Whether you are creating a Mind Map for
research work or for project management,
approach it in the spirit of a game, rather
than as a chore, to ensure a creative win–win
outcome!
The following pages explore some key uses of Mind Maps in a business
environment, from time management to research to report writing. See also
Chapter 5
for more advanced applications of Mind Mapping in the workplace
and elsewhere.
Time Management
Mind Mapping is a multitask tool so it’s ideal for helping you to multitask! We
have already seen how useful a Mind Map can be for planning your week (
page
82
). Do you find yourself getting so caught up in the day-today demands of work
that you never get a chance to plan and prioritize? Creating a work-focused
Mind Map at the start of the working week, or perhaps at the end of the
preceding one, is a great way of forcing yourself to stop and reassess your
priorities. A Mind Map for time management could be structured around the
days of the week, highlighting deadlines and important events, or perhaps the
BOIs could reflect the different projects you are working on, with subbranches
exploring the key priorities for each project over the week to come. It may feel
counterintuitive to stop work in order to create a Mind Map, but time spent
managing your time will create even more time in the long run!
Research a Topic
If you work in an office environment, the chances are you will have to carry out
some research at some point. This could be into sales performance, new markets
to explore, or innovative and money-saving approaches to existing tasks.
When using a Mind Map to research a topic, create a central image that defines
the subject succinctly and positively. The first of your main branches could
represent the approach or angle you intend to take, while the second may list the
types of information you will need to research, such as evidence, opinion, hard
facts, and other existing research and analyses. A third branch could relate to
your sources, with subbranches for primary and secondary sources. Your fourth
branch would then be for ways you can assess your material, while a fifth branch
looked at how best to organize your information and findings. Perhaps dedicate a
sixth branch to the best ways in which to present your research to maximize its
impact.
The subbranches would look at these main areas in more detail. As you fill them
in, you may be surprised by the ideas that come up – don’t censor them. Mind
Mapping is great for “thinking outside the box”. Don’t be afraid to leave
subbranches empty at times; this will encourage you to come up with creative
solutions to fill the gaps.
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