What types of mind maps do you share with others?
Nov 26th, 2008 | By Chuck Frey | Category: Discussion
What types of mind maps do you typically share with your colleagues? In what formats and why? Are there certain types of mind maps do you would typically NOT share with others? Why not?
Please share your thoughts in the comments section of this blog post. What I’m looking for is a discussion of map types, such as meeting maps, strategic plans, project maps, etc.
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I pretty much don’t mind sharing – not to say that I do so all the time – anything from insights, reviews, guides and ‘bigger picture’ mind maps. What I don’t share is all my brainstorming about my businesses, new idea’s and ‘improvement oriented’ mind maps.
Currently I’m the only person in my organization using mind maps. Most of the time I simply share them on-screen to decompose the work for a project (work breakdown structure) and then transfer the information to a more “typical” text format such as in MS Project.
However, if I believe the person and the circumstances allow it, I will send someone a PDF version of the map. Depending on the size, I’ll explode different segments of the map and show them on multiple PDF pages bundled in one PDF file.
I also sometimes paste a picture of the map with various exploded views in a text-based document to visually represent a part of the text. It’s a kind of visual table of contents.
I’m currently evaluating MindManager 8.0 which features an exportable and dynamic map in PDF format. Hopefully this will be a stepping stone for others in our company to use the mind map functionality. The only two drawbacks I’ve seen so far is that it breaks the links to external files and the PDF file size is rather big.
Thanks for providing a forum for mind mappers to share their experiences.
Daniel Goulet, P. Eng, PMP
Project manager
Fantech
I prefer to work in Minplan as it allows me to share my work, resourses, and very easily translate my ideas into projects. Because it is a mindplan, I can skip most of the discussion about definition of ideas, or I can allow others on my team to work with me real time, or remotely. The nature of Mindplan is collaborative, so it makes working with others, sharing ideas, and work schdules, or job assignments much easier. Every one on the team gets it. Every one is part of the creative process, as more heads are better than one, so is this method of collaboration. What about those folks who don’t have Mndplan? Mindplan has many portable exports, sharing information has never been easier.
I usually build my maps in MindManager, compress them to the essential topics; then, share a jpg or pdf version with those with whom I communicate. If they are more complex, I do a similar technique to Mr. Goulet’s. I window out a key set of topics; and explode sub sets for better drill down. If I really want the full monty version for thier consideration, I may save it as a Ledger sized pdf or jpg file in very high quality. I like the new Acrobat 9 interactive export format available in Mindjet’s MindManager 8. Then my non-mind mapping friends can roam around and explore on their own.
Anything and everything! A typical day will include strategy maps, meeting maps, planning maps, brainstorming maps and more. I’ll share directly in MindManager, share with others using the Player and depending on audience, goals and purpose I may output the map to other formats like Word or PowerPoint.
I missed the ‘not sharing’ comment. I agree with JR that there are many personal maps that I use for my own planning. The maps that I share are created with others or created as a communication for others. Maps that I use to clarify my planning or thinking are typically not shared, unless I’m collaborating in a team and soliciting input.
I’ve created some huge mind-maps that can only be printed out on architectural sized sheets (D-Size and E-Size) because of the level of detail. These maps are technical project management maps, such as the one I produced so that my company could keep track of all the necessary mechanical and structural analysis for the Cirque du Soleil show “KA” (currently impressing the hell out of people in Las Vegas). Those maps got pinned to wall where everybody could check up on what was due and what was complete.
I also created a public web-site (unfortunately no longer hosted) of my mind-map of the “Technology of Ender’s Game,” based on Orson Scott Card’s book of the same name. I STILL use prints of that map in my current work for that project.
More personal mind-maps (such as the time I tried to outline my life’s interests), don’t get shared.
There are three categories of maps I routinely share with others:
1. Writing and Marketing Map Templates. These walk clients and Published & Profitable.com members through the various tasks associated with planning, writing, promoting, and profiting from a book. The biggest project becomes simple when broken down into short, doable tasks. These are distributed to members through P&P, or sent as e-mail attachments to specific clients.
2. Coaching calls. I use MindManager in a http://www.gotomeeting.com environment with all client calls. I usually have an agenda of topics planned out, and I create the map as we review progress and assign new goals for the next session. After each call, I save the map for myself, and immediately send a copy to the client.
3. Interview guests. I do an average of one interview with a published author or marketing expert a week. I create my questions in advance, focusing each interview around a few key issues. The maps are distributed to guests in advance for comment or suggestion. The maps work out fine, and help us keep on track.
Great question, Chuck!
Hi Chuck;
As a professor and frequent workshop presenter I use my maps as a way to organize and share my presentations. I have never been a big PowerPoint user and prefer to use my visual maps to share my ideas and what I will be covering. Being able to expand and close branches makes it easy for me to highlight what I will be covering. Now with the advent of the Export to Mindjet Player I can easily share my maps with URL hyperlinks which makes it easy for me to have my participants jump to the websites. I also really like to get my students involved in the presentation and will add new material to my maps as I present. With a simple click now I can share my maps and post them on BlackBoard for my students to access. This has been a great new feature for me.
Brian
http://assistivetek.blogspot.com
I use MindMapping in a non business environment, ie historical research, and social organizations.
My biggest problem is that most of my collegues aren’t interested in learning new tricks, even though they are most appreciative of the finished products. Several of my maps will be in the appendix of a new book. BUT, even though the author thinks that these are neat, and that they’ve pointed out to him some items that were incomplete and contradictory, he is hesitant to put any software on his computer and learn to use it himself. The other people involved in our social network, though many are IT professionals, are even more reluctant to look at it.
I share PDFs with all of these people, and they aren’t interested in interacting with these maps.
I use Personal Brain for my planning and data manipulation purposes, and I don’t share these maps, which is lucky since there ain’t no way to do it.
I tend to do my work in mindjet (just upgraded to v8) and then export to a format that is appropriate for the reader. For example, I export to word with a table of contents for those who prefer lists, to powerpoint for those who like fewer words per page and image for those who like to see the “raw” thinking going on. Know your audience is my motto.
Meeting Agenda
Meeting Notes
Project Planning
Brainstorming