Please click on the image above right to view a larger version of the map, with the branches expanded to show questions you can ask yourself about each aspect of planning your next meeting. You can also create your own 7 Ps map and add subtopics to each first-level topic to document your planning needs for a specific meeting.

The authors suggest that you keep in mind that each of the factors can influence the others – which is why it’s perfect to represent them in a visual format like this. They also recommend that you especially use the 7 Ps framework with recurring meetings, which can often drift from their original purpose over time. It’s a valuable exercise to ask yourself, “Why are we having this meeting?” from time to time.

Why not try this visual model to help you prepare for your next major meeting?

To those of you who have responded, thank you. To those who haven’t, I just wanted to alert you to the fact that I will be closing off responses to this initiative on Wednesday, June 16th.

To recap, I’m looking for answers to these questions:

• How would you describe the value you have experienced by using mind mapping software in your work and life?
• What, specifically have you used it for?
• What results have you been able to achieve because of it?

Please share your amazing mind mapping story here

What’s in it for you?

I will award the top 5 stories (as judged by me) with free lifetime memberships to my new Mind Mapping Insider membership program.

By the way, in response to the questions I’ve received from several people, all I’m looking for is 1-3 paragraphs. Nothing lengthy or involved, so you can compose it and send it in just a few minutes.

I look forward to reading your stories!

Most often, we become aware of the problem when we experience the symptoms. The engine in your car begins sputtering. Customers are angry, because they did not receive their shipments of widgets on time. Your company’s employee retention rate suddenly plummets. These occurrences do not represent the problem itself, but rather are indicators of a deeper root cause. Once you have documented the symptoms, you can follow them back to the root causes.

On the other side of the mind map cluster we have results. This mind map depicts what the ideal future situation should look like. Your car runs smoothly. Customer satisfaction is at an all-time high, and so is employee retention. Once you have a clear picture on the screen of what the ideal result should look like, you can then begin filling in the intermediate steps, brainstorming ideas that will take you from your present state to your stated objectives.

Thompson’s mind map cluster does an excellent job of helping us to visualize the relationships between the root causes of our problem, its visible symptoms and how we’d ideally like to solve it. Once all of this information is arrayed in a mind map, it clearly suggests potential solutions.

What tips or techniques do you utilize to create high-impact, software-produced mind maps that get results?

Results, for the purposes of our discussion, can take any form (how do you create mind maps that make the project a success, win the order, persuade the audience, etc.) – as long as they are business focused. That’s the primary criterion for this little assignment.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments area below. You people always come up with the greatest insights. I can’t wait to read what you have to say about THIS question!