact.
Next, European divisions of US companies used its discipline and speed to help their in-house professionals replace expensive consultants to sales, supply chain and other disciplines– happily avoiding tedious piles of Post-it notes.
Its universal visual language led Metaphor Mapping into global transformation programs, supply chains, TQM, mergers, re-orgs and IT projects. As it became more known, parent companies and other leaders found it overcomes cross-function gaps, helps avoid flawed strategies and improves execution quality.
It has become the master facilitator’s tool for team alignment– compressing into a single day the type of team learning that led geese to fly in a “V” formation to achieve greater speed with less effort.
Metaphor Mapping
delivers solid thinking and commitment
- It’s easy to be authentic, raise or challenge ideas when building a Map
- Stakeholders frame and fill the end-to-end picture: It’s symbolic, collective mind-mapping
- Metaphors promote lateral, fast-slow and systems thinking
- Vision and strategy are built together, aligning and committing all team members
Our encouragement to you
Try this U.N.-inspired tool. You’ll see resistance to change disappear when your team originates or details the goal and strategy. You’ll avoid boring workshops and get the results you need.
The moment you start, your team will thank you.
