Mind-Map Brainstorming

How To Mind Map:

Gather colored markers or pencils and unlined paper, larger is better. I buy inexpensive pads of newsprint meant for drawing for this purpose.

1. Turn your paper horizontal. Since you will try to write everything so you can read it without turning the paper round and round, horizontal gives more space.

2. Put your central topic or question in the center of the paper, small enough to leave lots of room all around it. If you can, use a shape around it or a small drawing that gives meaning to the topic. Use several colors.

3. Start connecting the main subtopics by using a keyword or phrase for each, no sentences, no long explanations. Use color and small symbols or drawings where appropriate. This does not require an art degree. Stick figures and symbols work perfectly. And if you just want to use words without pictures that is OK, too. But do try to use multiple colors. Our thought processes and memory are enhanced with a colorful map.

4. Then start adding items, keywords, phrases and sub-subtopics. Again no long sentences or explanations. You can either choose one subtopic to expand at a time or brainstorm freely adding the ideas to whichever subtopic they might belong.

5. Run freely with the idea generation, paying more attention to getting the ideas written down as keywords or phrases than making sure you have it in the right place. You can change the connecting lines later, add more subtopics and sub-subtopics. Mind-maps help you document ideas and act as a catalyst for brainstorming. There are a number of terrific books about mind-mapping. For me the classic one I recommend if you are just starting to learn about the process is the book The Mind Map Book by Tony Buzan. Tony Buzan has written lots of books on the subject and you can look through the list to see which others you would find interesting. One other Buzan book to consider if you have children in school is his Mind Maps for Kids Mind Maps for Kids Mindmapping for Kids. I only wish I had read that book when I was in the lower grades. It would have really helped me take notes and study for tests.

Learn to do mind-maps by choosing a subject either from something you are reading or something you want to write about or explain to someone. It has lots more applications but those are the easiest for a first practice.

Some schools teach a form of mind mapping that they call clustering. It is similar but works from brainstorming keywords to organizing them as a mind map instead of the way mind maps are usually done from the center out.

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If you prefer you can use online mind-mapping tools such as MindManager, Novamind, and SmartDraw. Some of the advantages of using online tools is the ease of moving things around, sharing with others in the company, working on it as a team even if you are not all sitting in the same room. You and your team members can be working on the mind-map at different times in different time zones. You can also work on a main mind map and then divide it up by subcategories so each person can take one segment to brainstorm further. After everyone's done you can pull them all together.

The advantages of free form on paper or a board is the freer feeling. It doesn't have to be just right from the start and this frees up thinking. Forcing your self to work quickly stops the mind from editing and negative thoughts so that more idea keywords get written down.

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