10 reasons to use a whiteboard
TRANSCRIPT
1 Erase mistakes
• With a good eraser whiteboards are very forgiving.
• As soon as you can see a word or idea visually, all it takes is a swipe of the eraser to start with a fresh canvas.
2 Make connections
• Mind maps are a great brainstorming tool, whether in groups or working by yourself.
• Another similar tool is the Ishikawa fishbone diagram, used to help identify causes of problems.
• Whiteboards are an effective medium to quickly write out key points and then draw connecting lines between various topics.
3 Easy to see
• Whiteboards are usually mounted on walls or on an easel stand. They are designed to provide maximum visibility for a group.
• Remember to write in a large font if you are working with a large group.
• Writing neatly is also helpful.
4 Large work space
• The larger the whiteboard space the better.
• I once worked in a place with a conference where all of the walls consisted of whiteboards.
• Every time we came into the conference room we could see how ideas were developing.
5 Collaboration
• Collaborative brainstorming typically results in more and better ideas than thinking alone.
• Whiteboards provide an excellent way to quickly write out ideas and draw designs.
• This can be accomplished concurrently, when working together, or asynchronously, as various individuals contribute to different ideas on the whiteboard over time.
6 Storyboards
• Whiteboards can be used to plan presentations and documents.
• If you print PowerPoint or KeyNote slides at 9 to a page, they are the same size as small sticky notes.
• Using the whiteboard, you can tape printed slides, add sticky notes, and draw other ideas for slides.
7 Reusable
• Just like you can erase mistakes, you can erase everything and use the space again.
• Before you erase, take a photo so that you can utilize the information from the whiteboard later.
8 Creative
• With a variety of colors and pen sizes, there is no end to the creativity when using a whiteboard.
• Additionally, because you can place text and drawings anywhere without software limitations, it is easier to be creative.
9 Process mapping
• When developing a new process or reviewing an existing one, the whiteboard makes it easy to walk through the various steps of a process.
• As you draw out a process, it is easy to make changes or insert additional steps.
• Once a process is captured on the whiteboard, you can then review the process to look for unnecessary steps or opportunities for improvement.
10 Audience attention
• When you are creating in real-time, the audience must focus on your presentation.
• The audience can’t read ahead or lag behind.
• Using a whiteboard will help you and your audience stay at the same pace.
• Using a whiteboard ensures that you keep visuals simple without unnecessary graphics or too much text.
