It can seem strange, but the act of drawing – even just stick figures – helps us realize our own misconceptions, improve our memory, and increase our capacity to learn.

The National Science Foundation funded a study from 2007 to 2010 involving science students from Harvard, MIT, Duke University and Roxbury Community College, as well as design students. The findings revealed the process of drawing showed student misconceptions better than text.

And here’s a bonus perk: We’ve found the act of a bunch of leaders drawing together brings a sense of humility that leads to more empathy and understanding, too.