I don’t need this, do I?
Did you know that you can improve your memory with mind-mapping? And why would you? Sometimes we can’t remember what we went into the bedroom for, the name of the person who we’ve known for years in the supermarket, or some dates we set aside for meeting with people which have completely slipped our mind.
If you carry a “to do” list and forget to bring it with you to do, it’s helpful to have a few memory joggers.
If you’re a Manager in charge of a team, it can be a monumental task to keep abreast of everything you have to do every day.
A helpful technique is Mind Mapping, created by Tony Buzan, which follows the ways the mind thinks instead of linear or logical listing. Start with the idea or goal. Then allow your mind to roam, connecting thoughts as a way of recalling every element we might need to bring together to achieve our goal.
Branches of colour (colour is the fastest way to align with the way our mind naturally works) curve off the main goal, summed up by a key word). Each holds ideas relating to the goal which need to be taken into consideration.
I like bullet points. This just looks a mess.
Mind Maps are their most useful is where a number of people in a team use them. If you have a large project to work on, contributors can add their ideas to the map as they think of them in the form of branches and key words.
Keep sentences short and punchy. Key words let you know what items or areas might need considering when working on bringing the project to completion. Colourful images which encompass the idea are even better.
For example, if you are designing a house and the branches cover such items for building the roof, ROOF would be the keyword. Or am image of your desired roof.
Next, additions can be made: sloping, slate, tiled, potted, roofing felt, pry bars, asphalt, tin snips, etc. You could do the same for other key words connected to the house such as; finances, architect, staircase, kitchen, etc.
Your design generates itself organically from there. Allow your unconscious to dictate the pace – it holds the answers to a full mind-map and will help you notice areas you hadn’t thought of before.
At work, the goal is to work in a way that helps everybody get the task done with the minimum of stress, maybe a new working model. What elements would that comprise? Here’s where Mind Mapping allows you to open up your creativity, bringing in ideas which connect up rather than writing in a list form. Everyone can see what is important to each individual and the group as a whole immediately.
This simple technique, using the way your mind playfully works, might help you stop leaving your front door keys in the laundry basket!
