The “lost art” of Mind Mapping

Liz Sundet◦ MBA, PMP, CBAP, CSM ◦ Musician:

◦ Biker: “Throttles, not pedals”◦ Email: lsundet@earthlink.net

◦ Follow on Twitter: @percusn

◦ Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/lizsundet/

…not quite a Mind Map

Why is it the lost art:Few people have heard of it, fewer have used it in a business application

What is Mind Mapping

What are some guidelines around Mind Mapping

Create a Mind Map

How to apply Mind Maps to business

Demo on tablet

First learned Mind Mapping during an MBA class

It fit my learning style by combining a kinesthetic learning (doing learner) with a visual learner in a very creative way

I’ve used it in a variety of ways and get asked often “what are you doing”?

What is Mind Mapping◦ Graphic diagram to visually outline information

◦ Created around a single word or text to which associated ideas, words and concepts are added

◦ Can be drawn by hand or used with software

◦ Also called spider diagrams, spidergrams, webs, mind webs, webbing or idea sun bursting

Very easy to use and teach others to use it and facilitate use during meetings

First popularized by Tony Buzan, a British popular psychology author and TV personality (1970’s series called Use Your Head)

Version of a concept map, but a mind map uses one central key word with radiating concepts

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4555745972650188&pid=1.7

http://etjune.brochure.examtime.com/files/2012/11/How-to-create-a-mind-map-mindmap.jpg

Buzan suggests the following guidelines for creating mind maps (from Wikipedia)◦ Start in the center with an image of the topic, using at least 3

colors.◦ Use images, symbols, codes, and dimensions throughout your

mind map.◦ Select key words and print using upper or lower case letters.◦ Each word/image is best alone and sitting on its own line.◦ The lines should be connected, starting from the central image.

The central lines are thicker, organic and thinner as they radiate out from the center.

◦ Make the lines the same length as the word/image they support.◦ Use multiple colors throughout the mind map, for visual

stimulation and also to encode or group.◦ Develop your own personal style of mind mapping.◦ Use emphasis and show associations in your mind map.◦ Keep the mind map clear by using radial hierarchy, numerical

order or outlines to embrace your branches.

www.kootation.com/art-mind-maps.html

Highly creative—but with a systematic purpose

When doing Mind Mapping, others will be very interested in “what are you doing”

Use colors, use shortcuts, use pictures, use txt wrds and anything else that allows you to tell the story in the end

Start in center, upper right has 1st idea, then carry thru clockwise to other ideas

Practice it!

Start with a central theme – Yourself

Add items that are important to you like work, family, hobbies, education, etc

Expand on each of those items. For instance work may include projects you are currently working on or highlights of things you have accomplished over the past few months. Family may include spouse, children and pets

Think of it as an introduction to who you are

Think of your dream vacation—where do you want to go, what things do you want to do, who will be going with you

Think about constructing your mind map in a way that you can tell the person next to you your story when finished.

Brainstorming Note-taking Problem Solving Outline/framework design Structure/Relationship representations Anonymous Collaboration Words and Visuals Condensing material into concise and memorable

format Team Building Summarizing Mnemonic technique Taxonomy Business Architecture

Notes during a meeting

Phone call summary

Brainstorming

Post Mortem exercise

Creating presentations

Software Taxonomy

Business Architecture

How will you use Mind Mapping?

Dilbert on Technology…

Common ones are ◦ MindMeister

◦ MindJet

◦ SimpleMind

◦ Total Recall

◦ MindNode

◦ iThoughts

◦ iBrainstormer

◦ iMindMap (Tony Buzan’s)

◦ 2013 Version of Visio (outline)

How does Mind Mapping work on tablet?