Four Types of Conversations: Part 3 of 4

Deborah DeLue • March 26, 2025

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking

The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES. Vol. 6 No. 7, March 28, 2025

Need to get on the same page?

Ever stepped into a consulting conversation where it felt like you and your client were looking at the same challenge but seeing completely different pictures?

You’re not alone. Bridging that gap requires the right questions, clear visuals, and a structured approach to align perspectives and uncover real solutions.

Drawing of someone telling people something

Today's issue is the third in a four part series about the four key conversation types. If you missed part one or two you can find them here and here. Today we dive into the “Consult” type of conversation.

A "Consult" conversation is a collaborative exchange where you facilitate discussions, share expert insights, and guide decision-making. Rather than dictating solutions, you help explore options, clarify objectives, and engage stakeholders in strategic thinking.

First, in case you missed it here is a recap of…

The Four Conversation Types

Sell – Persuade, motivate, and drive decision-making. Whether you’re pitching a product, securing buy-in for an idea, or convincing stakeholders to take action, visuals reduce uncertainty and strengthen emotional appeal.
Tell – Deliver precise, structured, and digestible information. When explaining a process, providing instructions, or ensuring alignment, visuals simplify complexity and improve retention.
Consult – Facilitate discussions, provide expert insights, and guide decision-making. Advising a client? Leading a strategy session? Visuals help structure discussions, organize complexity, and create clarity.
Co-Create – Foster collaboration, spark creativity, and build collective ownership. Brainstorming new solutions? Designing strategies? Visuals help organize diverse input, make abstract concepts tangible, and drive engagement.

Graphic showing 4 types of conversations - Sell, Tell, Consult and Co-Create

Best Visual Tools for Consulting Type Conversations:

Mind maps to explore different perspectives.
Graphic organizers (sometimes referred to as visual templates) to organize information and gain insight. New to visual templates? Check out this blog post with our top 10 favorites.
Sketchnotes to capture key insights dynamically.

Example: A coach is guiding their client through a 3-panel sketchnote to explore an ongoing challenge. The first panel defines the problem, outlining key obstacles and concerns. The second panel focuses on action, brainstorming potential strategies and next steps. The third panel illustrates the solution, clarifying the desired outcome and path forward. This visual approach helps organize thoughts, uncover insights, and create a clear plan for progress.

A colorful diagram of a teaching model: introduce the skill/concept - show an example - apply/activity - reflect

Your Challenge: Try It in Your Next "Consult" Conversation

Step 1: Pick an upcoming conversation where you need to facilitate, advise, provide expert insights, or guide decision-making
Step 2: Use one of the visual thinking tools above as your framework or create your own. It could be the tool you're most comfortable with or a new tool that you want to explore.
Step 3: Create a quick meeting map including the key points you want to cover during your conversation. New to meeting maps? Download a free meeting map template here.
Step 4: Jot down a few notes about how you'll use hierarchy, color and images to support your message.
Step 5: Grab something to draw on and something to draw with then sketch a quick visual of the visual tool you've chosen.
Step 6: Practice makes progress: Using everything you've considered/created, take your visual thinking tool a test drive. Enlist the help of a colleague or friend and walk through how you imagine the conversation will go. Notice where the tools provided the support you needed and what might need to be further clarified. Make the necessary tweaks and try again until you feel everything flows smoothly.
Step 7: Put it to use: Apply your chosen framework during the conversation and observe the impact. Make note of what went well and what you might do differently the next time.