Could mind mapping software be the ultimate “way finding” tool for people who are indispensable in their work? My recent analysis of Seth Godin’s new book says yes.
Godin’s latest book, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable, is the closest thing that I’ve seen to a manifesto for doing business in this second decade of the 21st century. For years, we’ve been told to come to work, follow processes and procedures, and largely place our creative minds on hold – to check them at the door, as it were. There’s only one problem, as Godin points out: During periods of great uncertainty, like those we’re facing right now, “The compliant masses don’t help much when you don’t know what to do next.”
Linchpins and leaders need to be comfortable navigating their organizations through choppy waters, without a reliable map to the future. They must find their way, creating their own map as they go. In times like these, it seems to me that mind mapping software is an indispensable tool for way finding – for helping to discern a path where none exists, and for helping linchpins to make better decisions even when surrounded by uncertainty.
Linchpin is all about doing remarkable work. One way to do that is by being creative. Left to our own devices, we tend to do things that are well within normal. Looking at things creatively, on the other hand, opens up a world of new possibilities. Mind maps help us to be more creative. They enable us to dissect, analyze and solve big problems more easily than any other method. Mind maps also enable us to envision new possibilities and, in general, helps us to contribute more of our unique ideas and our gifts, taking it to a much higher level.
Earlier this week, I reviewed the book, seeking to isolate the character traits of linchpins – people who are indispensable today. The results are contained in the mind map above. When I took this list and bounced it up against the benefits of mind mapping software, I was amazed to discover just how well aligned this type of productivity software is with these important leadership qualities.
What do you think?
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