Allan Hall business planning: using graphic recording to see the big picture

Posted by Guy Downes on November 4, 2009 under Graphic Recording | Read the First Comment

A few weeks ago, I was brought in by the team at Allan Hall Business Advisors to run two separate graphic recording/facilitation sessions to help them in the planning stages of a) a new service offering they were considering and b) looking at how to grow and differentiate their general insurance practice. Each session lasted 2-3 hours and my role was to ‘panoramically’ capture the team’s thoughts and ideas around building their business and service using graphic recording techniques of colour, words and images. The process helped them engage, step back from day-to-day business and see the ‘journey’ of their ideas, thoughts and conversation. It also offered the opportunity to see linkage between several key ideas and helped the team get clarity on immediate next steps and actions. 

Allan Hall is also my accountant and from where I stand (as a business owner myself, albeit a small one) they’re a great north shore success story - they have been in business for half a century and I can see why. Whenever I go in, the service is professional, attentive yet relaxed. I guess the surf board in their smart reception area sums up this approach nicely.