When you discuss a specific subject, you subconsciously reference part of a large internal map of what you know. Other people can’t see this map. It only exists in your head, and it’s called your mental model.
When faced with a problem, you reference your mental model and try to organise the aspects and complexities of what you see into recognisable patterns.
We create objects like maps, diagrams, prototypes, and lists to share what we understand and perceive.
Objects allow us to compare our mental models with each other.
These objects represent our ideas, actions, and insights.
When we reference objects during a conversation, we can go deeper and be more specific than verbalising alone.
As an example, it’s much easier to teach someone about the inner-workings of a car engine with a picture, animation, diagram, or working model.
Start with scope and scale and then timescale
Maps and diagrams can be a rhetoric tool.
Different types of diagrams and maps to handle mess:
- Block Diagram - for Concepts
- Flow Diagram - for Processes
- Gantt Chart - for Time
- Quadrant Diagram - for Comparison
- Venn Diagram - for Overlapping
- Swim Lane Diagram - for Multiple Players
- Hierarchy Diagram - for Organisation
- Mind map - for Random Connections
- Schematic - for Simplification
- Journey Map - for Experiences