Mind mapping is a “slightly different” business facilitation technique for taking down notes, invented by Tony Buzan.

The picture above is – by the way – a mindmap that represents a lot of things dealing with myself :-). Beloved former colleagues gave it to me as farewell present, for Ms. Mindmap, tinkered by themselves. Creative, isn’t it?

This method has been adapted to the back and forth of thoughts (similar to the brain function) and still is an orderly, clear and recognisable whole (comparable with a map).

Landkarte

Mind mapping is particularly suitable in order to generate ideas, structure thoughts, recognise relationships and to visualise lectures/discussions.
To do this you write the ideas of your participants in the mind map structure on a pin board.

This means:

  • Centre (Topic)
  • Main branches (parent aspects)
  • Secondary branches (thoughts on the main branches – can also be come unordered and be ordered)
Business facilitation: mindmap

Business facilitation: Use a pinboard or wall for your mindmap to have enough space!

Time: at least 10 minutes

With mind mapping it is important, to write legibly, to pack a few words on the broadest possible horizontal lines and let the branches grow from the inside out.

The advantages of mind mappings are that the result can arise from the discussion, the mind map is open for additions, can be ended at any time and the links are clearly visible.

Disadvantages in turn are the unusual structure and that it initially could be difficult for you, to divide the space on the pin board and to put everything in correct order.

For example you can work with colourful cards/large post it notes (choose 3 colours for the topic, the main branches and the thoughts/secondary branches), which you later, if necessary, can move around better.

And if you’d like to use it for seminar or workshop design on your computer, I’d recommend a programme, free of charge, called “Freemind”. My son fancies more XMind.

Write me if you are interested in some more methods!

Next time we will be looking at one last method, called the “Fishbowl”. Stay tuned!

Kind regards
Birgit