In our last Group Coaching session, we used Mind Mapping to think through personal strengths so that the group could present them at interview, state them on websites, use them as selling points for getting new clients or just simply as an aid to confident thinking.

I have outlined the key points so that you can Mind Map too. Your Mind Maps don’t have to be perfect looking like the example, and you are better drawing them yourself rather than using a computer tool. Psychologists have researched both and found the ones we draw by hand have more impact and are remembered better.

Mind Maps can help an individual or team speedily identify the overall concept and structure of a subject because you can see the way that pieces of information fit together. Mind Mapping can also help you to remember information as it is in a format that you find easy to recall and quick to revise. Wonderful for presentations!

I am not sure that I would have been able to speak at so many conferences and seminars if Mind Mapping had been unavailable as a tool.

Mind Maps were popularised by Tony Buzan and because they are more compact than conventional notes. Often taking up only one side of paper, you can make associations more easily, producing more ideas.

New information can be added with little disruption. When I think back to working in lists with arrows all over the place as I added new ideas, I realised it was a mess leading to befuddled thinking.

In addition to this, Mind Mapping helps you to break down large projects or topics into manageable chunks, so that you can plan effectively without getting overwhelmed and without forgetting something important. I have used Mind Mapping increasingly for business plans. At every meeting you can produce the map and add to it if necessary.

It’s all on one page. Simple.

Guidelines for Mind Mapping.

• Put the title in the centre.
• Use capitals – you can see them more easily.
• Use lines for information connected to the centre.
• Use only one or two words along the lines.
• Use colour to identify sections and aid memory.
• Keep your mind free of structure.

Do you use Mind Maps? If not, would this make you want to give it a go?