When I prepare for these Q&A interviews, I take great care to craft questions that will be informative to you, the reader, and which highlight the interviewee’s unique strengths and will draw out some interesting insights. When it all comes together, it’s a beautiful thing. This is one of those interviews, where Jamie took the questions I gave her and used them to hit a “home run!”

Chuck Frey: You conduct workshops on idea mapping on a regular basis. What are the most common misconceptions that attendees have about idea mapping?

Jamie Nast: I think there are several:

• Idea Mapping is a right-brain skill. No, idea mapping is a whole-brain skill that leverages the natural way the brain associates information.
• You need to have drawing skills. There are definitely people who create beautiful maps, but they can be sloppy and ugly and still fulfill the purpose for the creator.
• Never heard of this kind of tool and wish I’d learned this when I was in school.  It’s not really a misconception, but it’s a very common response – especially if it is the first workshop for a new client.
• Using color and imagery is unprofessional. No, using color and imagery leverages both sides of the brain and makes the idea map more interesting and memorable.

Chuck Frey: What are they most surprised to learn from your workshops?

Jamie Nast: This can take multiple forms. I have extremely different activities to help people overcome their disbelief that they can learn new skills. These include 3 drawing activities, 3 memory activities, 10-12 idea mapping activities, and learning to juggle. Once someone has that “ah ha” moment in any one of these areas, it’s like watching a light bulb go on. They are very surprised when they learn to count to 100 in Chinese or draw a portrait of a human face.  In the last year or so I’ve added a rather intense activity which results in an idea map of their life vision/mission. That also has a powerful impact.

If I had to summarize the biggest take-away, it would be opening their eyes and mind to a world of possibilities.

Chuck Frey: What is challenging executives today, and how can idea mapping help?

Jamie Nast: At every level of the organization the challenge is how leaders can get their arms around an overwhelming amount of information, make sense out of it, and then take the appropriate actions. Professionals are often immobilized at the thought of tackling major tasks.  An idea map can become an image that houses all the necessary data on one piece of paper. This enables the brain to see connections between ideas that would not be apparent in a linear document. Once the map is created, you can step back and “think about your thinking.” You may decide to re-organize or move things around now that all the information is out of your head and on the map.

Executives are responsible for an incredible amount of communication. An idea map can not only clarify the executive’s thinking, but it can also be a much clearer and memorable way to share ideas.  The other constant challenge is making processes, people, and organizations more productive and efficient. Through my experience and also your research we know that idea mapping can help in all of these areas.

Chuck Frey: What is the risk if executives don’t use whole brain thinking in their work?

Jamie Nast: The results from successful whole-brain thinkers speaks volumes. The risk? It’s everything – the company, the people, the clients, and ultimately their job. Competitors will bury them.

Chuck Frey: Why isn’t idea mapping more widely accepted today? Do you think it will ever reach mainstream executives? Or will there always be a “great divide” between linear thinkers and visual thinkers?

Jamie Nast: To this day the majority of people have not heard of mind mapping or idea mapping. So it’s not so much a lack of acceptance as much as it is a lack of awareness. That being said, the lack of acceptance stems from several things:

Resistance to change. We’ve all been trained to take linear notes. Most brains are wired neurologically to continue with this habit even though it doesn’t reflect the natural associative nature of the brain. In order to adapt idea mapping, it means changing how I think, and taking the time to create a new habit. Many people don’t like change or claim they don’t have the time to learn.

Minimal excellent training resources. There are pockets of training organizations that teach various mapping tools, but frequently it’s a 30-minute introduction or a half-day at the most. In my experience that is not enough time to help people understand why idea mapping works, how they get created, some of the road blocks (and how to overcome them) and allow people to experience that “ah-ha” moment.

Not understanding how to apply idea mapping. Much of the earlier writing on this topic didn’t take the applications into the business world to a great degree. Professionals wanting to try mapping had to take a lead from seeing an example of planning a garden or a trip to tackling a strategic plan or solving a problem as an organization via this technique. I felt like this was a major missing piece. That’s why I included business examples in my book from 21 professionals around the globe – all different applications.

Fear of being viewed as the person who takes weird notes. There are some people out there that don’t want to be alone in their mapping, but I think most of that is behind us now. The pioneers have paved the way.

Idea mapping has started to hit mainstream executives. Bill Miller from Nationwide is a good example of this. Larisa Brigevich, Director for Franklin Templeton, is another. I’m sure there are many others, but I’m definitely seeing a shift. For many years I felt like I was pulling people along – proving to people that this is an excellent tool. Finally about a year ago, I was teaching at a large automotive company here in Michigan and I had a participant say, “I’ve been on the wait list for two years. I’m so excited to learn these skills because I feel like I’ve been missing out.” Now people are waiting to get into classes. Last time I checked, there were over 100 people on the wait list.

Because most individuals were trained to write in a linear fashion, they continue to believe they are linear thinkers. Every time they say they are linear thinkers they reinforce that belief. The truth is that all of us are visual thinkers to varying degrees. The divide comes from an unwillingness to look at the visual side. Just as it is critical to use both left and right brain in combination, the most successful people will learn to blend the linear with the visual.

Chuck Frey: Your career includes a stint with the Buzan organization. How did that influence your thinking as you wrote your book, Idea Mapping?

Jamie Nast: Vanda North is the Founder and former CEO of the Buzan Centres. She was and is a great mentor. The most influential thing she taught me was that when we are teaching, it’s all about the participant and creating the best learning environment for them to gain the maximum from the material. It was with that in mind that I wrote the book. It was all written with the reader in mind.  I pulled from all my experience in teaching over 16,000 professionals world-wide and asked myself “how can I make this clear, complete, simple, and yet powerful for the reader?” I wanted it to feel like I was bringing the idea-mapping portion of my workshop right to the reader.

Chuck Frey: In what ways have you moved beyond the “traditional” Buzan model of mind mapping?

Jamie Nast: There is still a rich heritage in mind mapping, but we’ve moved away from the laws that govern mind mapping and frustrate users. For example, one of the laws states that a branch should hold only a single key word because a single word can generate more thoughts (sub-branches) than a phrase. Although this is true, it doesn’t transfer into the practical business world. I can’t remember any client ever creating a map around a single word. Instead, the central words/image needs to clearly depict the topic/dilemma/project, etc. This same thing applies to any branch in the map.

Chuck Frey: Where does mind mapping software fit into what you teach?

Jamie Nast: It’s crucial. I demonstrate MindManager in every class and also follow-up with links to freeware. It completes the puzzle and gives options other than hand-drawn idea maps.

Chuck Frey: Are there certain applications where hand-drawn maps are preferable to software-produced ones, and vice versa?

Jamie Nast: Absolutely! The major benefits of hand-drawn over software is the kinesthetic element that engages memory in a greater way. You also have more freedom with the imagery. Others have said that there is a level of enjoyment that comes from the drawing – something they don’t get to express in other aspects of their work.

The benefits of the software are also numerous. Editing without redrawing, hyperlinks, attachments, virtual collaboration, and integration with Microsoft products are not possible when drawing by hand. Whether it is hand-drawn or created using software, the bottom line is that the purpose for creating the map will help determine the best method.

Chuck Frey: Tell us about your Idea Mapping Kit. What does it include, and what does it enable people to do?

Jamie Nast: The Idea Mapping Kit was designed primarily for my workshop participants, but I’ve also made it available to the public. It is half the size of a normal binder that includes a set of 10 Staedtler markers (they are the best in the world), heavy blank card stock to eliminate bleeding markers, a zip-locked plastic pouch for extra supplies, a 4-color pen, a back pocket, and a business card slot. It enables idea mappers to have all their tools for hand-drawning together in one location.

Chuck Frey: How has your thinking about idea mapping evolved since your book was published in 2006?

Jamie Nast: Converging on “the trio” and the value of partnering. Let me explain. The trio is Idea Mapping + MindManager + Microsoft. I suppose every author of a book focused on teaching a skill wonders if people will “get it” without you standing over their shoulder. I’m humbled to say that many people have shared how it has benefited them.

A single-dimensional user is familiar with one leg of the trio. For example, there are many software users that don’t really understand the brain theory behind why it works so well. Software users also don’t leverage the availability of imagery and color, because they haven’t been taught about how it impacts memory and communication. When writing the book I considered myself a 2-dimensional user because I used idea mapping + software. In the words of Kaye Nightingale, a Microsoft Master Certified Instructor from the UK, “it wasn’t a light bulb that turned on - it was more like a lightning bolt.” Kaye’s lightning bolt experience brought the third piece of the trio into the light. By combining the use of these three, there is a synergy that occurs that doesn’t happen in the one and two-dimensional worlds.

During the writing of the book I never had a website, didn’t know what a blog was, and Facebook, Squidoo, and many of today’s social networks hadn’t been invented yet. I was a technical and internet novice. I wrote the book pretty much focused on teaching others to learn idea mapping with some emphasis on the use of software, and I included a trial version of Mindjet’s MindManager. They were a crucial partner in this book. Together we have been able to introduce organizations to a much more complete picture.

My thinking about idea mapping now involves how to teach and share via webinars, my blog, and other internet-based training avenues. Partnering with people like Kaye and other organizations around the world make us all better and enhance learning for everyone.

Chuck Frey: Your blog seems to be heavily focused on examples of mind maps. How important are examples or case histories for people who are learning how to do this type of visual mapping?

Jamie Nast: I think it is one of the most important learning advantages. Very early on in my teaching which began in 1992, I started collecting examples from participants. Whenever possible I would have guest speakers come and share how they applied idea maps and other learning from the workshop to their work and life. The credibility that the stories brought into the classroom gave people practical as well as unusual ways to apply idea mapping. As they saw more examples, it sparked ideas of how they could implement the tool for themselves.

Chuck Frey: What excites you, as you look at how mind mapping is evolving and growing in acceptance?

Jamie Nast: Several things excite me:

I’ve believed this tool could have a major impact since 1992. I can finally say with confidence that it is here to stay, and I’m blessed to continue to make a serious impact on people both personally and professionally.

This will provide more opportunities for my Certified Idea Mapping Instructors around the globe.
It is extremely rewarding to witness people have break-through learning experiences. It may seem like I would get bored teaching the same material over and over again. But each experience in different, each organization is different, and every individual is different. What a rush!

I enjoy unmarked territory. I can’t wait to see new applications and examples of idea maps, and share them with the world for our mutual gain.

I always anticipate my next workshop which at the moment is back to Boeing. For information on my next public classes in the UK (October 6-7, 2008) and Palm Beach, FL (December 8-9, 2008), please see my website.

• How to use MindManager 7’s paint formatting tool
• Using MindManager with “digital ink”
• Managing projects more effectively with MindManager and JCVGantt
• How to use filtering techniques in MindManager
• Hiding the ribbon toolbar in MindManager 7
• An introduction to Mindjet Connect
• Problem solving for visual business management
• How to display spreadsheet data in a visual dashboard

If you’re a MindManager user, then you will definitely want to spend some time watching and learning from these video tutorials!

One of the benefits of open-source software, of course, is that it’s free. But its shortcoming is often a lack of training and support for the product. Trying to figure out how to use Freemind from the wiki site that is its “home” on the web is a bit like drinking from a fire hose. There’s a ton of information here, and it’s up to you to wade through it all to figure out this program. Even finding the right program file to download takes some close scrutiny! If you’re an experienced mind mapper, Freemind is actually fairly easy to figure out. But if you’re like most people, you may find it hard to get up to speed with this powerful software.

That’s where Bob and DiscoverFreemind.com come in to the picture. Bob’s free service provides you with a more convenient link to download the program, several free reports (including keyboard shortcuts) plus tips on how to get the most out of it via e-mail. He also offers a series of low-cost video tutorials for Freemind that provide much more information on leveraging the functionality of this program.

Bob is a former teacher, and he brings this mentality to all of the training programs he produces. I’ve been following his work for the last 6 months or so, and I can safely tell you that he is not some fast-talking swindler seeking to make a fast buck in the world of online marketing. On the contrary, he seems like someone you can trust to provide you with real knowledge and value.

So why not check out DIscoverFreemind.com today?

• It includes a new default template for more streamlined and professional maps, and
• When you move branches from one location in your map to another, an outline of your branch appears to give you visual feedback on where they will be placed.

This update is a free download for customers who own licensed copies of MindGenius.

A master map is a map of all of your mind maps. In other words, it’s a single mind map that enables you to organize and quickly access all of the visual diagrams you have created with your mind mapping software. It enables you to organize your knowledge and projects in a way that makes the most sense to you – in other words, a visual representation of your work. This simple repository of links to your mind maps (and other files) can provide you with a quantum leap in productivity.

Why use a master map?

You’re organizing your knowledge and projects in a way that makes the most sense to you – in a sense, you are creating a visual representation of the way you work. Compared to the “file cabinet” metaphor, which users of both PCs and Macs have been struggling with for years, this personalized, organic repository of links to your mind maps (and other files) can provide you with a quantum leap in productivity.

Making this strategy work requires a certain amount of discipline, because in order for your master map to be complete, you need to add any new maps you create to it. But the rewards are worth it.

How to set up a master map in MindManager 7

Here are instructions on how to set up a master map in the world’s leading mind mapping program, MindManager for Windows. I have decided to highlight it here because it offers (via several add-in programs) a simple process that you can use to implement a master map:

1. Click on the MindManager “button” (the big round icon in the upper left corner of the program’s screen. Click on the “MindManager Options” button at the bottom of the drop-down list, and select the “general options” section. Change the default document to the file pathname of your master map. That way, every time the program starts up, it will automatically load that map.

2. Give the central topic of your master map a name, and while you have it selected, add the File Explorer Map Part (accessible via the task pane menu on the right side of the screen) and select the folder where all of your maps are stored. For most PC users, that would be in the C:\Documents and Settings\My Maps\ directory. MindManager will then create a topic called “My Maps” that displays hyperlinks to each of your mind maps in that folder. If your maps are stored in several folders, you will need to repeat this process for each folder you want to be displayed in your master map.

3. When you create new maps, make sure they’re also stored in this folder. To update your master map to include any new files, simply click the F5 (refresh) key. Your new maps will appear at the bottom of the list. In order for this to work correctly, you must leave all of these hyperlinks attached to the “smart” folder topic.

Mindjet also offers a Map Linker smart part, which is designed to pull the latest contents of other maps into your master map.  The master map uses hyperlinks to point to the subordinate maps and imports the latest data from them each time the master map is refreshed. This functionality may be valuable if you have a number of maps stored in a shared directory on your corporate network, and you want to pull the latest changes made by your colleagues (such as project updates) into your master map. But if you have a large number of maps, these automatic updates could cause your master map to become cluttered rather quickly.

Here are a few more tips on creating effective master maps, compiled by Mindjet:

• Keep your master map focused on a handful of top-level issues; let the power of linked sub-maps enable you to drill down as needed for the details you require.
• Once you have all of your maps linked together, use MindManager 7’s Multimap View to display the master map and all of its linked sub-map files in one view. It displays preview images of the current map and all the maps that it links to. You can choose to display only the first-level maps - those directly linked to your master map -  or maps at the second, third, or all levels.

Why not create a master map to streamline your work today? If you have any tips on how to set up a master map for other mind mapping programs, please describe them in the comments section of this post. Thank you!

Three new versions: The developer has introduced several new versions of the program: Elements, Professional and Ultimate. Elements is designed for basic mind mapping needs. Professional is designed for business users, and offers integration with Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org. Ultimate adds project management capabilities and other features.

Improved speed mapping mode: Version 2 of iMindMap contained a speed mapping mode, which enabled you to quickly record ideas using only the keyboard.  This capability has been improved in version 3 to give you greater control over map layout (see auto layout and style below). You can also navigate your map using your arrow keys to select the branches to which you want to add new ideas. Compared to other program’s “brainstorming modes,” I don’t like this one as well. You’re supposed to first select a topic; when you start typing, a text box pops up to capture it, while below it a blank branch is created. When you hit the enter key, your text is added to the branch and another text box appears, ready to capture your next idea. The problem I have with it is that when I select a topic, I can’t get over the fear that when I start typing, my current topic name will be over-written. I much prefer the style of brainstorming where clicking the insert key creates a new topic. This just feels odd to me.

Auto layout and style: Previous versions of iMindMap produced very organic looking maps, with tapered branches that could be reshaped at will.  But the developers of the program realized that, in order to appeal more to business users, it needed to be able to produce more “traditional” looking maps.  iMindMap version 3’s new auto layout and style capabilities address this need.  When you open the “auto layout” dialog box, the first thing you see is a slider control, with a 10-position scale from linear through organic to radial. If you drag the slider more to the right, your map will take anymore organic, “brain friendly” look.  If you drag and more tour the left, the branches of your map will straighten out and will look much more like a typical business-oriented mind map.  I played around with this a bit, and found that while it was nice, it wasn’t all that useful. The linear version of my map still looked fairly similar to the radial view of it.

Focus in and out: This useful command enables you to concentrate in one part of your mind map that time.  When applied to a selected branch, the program hides the rest of your map and treats the selected branch as if it is the center topic of your map you can then focus on adding content to that section of your map, without the visual distraction of the rest of your map.  When you’re done developing that section of your map, you simply focus out to display the entire map once again.  I’ve always been a fan of this functionality, because I tend to get distracted easily.  The less visual distraction, the better I can concentrate. This capability is nicely implemented in version 3.

Expanded export options: iMindMap version 3 contains an expanded set of options for exporting your maps to other formats.  Version 2 offered five export formats, including Microsoft Word, web page, image, PDF or Powerpoint. Version 3 adds exports to Word 97 (docx) or Word 97-2003 (doc), OpenOffice Writer, an interactive PowerPoint option, Impress (the open source presentation application of OpenOffice), and spreadsheet (Excel or OpenOffice Calc). The interactive presentation option saves your map as a PowerPoint file, with the entire contents of your map in a single slide. When you play the slide show, your map appears one branch at a time. Each mouse click reveals another branch or sub-branch, which enables you to present your mind map, one branch at a time. However, this approach can quickly clutter the screen. It would be better if this export format would expand each main branch one at a time, while contracting the rest of them. Also, I think it would give users greater control over the presentation of their maps if a presentation mode was added to iMindMap.

Importing: iMindMap version 3 now imports maps from MindManager and FreeMind. It doesn’t import their native file formats, but rather their XML file types.

Project management system: Perhaps the most welcome addition to iMindMap version 3 is the addition of project management tools, including an integrated Gantt chart view. Task information in iMindMap 3 is accessed via a right-click command; you can input the start and end times and dates for tasks, specify its priority level and the percentage completed.  You can also add any relevant web links to your project data. All of your map topics appear in the Gantt view; there doesn’t seem to be any way to distinguish between those topics that are tasks and those which are not. Task data is only displayed in the Gantt chart below the workspace, not in the map itself. This helps to minimize visual clutter, but does make it hard to know which topics contain task data and which do not. Some sort of visual indicator or icon would be nice.

Interestingly, the project management capabilities of iMindMap 3 include the ability to control the order in which are tasks of your in the project management list.  You can control this by clicking on a branch ordering command in the view menu.  The program then displays the numerical order in which each topic was added to your map, and gives you the ability to manually change those numbers.  When you have finished entering your project data into the program, you can then export it to Microsoft Project.

Screen capture tool: iMindMap 3 enables you to take a snapshot of sections of your map, which you can then paste into other applications as a graphic. The way the developers implemented this is very slick; it couldn’t possibly be any simpler.  When you select the screen capture tool, your cursor turns into a small cross.  You then drag it across the section of your map that you want to appear in your screen capture.  When you release you mouse button, the area you selected will be copied; it you can then pasted into any other application.  I tried it, and it worked great. I selected part of my map and pasted it into a Word document that I was working on; the image appeared to be very sharp, with no loss in quality. At least one other program enables you to create instant screen shots of your maps, but none are as simple and elegant as this implementation. If you want to share a portion of your map with a teammate or colleague, without having to go through the longer process of exporting it, then you may find this new feature to be valuable.

View menu: iMindMap 3 contains a new view menu toolbar button that enables you to quickly switch between different views of your map.  You can select from:

• Mind map view, which is the standard view,
• Navigator view, which opens a side panel that displays an overview of your map - particularly valuable if you’re working with a large complex map)
• Image library view, which opens an image selector panel on the left side of the workspace
• Icon library view, which opens an icon selector panel on the left side of the workspace.

I like the fact that the program keeps these useful resources out of the way, giving you a large, uncluttered workspace in which to develop your maps. But when you need these resources, they are only a single click away. The program opens in mind map view, which gives you the maximum amount of screen real estate in which to create your map. I like the fact that the program gives you as much space as possible to do a “brain dump” of your ideas; you can later turn on the formatting toolbar and some of these other views to enhance your map. At first it does seem odd that the image and icon libraries are included in the “views” menu, when in fact they’re really resources.

Some minor negatives: The toolbar and user interface looks a bit “cartoonish,” which some business users may find to be less than impressive at first glance. At first, I couldn’t figure out how to add notes, links or attachments to branches, something that’s essential for the maps that I create for my work. Turns out that these commands were located within an “insert/edit” command in the right-click menu. It would be better if these were first-level commands.

Conclusion

In version 3, the Buzan organization has done a nice job evolving iMindMap to the next level of functionality for business users. I like the fact that the developers have divided I mind map into several versions, to meet the needs of a greater range of users.  People were just starting out in the world of visual mapping will find the basic version more than adequate for their needs, while business and power users will appreciate the expanded capabilities of iMindMap ultimate. The project management tools are a welcome addition. Still, this ambitious upgrade to an excellent mapping program has a few rough edges – but keep in mind that this is a beta release, and may not completely reflect what the commercial version 3 of iMindMap will look like.

Update: As of August 18th, this conference has been delayed to a yet-to-be-determined future date.

The workplace of the 21st century demands a better solution to managing projects, making decisions and managing information overload. Visual mapping is a powerful strategic tool that can help you to take your personal, team and organizational performance to the next level.

Please join me in Morristown, NJ USA on October 2-3, 2008 for the first-ever IQ Visual Mapping Conference targeted to the needs of business executives and educators. I’ve been involved from the start as a speaker, co-organizer and marketer of this event, and I’m excited by the opportunity to participate in it. This event is an incredible opportunity for you to learn best practices in visual mapping from some of the best and the brightest people in this area of technology. Software vendors will be on hand to demonstrate their applications and to answer your questions. And it’s an awesome opportunity to network and share ideas with other attendees. In short, this is a “don’t miss” conference! I’m looking forward to the opportunity to meet some of you loyal readers face-to-face.

What will be covered?

The main focus of this conference will be to help you to transform your organization and streamline your personal information management using visual mapping strategies. There will also be demonstrations by leading developers of visual mapping applications, plus ample opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing. I just published the full conference details on this blog, including descriptions of all the speakers’ topics, speaker bios, information about the software exhibits and demonstrations, the agenda and hotel and travel information.

If you’re thinking about attending, check out these valuable incentives for registering now:

If you register by August 20, 2008, you will receive a copy of Chuck Frey’s popular e-book, Power Tips & Strategies for Mind Mapping Software, the “bible” of insights for getting the most out of this amazing type of productivity software. Conference attendees will also have opportunities to win copies of Stephanie Diamond’s book, Web Marketing for Small Businesses, as well as licensed copies of MindManager, XMIND and MindMapper USB.

Click here for more information and to register for this special event. But remember - you must register by August 20th to receive a copy of the Power Tips & Strategies e-book.

Questions? Please call the conference organizer at 908-852-3460 or email at brian@assistivetek.com.

Don’t forget to take some time to relax from time to time, to enter the “no-fi zone,” as Sean calls it.

It’s also a good reminder that you should start mind mapping - or any type of brainstorming - with a “beginner’s mind” - that is, a mind free of any preconceptions or biases. In Zen Buddhism, this state of mind is called Shoshin, and “it refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner in that subject would” (Wikipedia).

“Information anxiety… causes people to put off decisions so they have more time to think.  Time drags out as they try to process information.  It takes so long for them to find, understand and prioritize their options that business processes slow to a crawl.  By the time anyone takes action, situations have turned into crises and stress levels are high – the worst possible environment for good decision-making.”

As Steve Rothwell points out in a recent post in his Peace of Mind blog, the same thing often happens when a team is struggling to define a new project, and no one wants to commit themselves to it until it is defined. Perfection becomes the enemy of the good, and paralysis once again results.

Both of these challenges can be tackled by visualizing them, Gray explains:

“A visual explanation clears away this fog of confusion by depicting complex information visually, in order to make it more clear, concise and concrete. This allows people to quickly grasp key issues and make faster, better decisions.”

“A picture can connect to the strategic with the tactical in a way that no other communication possibly can. It can clearly articulates who does what, with whom, and when. And that is surely worth at least a thousand words.”

Visual mapping gives you a flexible, open “canvas” where you can capture key questions, gaps in your existing information, key contacts you need to approach to find that information, and track tasks, assignments and deadlines. It can also help you to evaluate the information that you have gathered, separating the proverbial wheat from the chaff and enabling you to overcome information overload. And it can become a potent tool for collaboration among team members and for tracking team and individual progress, capturing lessons learned and other key information. In short, it’s the perfect antidote to project paralysis.

If you haven’t tried to employ mind mapping software to bring structure, definition – and, most importantly, desirable action – from a new, ambiguously scoped project, why not do so today? I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results!

1. It’s unbelievably flexible. The number one benefit of mind mapping software, hands down, is this: No other type of program lets you manipulate ideas, knowledge and information with as much freedom and flexibility as mind mapping software. That’s because it encapsulates ideas and knowledge in “containers” that can hold various types of content and data and can be rearranged at will.

2. It can make you more productive. Mind mapping software can increase your productivity by an average of 20%, according to two independent research studies conducted by me and Mindjet. That’s the equivalent of saving one day a week. What you could accomplish in your job if you could save that kind of time? What could that magnitude of productivity increase do to your reputation as a “can do” worker?

3. It can help you become a better creative problem solver. Mind mapping software can help you to make connections and become a better creative problem solver. Because your brain works by association, mapping information visually makes it easier to see connections between seemingly unrelated bits of information. Also, your brain hates to see things in an unfinished state. So when it sees a map branch with information that hasn’t been fully developed, your brain kicks into gear and delivers the thoughts and ideas needed to complete it.

4. It helps you to identify gaps in your information. Your brain works visually, and it works by association. So when you start to visually record your ideas and knowledge, it enables you to more easily see where gaps exist in your information – additional facts or knowledge you need to gather, new “white space” ideas that you couldn’t see before.

5. It gives you a powerful set of tools to think about your thinking. When you move a topic in a mind map, you change its context – you “reframe” its meaning. That’s powerful, because it gives you a unique ability to “think about your thinking” – to look at ideas and information from a higher level of abstraction and rethink and rearrange your ideas until they make sense to you. To the best of my knowledge, mind mapping software is the only type of business software that enables this capability.

6. You can reach clarity faster on key issues. In a survey that I conducted, this was the number one benefit that users of mind mapping software cited when asked to define the value that it provides to them. You can quickly do a “brain dump” in your favorite mind mapping software, and then rearrange your ideas and topics until they make the most sense to you. Each time you do so, you have the opportunity to view them in a different context, which is very powerful.

Mind mapping expert Kyle McFarlin put it this way: “Mind mapping is the fastest way to get clarity on confusing issues, hands down. No other medium allows you to brainstorm about a subject and quickly rearrange topics, like notes on a desk. And with mind mapping, you get to create knowledge centers for important topics you are working on, all in an easy to see, hub-and-spokes format. It can literally convey what used to take hundreds of pages in one visually engaging document.”

7. It helps you to make better decisions. Mind maps give you a highly visual way to record a detailed description of the challenge or opportunity you face, brainstorm potential solutions, explore the pros and cons of each one, envision potential future problems more clearly, assign weights to each factor and reach a more balanced, well thought out decision – often in less time than other methods of decision making. It’s also very helpful when you’re facing an ambiguous situation, or where you don’t have enough information to make an accurate business decision.

8. It helps you to become better organized. You can use mind maps as a very efficient front-end process for your new projects, to create meeting agendas, to do lists and other valuable time-savers. Your maps can also contain links to files, web pages, notes and individual e-mails. This means you’ll spend less time looking for key documents and information, and more time accomplishing great things. In addition, several mind mapping tools enable you to capture ideas on the fly, so you don’t lose any of them.

9. You can see the forest and the trees. The expandable/contractible format of a mind map enables you to see both the 50,000 foot overview and “drill down” to a detailed view, both in the same document. When you’re developing a complex business or project plan, this capability is incredibly useful!

10. It helps you to identify, prioritize and track key project tasks. Nearly all mind mapping software programs enable you to attach detailed task information to map topics - including start and end dates, percentage complete and even to whom you delegated a task. You can also create a personal dashboard to track items you have delegated to others and those you must accomplish. In addition, if you utilize the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology, you’ll find that certain programs can help you to easily manage your next actions and “someday maybe” items quickly and easily.

If you’re not utilizing mind mapping software today as part of your personal productivity system, you really ought to consider doing so.

The content for this article was excerpted in part from The Mind Mapping Manifesto, an e-book that can help you to specify the right program for your needs.