Written by: Yohan Sohn, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
When it comes to project management, administration, or even running a household, many of us find ourselves wondering whether there might be a better way to gather ideas and organize our thoughts. Beyond simply recording information, the late Tony Buzan British author and educational consultant developed a technique to tap into the mind’s hidden powers, foster creative thinking, and aid in recognition. Dating back to the 1970s, his technique, which came to be known as “mind mapping,” enables us to survey our thoughts in a graphical format, one that mirrors how our brain actually works.
Essentially, our brain operates like a factory by creating associations, deriving meaning from our sensory perceptions, and imagining alternatives. For example, the word “island” often conjures up images of a sandy tropical beach and is full of sensory connections, such as a gentle breeze, the warmth of the sun, vibrant colours, a breathtaking view of the ocean, and the sound of waves breaking against the shoreline.
Our brain is wired to imagine and associate, and the mind map does just that.
It starts with a central image and branches out with associated ideas and keywords to trigger recall. In this way, a mind map emulates and expresses the brain’s thought processes on paper. You could say that it is the natural way to take notes, organize, and recall information, all the while stimulating creative and visual thinking.
To get a clearer sense of this process, see the mind map above which I used for this article.
Digital Mind Map
While creating paper-based maps enhances creativity, retention, and recollection, the turn towards digital has enabled even more versatility and shareability. In the mid-to-late 1990s, there were only a handful of mind mapping software developers. It wasn’t until the year 2000 when MindMapper rolled out a feature that enabled users to convert maps into Word documents, that the market saw an incredible boom. By converting whatever ideas come to your mind into a graphical format, mind mapping software is the easiest tool for brainstorming without hindering a team’s creative flow.
Now, digital mind maps can be integrated with other apps and outputs, visual charts, viewed in numerous layouts, enable real-time collaboration, and come with a variety of features that enhance design and data extraction. Because it’s digital, any mind map can be converted into an organizational chart, flow chart, work breakdown structure, timeline, fishbone, concept map, SWOT analysis, decision tree, issue tree, and a process tree. Since maps can be linked to a planner, they also provide valuable context to your daily schedule, streamline administration, and free you to think about higher-level activities.
By simply clicking on a linked event, the map window will appear and show you parts of your schedule and the entire map simultaneously.
Benefits
There are many benefits to using mind mapping software, particularly in the areas of personal development, entrepreneurship, coaching, and leadership – as I've outlined below.
Personal development
Create a master map for your life plan
Enhance your diary by including visuals
Add images and word associations to your mission and vision charts
Entrepreneurship
Refine your business plan by seeing hidden connections
Strategize by seeing a high-level overview and more granular details
Brainstorm uninterruptedly and freely
Coaching
Use this software with visual learners to have more effective consultations
Avoid having to take lengthy notes by creating a business and client dashboard
Leadership
Learn how to work best with your team by creating a group map that outlines everyone’s strengths
Make decisions that align with concrete goals
Solve problems in creative ways
Conclusion
Mind mapping arose by questioning whether there was a better way to capture and organize our thoughts. That same question led Young Gyo Chung to develop and release MindMapper so that he could use it to run simulations on complex factory processes and identify optimal solutions. Mind mapping is a proven, natural notetaking and organization technique, and anyone can get started by grabbing a piece of paper and some coloured pencils. If you want the versatility of a digital mind map, I encourage you to try MindMapper for Windows and see how it can help you to capture, organize, share your thoughts, and even change your life.
Buzan, Tony. Mind Map Handbook. London, Thorsons, 2005
Yohan Sohn, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Yohan Sohn is the general manager at SimTech USA, the developer of versatile mind mapping software MindMapper, and an executive coach at Alegre Coaching. Yohan's areas of expertise include emotional intelligence, visual thinking, and project management, all of which are in his experience the foundational skills necessary for success at work, home, and school.
He is passionate about executive coaching helping individuals nurture themselves and grow their characters to achieve their full potential. He specializes in fostering the opportunity for personal change, growth, and high performance in the workplace. With his extensive business background, Yohan understands and possesses what it takes to help executives develop a competitive edge and thrive personally and professionally, using the collective powers of holistic thinking, emotional intelligence, resilience, and problem-solving.
He has a master's degree in executive coaching and consultation from Concordia University Irvine and is a certified project management professional (PMP) and EQ-i 2.0/360 administrator.
References:
Buzan, Tony, and Barry Buzan. The Mind Map Book: How To Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain's Untapped Power. Plume, 1996.
