Mind Map Your Way to Project Success
August 5th, 2007 by HalIstarted mind mapping in the mid '80s. It was part of a program at my company to accelerate our learning. It was coupled with a speed reading program and rapid recall training. For the most part, all three stuck. But it's mind mapping that has been most useful over 20 years later.
Tony Buzan introduced the world to mind mapping. Essentially, it's an association technique for taking notes or collecting thoughts in a word-art fashion. Ideas are linked one-to-the-other making associations. According to Buzan, and in my experience, mind mapping increases your recall and helps make surprising connections of otherwise seemingly unrelated ideas. It is a great approach to use for planning, in preparation for innovation, and when in the midst of doing something creative.
Chuck Frey has just published the 2nd edition of his book Power Tips and Strategies for Mind Mapping Software. This book is a treasure trove for both the beginner and those who have been mind mapping for years. In the first pages Chuck introduces you to practical uses. His project management example shows the usefulness of a visual approach for planning. Think of it like an A3 for PM. The examples are sufficiently instructive, however if you just can't get enough after reading his book, then subscribe to Chuck's blog The Mind Mapping Software Weblog.
The best way to get started mind mapping is with a sheet of paper and a set of colored pencils or pens. Chuck takes you though the process. With a little practice you'll be making mind maps of all kinds of things. I use mind maps when I'm planning something. It's an approach that allows a team to free associate their way towards building their project plan. Mind maps are also great for collecting your notes when reading a book. Chuck has dozens of other great uses for mind maps. In no time you'll be making mind mapping your habit. Chuck includes a source to all the mind mapping programs. Most are reasonably priced. Some are free (FreeMind for one). Try it!
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September 15th, 2007 at 7:20 am
Like you Hal I have been using Mindmapping for sometime. I think I came to it around 1990. I have used it for recall in exam situations by memorising mindmaps on subject areas and then in the exam redraw them all and use as a aide to answering questions.
I have used them extensively in Project Management for capturing all the products my project will have to create porting them into MS Project (I use Mindmanager). Using software I have scribed at facilitated JAD sessions capturing requirements, notes, and links.
I recommend mindmapping to anyone!
One other use I have had from it, was to assist my dsylexic daughter in note taking for revision etc. She finds it much easier to visualise than read. This year she started her first year in University studying for a Bsc.
October 5th, 2007 at 5:31 am
Hal, well done for highlighting Chuck’s work. He is a mind mine of information on this subject.
Like David I have been using Mind Mapping & MindManager since 1995. For my first five years of MindManager, I was using it covertly (it was not company approved software) and overtly as a project manager in two businesses. It enabled me to keep an overview of my projects and quickly get to the detail through dashboards I constructed that linked to all the documentation. Woe betide anyone who moved or renamed a file!
You will find a summary of how I use MindManager in Projects here.
http://www.cabre.co.uk/information/projectmanagement.html
in the PDF.
The new range of mind mapping software Mindomo, MindMeister etc. on the web is going to revolutionise vitrual project management.
Best regards, Andrew Wilcox