How do youprocess information? By taking notes. In traditional classes, we learned towrite down everything. But for powerful selling, visual note taking at awhiteboard is much more powerful.


Curious how topump up your whiteboard note taking? In talking with graphic facilitators,whiteboard sellers and creative visual story sellers, 5 practices consistentlysurface. It doesn’t seem to matter what the topic is. It doesn’t seem to matterwhat their expertise or role is.


All thatmatters is speaking a fluent visual language—one that is ready to go at amoment’s notice. If this sounds like fun, believe me…it is a blast.


You might haveto pinch yourself when you’re in front of a serious group of analyticalbusiness folks and you’re mapping things out in pictures and words. And guidingthe conversation to ask the right questions, address concerns and simplifycomplex processes.


Unlike classicnote taking, you won’t write down every single word. Instead, you’ll capturekey ideas and illustrate as you go along.


While there isa huge amount to learn to master the skill of whiteboard selling and impromptuvisual note taking, these 5 top practices will get you started. Instantly.


1. PracticeLike Crazy

Much likelearning a foreign language, practice like crazy. Go wild. Draw, write andsketch ideas. Map information in different ways. Lists. Clusters. Columns.Branches.


The more youpractice, the more fluid you’ll become.


2. RehearseOn Specific Topics

In addition togeneral practice, focus on the kinds of topics you’ll be discussing withcustomers and prospects. If you’re showing a process flow for working with yourcompany, sketch it out. If you are detailing frequently asked questions,practice visuals that make the concepts memorable.


3. PracticeListening

One of theleast practiced skills is the one you’ll use the most: listening. There arehundreds of ways to practice listening—and visual note taking. Here are my top7 favorites:


• Capturetelephone conversations

• Depict aone-on-one interaction with a friend

• Custom Lotion pump Manufacturers Illustratean inspirational talk--live or video

• Translatethe key ideas from a PowerPoint presentation

• Show theflow of a lecture

• Take visualnotes during a staff meeting

• Create awhiteboard record of a family discussion


Each of these‘rehearsals’ helps you develop better listening skills. If you don’t like thesesuggestions, come up with your own. Focus on opportunities to learn newinformation, translate ideas into pictures and words, and invent on the spot.


4. BuildSpeed Skills

While manygraphic designers, cartoonists and visual practitioners prefer to sketch in ajournal or at a drafting table, working with a live audience is a differentanimal.


You must beready for one thing: speed. Conversation is fast. You won’t have time for tonsof detail, changing your mind, or embellishing what you’ve drawn. In fact, it’sa less controllable than when you’re sketching in your studio.


Working infront of an audience is improvisational art. You must come up with ideas—on thespot. Naturally, this is easier if you’ve been practicing all the steps we’vejust covered.


The trick hereis to have a storehouse of responses so you can flow with fast input andunexpected twists and turns.


5. ImproviseLike A Pro

With moreideas and more options the better. Develop a surplus and you'll feel moreflexible and confident. When you’re drawing at the whiteboard, everyone iswatching. They may have preconceived ideas of what you will do. But truly, it’sup to you.


You’remanaging the space of the whiteboard. You’re managing the tools, colors andmarkers. And you’re managing the depth of detail.


About the onlything that can go wrong are things that you control. Specifically, your mentalstate. By keeping an open mind, non-judgmental attitude, it’s easier to stay inthe flow of conversation.


If working atthe whiteboard for selling,presenting and training sounds appealing to you, use these 5 tips. You’ll bepleasantly surprised. With a small amount of focus, practice and rehearsal,you’ll always have ideas ready to go.