Visualize a circle in the middle of a PowerPoint slide that has multiple arrows pointing inward to it. The circle might be a desired future state for a law department. Each arrow and text box it comes from represents a different aspect of that vision. This description of a “Mandala vision” comes from David Sibbet, Best Practices for Facilitation (Grove 2007) at 87. Mandala is a Sanskrit word for universal pattern.
For example, if your law department wants to imagine a better state of affairs with outside counsel, that would be the inner circle. Some of the factors along the arrows that influence that future state include the number of firms used, the guidance you give those firms, the amount of work you have to give them in different areas of law, your lawyers’ abilities to manage partners, procurement policies, and more.