“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

George Bernard Shaw

Effectively communicating instructions for the delivery of instructor-led training is a challenge. This writing task is made harder by also needing to deal with formatting, competing agendas, time limitations and more. Having the clarity of mind to focus on the communication of complex content is a rare luxury. To produce instructions that are clear, concise, and complete we must use every tool available.

Visual Cues

Visual cues are powerful tools that draw attention and provide meaningful context to communications. They are commonly recognized icons that represent typical actions. When used consistently and mindfully in facilitator guides, visual cues help us organize, recognize, and manage training content.

While there are many reasons why communications are misunderstood, visual cues stand out as a first line of defense against misunderstandings in written instructions.

• They assist the reader by clarifying and reinforcing verbal cues.

• They assist the writer by drawing attention to gaps and disconnects in the instructional flow.

• They add an “at a glance” component to Facilitator Guides which makes them easier to use.

How to get the benefits of Visual Cues

To get started with visual cues agree with your colleagues on:

1. A list of common instructional actions you typically reference.

2. A list of cues you will use to represent those actions.

3. Labels that define what the cues mean.

The next step:

1. Develop a set of icons and a map legend of the cues and their meaning.

2. Develop an easy method for adding the cues into your documents.

Implementation

1. Share the icons with the development team.

2. Teach everyone how to insert them.

3. Use the cues consistently.

For added impact:

Pair visual cues with descriptive headlines to make them even more powerful. For example:

The easiest way to get going with Visual Cues

Start using LeaderGuide Pro, the only tool dedicated to creating Facilitator Guide and Participant Guide to support instructor-led training and VILT. LeaderGuide Pro comes with hundreds of ready-to-use icons that are easy to insert.