Why We Need Tools To Help Build Shared Mental Models

The days of any one person being the expert in the room are over.

We all bring different types of expertise.

Consultants bring process expertise – this is how we’ve done this in other companies.

Clients bring situation-specific expertise – here’s what we’re struggling with right now.

A meeting may start with alignment – we’re here to talk about X.

But then it often diverges, as what you think we’re talking about and what I think we’re talking about drift apart.

The challenge is to bring us back together each time and realign the discussion.

This is actually the focus of my PhD research – where I’ve been developing a technique for managing and facilitating small group discussions.

We need tools that help us build shared mental models in real time.

Then we can agree on what to do next.