Making Up Our Mind Maps

1. Introduction

Our brain has incredible potential. It is a fact that we exploit it in limited ways and it is our own choice rather than the natural ability that limits our use of brain. We can blame the way we were raised or educational background for being where we are now, but we can only blame ourselves for being skeptical and denying our natural abilities and potential. Nothing stops us from challenging our brain. In fact, there are many occasions where just by thinking and acting in a different way, we could make our life easier.

One example of an obstacle, which often gives us a hard time - is the way we use our memory. One way or another, each one of us is struggling to store limitless information into our brain and even more importantly, to retain it. The routes of the problem lie in the way we use our brain. In writing notes for instance, most of us exhibit left-cortex principle of memory, such as logic, order, sequence and numbers. The right cortex, which deals with imagination, associations and senses, is left out in the process. When it comes to recalling, we need associations - images, smells, colors, and this is where we struggle since our right side was left out in the beginning. In order to enhance the process of memorizing, we need to use both sides of the brain right a way. This is possible by creating a 'mind map' which fuses words (left cortex) and images (right cortex). While words help us define and describe our thoughts and ideas, images show what words can't describe. No wonder we say - 'a picture is worth a thousand words'.

Whether you are a business owner, a student or an employee - in this article your will find how you can be more creative, effective and organized by using mind mapping in doing your job or running your own business.

2. What is a mind map?

Human brain is often compared to an advanced computer. Well, in fact, our brain is very different and more sophisticated then the most advanced computer. A computer works in a linear fashion whereas, the brain works associatively as well as linearly –& comparing, integrating and synthesizing as it goes. In other words, when we want to recall a story or a business conversation, our brain does not reproduce it as a text image with many text lines. The image we see normally consists of various single words and ideas with numerous links attaching to other ideas and concepts. Tony Buzan claims that the mind map utilizes the full range of left and right human cortical skills, balances the brain, utilizing up to 99% of unused mental potential as well as challenges our intuition (which he calls "superlogic"). (Buzan, 2003)

Mind Maps - developed by Tony Buzan - are an effective method of taking notes, generating ideas and memorizing information by making associations. In broad terms, in order to make a mind map, one starts in the center of the page with the main idea, and works outward in all directions, producing an organized structure, consisting of the key words and images.

This is just a short introduction into the concept, and you will find it easier to understand the idea by following the examples.

3. Uses of mind maps

There are numerous ways to use mind mapping in business –& formulating a business strategy, devising a tax plan, managing employees, preparing a presentation are just a few examples. My first encounter with mind mapping was through my profession. Having worked in accountancy for nearly twelve years I decided to change my direction towards investment management. This was a personal / career goal, and the main complication was my lack of experience and even basic knowledge of investment management. For that reason, I decided to study on my own to prepare for the qualification exams normally taken by brokers, investment managers and financial analysts.

The idea of an accountant attaining investment manager's role could be compared with a tennis player pursuing a career of a footballer. Not surprising that I found it extremely challenging to understand and digest all the material necessary for passing the exam. This didn't stop me though, and one of the reasons was that I relied on mind mapping.

While going through the material, I transformed it into mind maps. First - with an effort, later - with joy. Now this has become a habit. A few years ago I started my own business. This opened new horizons for using mind maps - recording, planning, communicating are just a few areas where mind maps will be useful. Below you will see some examples and ideas of how you could use mind maps in business and beyond.

PRESENTING

Mentoring a group of people, giving a project overview or presenting analysis of a process –& all these and many other activities need perfect presentation skills. Mind maps become handy here by giving an overview of the things to consider when planning a presentation. Main branches represent key issues and sub-branches will extend the key ideas further while links between the branches will show inter-relations. In just one mind map you can represent everything that needs to be done or analyzed, mark relationships between tasks, the relative priorities and identify patterns.

Whenever you speak you can prepare a mind map beforehand. It can be used at the start to give a big picture of the topic, referred to again at certain key points, and used as a way to summarize key points at the end. This not only helps to organize the ideas coherently& the visual and mnemonic nature of the map means that one can read the whole thing in his head, without ever having to look at a sheet of paper. It's a memory tool that works for you as a presenter, and for your audience. You could even try making a sketch of the topic in the form of mind map and let everyone see it while listening to your presentation.

Managing time

Time is always a scarce resource no matter what profession you are in. Mind Maps are a great way to quickly draw up an overview of your yearly, monthly, weekly and daily objectives.

Schedules, meetings, briefs can all be more efficient when using mind maps. You can split main tasks between the main branches, then split them further using smaller, child branches and connect them. You can visually prioritize the tasks and cover all aspects in one place –& objectives, resources and locations. I find Mind Maps a great way to visually prepare 'To Do' lists and set the priorities for each day.

Managing jobs

Time, data, resources –& can all be managed in a clear and concise way using mind mapping. Any project can be split into-sub tasks with predecessors, milestones presented as sub-branches& with resources and deadlines attached to them. Special mid mapping software can be used when compiling more complex plans. Some of them may allow you more advanced project management, e.g. inserting and rolling task information or even enabling users to transfer the work breakdown structure to a Gantt chart without re-entering data. Most importantly, mind map will give an instant overview of the project with it's fazes, milestones and current statu

Managing people

If you want to be an effective and inspiring leader - mind maps are ideal for devising organizational structure, setting individual development goals, planning and presenting training, motivating staff.

You could use mind maps to organize and delegate responsibilities or tasks to your team members. This would help each individual to visualize his goals in coherence with the overall team goals. If needed, each team member could contribute by setting his own mind map with more detailed responsibilities or project goals. Mind Maps is an excellent tool for communicating objectives of a project, the different tasks involved, and most importantly the role and function of everyone in the team.

PLANNING

Many of you are familiar with the strategic models commonly used in business project planning e.g. The Product Life Cycle, SWOT analysis, The Marketing Mix (4Ps), PEST (macro environment analysis). Mind Maps provide a fantastic way to apply these models –& by creating, modifying, displaying and sharing the strategic level ideas within the frames of the chosen model.

BRAINSTORMING

Mind maps are exceptionally useful in brainstorming. The reason is that mind maps stimulate creativity. The beauty of mind mapping is that while stimulating creativity and generation of ideas, it allows to develop them naturally in a way that includes logic and structure.

While brainstorming with the group, you can get each member to contribute by devising his or her own mind map and presenting it to the rest of the group. This will trigger discussions and will encourage each member to collaborate in a dynamic and creative way.

Mind maps are the ideal tool for bringing out natural creativity and directing it into the effective problem solving.

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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Mind maps are an excellent way to getting the big picture of your own professional goals and objectives. If you keep your mind map handy, it allow you to regularly recap on the direction of your professional development –& short term and long term, and to assess the achievements so far. It will definitely make you more aware of where you are and where you plan to be and will help you become more efficient and productive.

As Seneca once said 'a great mind becomes a great fortune'. It is not a secret that human brain has infinite capacity. We all have great minds in our possession and all we need is to learn to use them. The great advantage of a Mind Map is that it literally `maps` the way your brain sees and creates connections, helps bridge the gap between content creation and communication. Mind maps contain images, connections, associations and allow you to analyze, store and retrieve information while you are literally thinking with your whole brain!