Mind mapping has been around for a long time! As incredible as it is, the process was already in the minds of great thinkers... 350 years before the modern era! It's not just yesterday that people are trying to find the best methods to organize their thoughts and structure their messages in order to retain them better and be understood more efficiently. The creation of a mind map resembles the drawing (see example below) of a tree or a large octopus where the main body (in the center) represents the objective we are aiming for and the legs (and their "secondary legs") represent the elements to be addressed, to be remembered or the tasks to be carried out in order to contribute to the achievement of this objective.
What are the benefits of mind mapping?
The mind mapping process has many benefits for the professional, the employee, the manager and even in your personal life. First, creating a mind map allows you to organize your ideas using only 10% of the words you would normally need to explain a concept. For example, instead of needing several pages to present your business plan or new projects to your teams, why not create a thought map that fits on one page, where each idea is represented by a single word or a drawing? You'll be surprised to find that if you use a mind map, many of your colleagues will more accurately grasp what you are saying.
It is recognized that some people can be "detailed" and others "general" when it comes to processing the same information. Indeed, we do not all have similar learning processes: some people will like to take the time to describe in detail a given situation, while others will be satisfied with knowing the broad outlines. Mind mapping can therefore be a useful strategy to satisfy both sides. Think about how you can "illustrate" your game plan or ideas at your next meeting.
How does mind mapping work?
Mind mapping mimics the way the brain works. In other words, when information is received by the brain, it is analyzed and processed through neurons, synapses and all neural connections. This allows us to build a "mental image" of the information, to give it a meaning and, finally, to allow it to become imprinted in your memory. Promoting the neural processing of information is therefore an excellent choice. It should be noted, however, that creating a mind map is not a substitute for learning principles. Rather, it is an effective way to retain as much information as possible by ensuring that each idea is interrelated and related to the same objective. You may be surprised to find that you retain information much better when you illustrate it with a clear goal and strategies presented visually on a sheet of paper.
When to use mind mapping?
As mentioned above, mind mapping is best used during a meeting, a conference, when developing a strategic plan, or when you need to gather and organize your ideas in order to prepare your year-end speech to your colleagues. In short, any reason is good to get your tactics in order with a visual, fun, practical method that requires a minimum of tools.
To create an effective mind map and facilitate your learning process, take a sheet of paper (ideally in 11 x 17 format) and coloured pencils. Yes, that's all you need to organize your ideas in a visual and quick way! Remember to think carefully about what you want to achieve with your mind mapping and illustrate only one word per branch of your diagram.
Main idea → Primary branch → Secondary branch → Tertiary branch
Software adapted to mind mapping
Three software programs are particularly interesting in order to support the creation of your mind map. The first is FreeMind which is free and easy to use. However, it is rather limited in possibilities. The other two are XMind and MindManager, the latter being used by many governmental and paragovernmental organizations. Don't hesitate to ask your organization for information, as many companies automatically subscribe to these types of software through their corporate licenses.
Mind mapping: Why not!
Mind mapping is practical, easy to use and fun! Whether it's for organizing a strategic meeting at the office, writing a crisis management plan or simply planning your next family vacation, mind mapping is a tool used by thousands of managers and its benefits have been proven. So get started and don't hesitate to be creative!
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