I remember being inspired and moved by a gentleman who was the opening L&D conference as the main guest speaker, so I jotted his name down and researched. Mind mapping was created by a British author and psychologist, Tony Buzan. You can Google Tony and find all kinds of interesting literature on him and mind mapping.
I have just finished reading The Mind Map Book by Tony Buzan. I find myself talking about mind mapping all of the time, rather it be with my family, clients, colleagues or professors.
Basically, mind mapping captures how things are connected in our brain. The brain does not think in a logical and straight line- as Tony points out, a word or topic brings to individuals’ minds various associations. Mind Mapping is a unique way to capture and see and be able to interpret these connections.
Mind Mapping consists of using images, color, words, and numbers arranged in a connected & hierarchical structure. Elements to a mind map:
- The subject/topic is in a central word or image
- The main themes of the subject/topic then are the branches from the central image or word
- The branches hold a key image or word and then details branch out
If you are a student, professional, professor, ask yourself….How might mind mapping be of interest to you?
In business perhaps:
- During negotiations and presentations
- Writing reports and prepping agendas, delivering meetings
- Project and Program planning
- Performance management
- Learning
- Decision Making and problem solving
- Collaboration and sparking creative thinking
- Presentations and note taking
L&D trainers what comes to mind, how could you utilize mind mapping with your participants- How about:
- Instead of syllabus perhaps for courses or program
- What about for organizing and linking training program content
- How about for facilitation and generating ideas during meetings and training sessions with participants
- Drawing and showing connections between business needs and other
- Planning, Project & Program Management
Benefits of using mind mapping:
- Helps with dealing with change and complexity
- Manage time
- Reduce stress
- Generate ideas, creativity and innovation
- Organize and manage information
- Improve performance
Now as I read books, I find myself utilizing any blank space in the book for my mind mapping!
Interesting and scary thought from book, “If our brain were fed ten times of data every second for 100 years, it would still have used less than one-tenth of its storage capacity.”
Visit for more information on mind mapping: Mind Jet
My quick sample mind map using Excel and PPT
Just cause it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s not super heplful.