How is work evolving? Analyzing how users of mind mapping tools are benefiting from them over time can provide us with important insights.
I recently created an infographic that plots out the top 10 benefits of mind mapping tools over the last 3 surveys – conducted in 2024, 2019 and 2017. I then color-coded them and displayed them side-by-side, to make it easier to see the “vector” of each one. The results can be clearly seen in the diagram below:
Analysis of the data
To make this report easier to skim, I’ve included a graphic that shows the number of positions each benefit moved since the last survey.
Increased productivity
This benefit jumped from number nine to number three, a major leap. Being highly productive has always been important in the workplace. I can’t point to any major changes in the last four years that would cause this huge increase, other than the relentless pressure in most businesses to do more..
Understand complex issues
This benefit has remained firmly entrenched in the number one position for the last three surveys. Considering the state of the world and business today, that’s not surprising. We’re faced with unprecedented change and uncertainty, accelerating innovation and a whole host of interdependent problems. Their interdependency means that they cannot be solved easily. There are many factors that contribute to the challenges we face. We need a tool that’s up to the task. Clearly, mind mapping tools fill that role very well!
Reach clarity faster
This benefit maintained its number two position since the last survey. Once again, considering everything we’ve just talked about, this is really not surprising. Mind mapping tools empower us to capture, organize, distill and share insights and ideas and in clear, concise and impactful ways. No one wants to be drowning in a sea of information. We all want to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff, see the patterns and connections and reach clarity on what we should do next.
Be better organized
This benefit jumped from number eight to number three in the 2024 survey. It doesn’t seem to be as strategically important as some of the other benefits, but it is closely related to several of them. For example, being better organized helps us to manage information overload and reach clarity faster on key issues. Mind mapping tools enable us to organize our information in the ways that make the most sense to us. In that sense, they definitely help us to stay better organized.
Improve ability to do research
This benefit jumped from number 10 to number six in the 2024 survey. It did not appear in the top 10 prior to that. I think more users of mind mapping tools are starting to realize that it can be a powerful tool for capturing your research, organizing it, prioritizing it and distilling what it means. As you capture pieces of research, mind mapping tools enable you to arrange and rearrange it in ways that help you extract insights from it.
Get the full 2024 survey report here.
What do you think?
I’d love to hear your reactions to this analysis. Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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