![\"Mind](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Mind-map-example-1.jpg\" "\\"Mind")
<\/p>\nIf coming up with the perfect idea was as easy as putting your mind to it, everybody would be rich.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, that\u2019s not how it works. But the creativity needed for problem solving isn\u2019t some mystical muse you can summon by arranging your pencils in a peculiar shape either \u2014 no matter how awesome that sounds.<\/p>\n
Instead, you can use techniques and tools to nudge your brain in the right direction. The humble mind map is perhaps the most fundamental of these ideation tools.<\/p>\n
In this guide, we\u2019ll explain what a mind map is, when it\u2019s useful \u2014 in business, specifically \u2014 and how to create your own efficiently.<\/p>\n
A mind map is a visual diagram that helps you organize or explore related ideas, categories, and concepts.<\/p>\n
Many of you might remember it from school, breaking down our ecosystem and highlighting the relationships between different animals.<\/p>\n
But don\u2019t worry. That\u2019s not the only use case. For example, you can use it to break down all the different potential factors that impact marketing in a company.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It takes the main topic, marketing, and breaks it down into some of the main focus areas of that business.<\/p>\n
A mind map helps you grasp the bigger picture with a single glance. For example, imagine if I tried to list out all the items using an indented bullet list.<\/p>\n
With a single category and only a few sub-items, it works.<\/p>\n
But imagine scaling this up to 10 categories, many with more subcategories than 3. Not only will it be a useless visual reference, but you can\u2019t show the interrelationships between sections.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a reason mind maps are the go-to for visualizing objects with tons of moving parts.<\/p>\n
You can add pictures to highlight the different concepts and make the mind map even more effective. That helps your brain internalize all the moving parts much more efficiently.<\/p>\n
Having all the moving parts on paper isn\u2019t just useful for categorization. It can help you focus your thinking, make new connections, and come up with high-impact ideas.<\/p>\n
Get started with monday.com<\/a><\/p>\n In a recent survey, 86%<\/a> of respondents said mind mapping helped them tackle complex tasks they might otherwise have skipped.<\/p>\n A mind map is an excellent tool for visualizing all the moving pieces when you\u2019re thinking about a larger problem.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Here are some examples of business use cases for mind maps:<\/strong><\/p>\n Other use cases for mind maps include:<\/strong><\/p>\n English author and educational consultant Tony Buzan is credited with popularizing the mind mapping technique in the 1970s and beyond.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what his mind map identifying his achievements and life looks like, as highlighted on his websites.<\/p>\n (Image Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n This highlights the benefit of mind maps quite well. Without having to read 100s of words, a single glance gives you the highlights of Tony\u2019s career.<\/p>\n The main selling point of the mind map in his day was education. He presented it as a more efficient way to use our brains to learn new information.<\/p>\n While that\u2019s true to an extent, unfortunately, he used some bogus statistics and facts to promote his cause.<\/p>\n Luckily, his weird sales pitch doesn\u2019t reduce the actual effectiveness of mind mapping.<\/p>\nRigorous scientific research shows that mind maps work. For example, studies have shown that they help students learn and internalize new knowledge. Some research even suggests it helps with improving fundamental thinking skills.<\/span><\/a>\n A 2020 study showed that mind maps helped 80%<\/a> of students improve their questioning skills over 6 weeks.<\/p>\n Is it a magical fix for attaining superhuman brainpower? No. Can it help you learn more effectively? Yes, it can.<\/p>\n And at many companies, that\u2019s still all it\u2019s used for \u2014 not that that\u2019s a bad thing, since it helps with learning.<\/p>\n Tony Buzan and his followers also swore by the effectiveness of using mind maps for taking notes when learning.<\/p>\n Instead of writing every word, you break down the topic into its main moving parts. The visualizing then helps you internalize the relationship between them.<\/p>\n But, if a mind map only worked for taking notes or teaching students, we wouldn\u2019t be dedicating a whole 3,000-word guide to it. That\u2019s only the beginning of its usefulness. Let\u2019s explore how mind mapping can help in both business and life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Even though mind maps started as a memory or communication tool, they didn\u2019t stop there.<\/p>\n Nowadays, many professionals rely on mind maps for ideation and brainstorming. They are the perfect vehicle for finding ideas when there are a lot of factors involved.<\/p>\n Flashback to the statistic that we mentioned earlier \u2014 more than 8 in 10 people find that mind maps help them solve complex tasks.<\/p>\n Mind mapping is a powerful instrument for finding ideas. It\u2019s because of the same reasons that make it such a useful tool for learning.<\/p>\n You can clearly list, review, and internalize multiple factors and the relationship between them.<\/p>\n That makes mind mapping the perfect option when you need to make complex decisions.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why the career center at Duke University recommends using mind maps. Deciding on a career path is a big decision with a lot of factors to consider.<\/p>\n Enter the mind map. It\u2019s the best way to create a high-level overview of your life. If you just tried to write everything down on paper, you\u2019d naturally create something similar.<\/p>\n (Image Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n Mind maps help people focus their thinking. They make everyone consider the whole picture when they\u2019re coming up with new ideas.<\/p>\n With all your skills, experience, and interests visualized, it\u2019s much easier to see which jobs fit. It creates a visual template for your brain to compare any ideas against.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s what makes it so powerful for business problem solving<\/a> as well. With all factors on the table, you can quickly dismiss lacking ideas.<\/p>\n Once you have a few preliminary ideas, you can also continue to explore them. For example, you can visually work out how to expand a solution to cover all the necessary areas.<\/p>\n According to a 2019 survey<\/a> from the Mind Mapping Software blog, these are the most popular use cases for mind maps in companies:<\/p>\n This list shows the true versatility of mind maps.<\/p>\n Keeping and storing essential ideas was the top use case, as might be expected. It\u2019s also a part of the creative workflow<\/a>.<\/p>\n But around half of all companies also used it for strategic planning and even project management.<\/p>\n When used right, mind maps can help boost productivity throughout multiple areas of your business.<\/p>\n The survey showed that using mind mapping software<\/a> increased productivity.<\/p>\n (Image Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n It also helped managers and executives reach clarity on crucial business issues faster.<\/p>\n In the modern marketplace, speed is everything. Even slow and reliable tortoises are expected to keep up with the latest developments.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re still not sold on mind mapping, let\u2019s see how it stacks up against other ideation techniques.<\/p>\n Get started<\/a><\/p>\n Of course, mind mapping isn\u2019t the only technique for coming up with new ideas. Let\u2019s take a closer look at some of the most popular techniques teams use to help innovate.<\/p>\n The first technique \u2014 if you can call it that \u2014 is a free format brainstorming session.<\/p>\n Someone writes down a problem on the whiteboard \u2014 or Zoom screen \u2014 and off everyone goes.<\/p>\n Studies<\/a> have shown that unstructured brainstorming \u2014 or round-robin brainstorming \u2014 where everyone discusses the problem collectively from the beginning can lead to fewer, less diverse, lower-quality ideas than when people write their own.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Why? As soon as someone voices an idea, that affects everyone else. It makes people less likely to follow original trains of thought.<\/p>\n The final result: fewer, more similar ideas. Not exactly a technique to write home about.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy for perfectly good ideas to get lost as dominant personalities push theirs through.<\/p>\n To solve the main issue with brainstorming, psychologists and consultants have found 2 concepts: brainwriting and rapid ideation.<\/p>\n In Brainwriting, you pose the problem or question to everyone separately. Everyone writes down their ideas before <\/em>meeting for a brainstorming session.<\/p>\n Rapid ideation is when brainwriting happens during the first few minutes of a meeting. Everyone writes their ideas down on the spot. After this initial silent, individual brainstorming, you talk to the group.<\/p>\n Both methods have their merits, but they\u2019re not mutually exclusive with mind mapping.<\/p>\n Compared to basic brainstorming techniques, mind mapping offers a few unique advantages.<\/p>\n Some of these advantages include:<\/p>\n Even if you use mind maps, you can still get the research-backed benefits of letting everyone write their ideas down first.<\/p>\n This gives you the added benefit of clearly representing everyone\u2019s ideas during a brainstorming session.<\/p>\n Adding a mind-map also helps you adhere to 3 of the 7 Ideo rules of brainstorming. (If you don\u2019t know Ideo, they\u2019re the innovators behind the latest design thinking revolution.)<\/p>\n (Image Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n Mind mapping ensures the session is visual, that you can build on other ideas and stay focused on the topic at hand.<\/p>\n Having a process in place that helps your teams work together to generate better ideas is essential for workplace collaboration<\/a>.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re creating your mind map, you must consider your objectives and reflect them in the main ideas.<\/p>\n Whether or not you are collaborating with other people will also play a part in the setup.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s start with the basics first.<\/p>\n Your mind map won\u2019t get anywhere unless it includes your central idea or problem, different branches \u2014 potential solutions or problem areas \u2014 and their relationships.<\/p>\n In this simple 3-level mind map example, you divide the main idea into problem areas, and finally, list potential solutions.<\/p>\n Even if you break it down into more levels, the core building blocks are the same. You just keep adding branches to the main trunk.<\/p>\n You can also expand the mind map with images to help visualize the different moving parts at a glance.<\/p>\n For example, if you have an underperforming campaign, the bare minimum categories or problem areas would be targeting and creative.<\/p>\n From there, you can add potential solutions or specific problems to each area.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to boost performance in a marketing campaign, these broad ideas aren\u2019t enough, of course. But they\u2019re a starting point.<\/p>\n If you get a lot of ideas, you can either create a list<\/a> and vote on what to follow up on or create a prioritized list.<\/p>\n If you are working with fewer ideas, you could create a subset of mind maps for the individual solutions to test that they hold water.<\/p>\n If your team includes remote workers, you can use a digital mind mapping tool instead of a whiteboard.<\/p>\n In a connected world where many teams are distributed or even remote, a physical whiteboard doesn\u2019t always cut it.<\/p>\n With monday.com, you can introduce mind maps in a way that engages your whole team. Go beyond the initial brainstorming, plan specifics, and turn the project into a reality.<\/p>\n With our virtual whiteboard app, your team can easily collaborate on a rough whiteboard in real-time.<\/p>\n You can draw and drag shapes, write out text, and even add pictures in live collaboration.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll be able to actively brainstorm and interact with your team while on a Zoom or Skype call.<\/p>\n The resulting mind map is saved automatically in the cloud, and you can easily export text to other boards.<\/p>\n Of course, mind mapping is just one technique you need to make your ideas a reality. You can also create rough wireframes or run hypothetical tests on ideas.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve discovered a few initial ideas, you need to figure out which ones to take to the next level.<\/p>\n Luckily, monday.com gives you the perfect option for storing and evaluating your ideas as well.<\/p>\n With the Kanban view, you can easily create an idea board to store, categorize, and review your ideas.<\/p>\n Add unique categories and color-code the board to suit your team\u2019s preferences.<\/p>\n With a reliable process like this, you ensure the quality of ideas. You also guarantee that you have considered all options fairly.<\/p>\n Everything that you don\u2019t write down or record will get forgotten over the long term.<\/p>\n Once you narrow the list of potential ideas down to only the usable ones, you can send them over for final approval from managers or executives.<\/p>\n monday.com isn\u2019t a limited mind mapping tool or ideas platform. It\u2019s a Work OS that enables you to create the project management platform your company needs.<\/p>\n You can use our project proposal template to break down the idea into actual milestones and deliverables.<\/p>\n The scope and timeline depend on the size of the problem you\u2019re trying to solve. Optimizing a campaign might only take a few weeks. Rebuilding a process from the ground up can take months or even years.<\/p>\n In other words, plan accordingly.<\/p>\n Once you take the project live, the best way to keep things under is to standardize the entire process.<\/p>\n To do this, you can:<\/p>\n For example, you can send automated Slack messages based on item status changes. Or you can connect work items with issues in Zendesk<\/a> or Jira.<\/p>\n Once a project is beyond the ideation stage, it\u2019s like a child who leaves home for the first time \u2014 hard to keep track of.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why monday.com lets you build custom dashboards that track multiple project boards at once.<\/p>\n You can highlight the metrics, KPIs, and schedules that matter the most to you.<\/p>\n With custom widgets, you can build an interface that shows only the data that you want. You can also add elements that include live data from third-party sources.<\/p>\n Real-time data will help you make the right calls at the right time.<\/p>\n A mind map isn\u2019t just a technique for taking notes or a diagram of related things. It\u2019s a powerful tool for developing and refining ideas.<\/p>\n You can use our interactive whiteboard<\/a> app to start mind mapping remotely today. But that\u2019s only the first step of the journey.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re using the mind map in the hopes of bringing an ambitious project to life, monday.com can help you manage the ideas and turn them into something real.<\/p>\n With the right platform, you can boost your productivity and ensure that more ideas see the light of day.<\/p>\n Get started<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"If coming up with the perfect idea was as easy as putting your mind to it, everybody would be rich.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, that\u2019s not how it works. But the creativity needed for problem solving isn\u2019t some mystical muse you can summon by arranging your pencils in a peculiar shape either \u2014 no matter how awesome that sounds.\r\n\r\nInstead, you can use techniques and tools to nudge your brain in the right direction. The humble mind map is perhaps the most fundamental of these ideation tools.\r\n\r\nIn this guide, we\u2019ll explain what a mind map is, when it\u2019s useful \u2014 in business, specifically \u2014 and how to create your own efficiently.\r\n [cta-button url=\"https:\/\/auth.monday.com\/users\/sign_up_new\" target=\"_blank\"]Get started with monday.com[\/cta-button]<\/p>\r\n\r\n [cta-button url=\"https:\/\/auth.monday.com\/users\/sign_up_new\" target=\"_blank\"]Get started[\/cta-button]<\/p>\r\n\r\n [cta-button url=\"https:\/\/auth.monday.com\/users\/sign_up_new\" target=\"_blank\"]Get started[\/cta-button]<\/p>"},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If coming up with the perfect idea was as easy as putting your mind to it, everybody would be rich. Unfortunately, that\u2019s not how it works. But the creativity needed for problem solving isn\u2019t some mystical muse you can summon by arranging your pencils in a peculiar shape either \u2014 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":55237,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"monday_item_id":18042629524,"monday_board_id":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[13904],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-project-management"],"acf":{"lobby_image":"","post_thumbnail_title":"","hide_post_info":false,"hide_bottom_cta":false,"hide_from_blog":true,"cluster":"","banner_url":"","main_text_banner":"","sub_title_banner":"","sub_title_banner_second":"","banner_button_text":"","below_banner_line":"","landing_page_layout":false,"display_dates":"default","featured_image_link":"","use_customized_cta":false,"display_subscribe_widget":false,"custom_schema_code":"Potential uses for mind maps<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
The history of mind mapping as a teaching tool<\/h2>\n
![\"Tony](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Tony-Buzan-mind-map.png\" "\\"Tony")
<\/p>\n\n
Mind mapping for note-taking<\/h3>\n
Mind maps beyond note-taking: making hard problems easier<\/h2>\n
Finding new ideas utilizing a wide range of existing information<\/h3>\n
![\"Duke](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Duke-Careers-mind-map-YouTube-video.jpg\" "\\"Duke")
<\/p>\nMost popular applications of mind maps in business<\/h3>\n
\n
Mind maps and business productivity<\/h3>\n
![\"Productivity](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Productivity-and-mind-mapping.jpg\" "\\"Productivity")
<\/p>\nMind mapping vs. other brainstorming techniques<\/h2>\n
Free-format brainstorming<\/h3>\n
Brainwriting and rapid ideation<\/h3>\n
The advantages of mind mapping<\/h3>\n
\n
![\"IDEO](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/IDEO-rules-of-brainstorming.jpg\" "\\"IDEO")
<\/p>\nHow do you create a mind map that suits your purpose?<\/h2>\n
What 3 things must a mind map have?<\/h3>\n
![\"Basic](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Basic-mind-map-building-blocks.jpg\" "\\"Basic")
<\/p>\nTips for using mind maps for problem solving<\/h3>\n
\n
![\"Marketing](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marketing-mind-map-example.jpg\" "\\"Marketing")
<\/p>\nHow monday.com can help you finalize your ideas and make your project a reality<\/h2>\n
Use our virtual whiteboard to collaborate on a mind map in real-time.<\/h3>\n
![\"Virtual](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Virtual-interactive-whiteboard-app-monday.com_.png\" "\\"Virtual")
<\/p>\nEvaluate the quality of ideas using a Kanban board.<\/h3>\n
![\"Kanban](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Kanban-idea-evaluation-board.png\" "\\"Kanban")
<\/p>\nStart breaking down the project into milestones and high-level deliverables.<\/h3>\n
![\"Kanban](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Kanban-idea-evaluation-board-2.png\" "\\"Kanban")
<\/p>\nImplement standardized workflows with customized templates and integrations.<\/h3>\n
\n
Use a real-time dashboard to track progress.<\/h3>\n
![\"Custom](\"https:\/\/www.monday.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Custom-monday.com-dashboards.png\" "\\"Custom")
<\/p>\nA mind map is only the beginning<\/h2>\n
What is a mind map and when is it useful?<\/h2>\r\nA mind map is a visual diagram that helps you organize or explore related ideas, categories, and concepts.\r\n\r\nMany of you might remember it from school, breaking down our ecosystem and highlighting the relationships between different animals.\r\n\r\nBut don\u2019t worry. That\u2019s not the only use case. For example, you can use it to break down all the different potential factors that impact marketing in a company.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nIt takes the main topic, marketing, and breaks it down into some of the main focus areas of that business.\r\n\r\nA mind map helps you grasp the bigger picture with a single glance. For example, imagine if I tried to list out all the items using an indented bullet list.\r\n\r\nWith a single category and only a few sub-items, it works.\r\n\r\n \t
\r\n \t
\r\n \t
Potential uses for mind maps<\/h3>\r\nIn a recent survey, 86%<\/a> of respondents said mind mapping helped them tackle complex tasks they might otherwise have skipped.\r\n
A mind map is an excellent tool for visualizing all the moving pieces when you\u2019re thinking about a larger problem.<\/blockquote>\r\nHere are some examples of business use cases for mind maps:<\/strong>\r\n
\r\n \t
\r\n \t
The history of mind mapping as a teaching tool<\/h2>\r\nEnglish author and educational consultant Tony Buzan is credited with popularizing the mind mapping technique in the 1970s and beyond.\r\n\r\nHere\u2019s what his mind map identifying his achievements and life looks like, as highlighted on his websites.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n(Image Source<\/a>)\r\n\r\nThis highlights the benefit of mind maps quite well. Without having to read 100s of words, a single glance gives you the highlights of Tony\u2019s career.\r\n\r\nThe main selling point of the mind map in his day was education. He presented it as a more efficient way to use our brains to learn new information.\r\n\r\nWhile that\u2019s true to an extent, unfortunately, he used some bogus statistics and facts to promote his cause.\r\n\r\n \t
Mind mapping for note-taking<\/h3>\r\nTony Buzan and his followers also swore by the effectiveness of using mind maps for taking notes when learning.\r\n\r\nInstead of writing every word, you break down the topic into its main moving parts. The visualizing then helps you internalize the relationship between them.\r\n
But, if a mind map only worked for taking notes or teaching students, we wouldn\u2019t be dedicating a whole 3,000-word guide to it. That\u2019s only the beginning of its usefulness. Let\u2019s explore how mind mapping can help in both business and life.<\/blockquote>\r\n
Mind maps beyond note-taking: making hard problems easier<\/h2>\r\nEven though mind maps started as a memory or communication tool, they didn\u2019t stop there.\r\n\r\nNowadays, many professionals rely on mind maps for ideation and brainstorming. They are the perfect vehicle for finding ideas when there are a lot of factors involved.\r\n\r\nFlashback to the statistic that we mentioned earlier \u2014 more than 8 in 10 people find that mind maps help them solve complex tasks.\r\n
Finding new ideas utilizing a wide range of existing information<\/h3>\r\nMind mapping is a powerful instrument for finding ideas. It\u2019s because of the same reasons that make it such a useful tool for learning.\r\n\r\nYou can clearly list, review, and internalize multiple factors and the relationship between them.\r\n\r\nThat makes mind mapping the perfect option when you need to make complex decisions.\r\n\r\nThat\u2019s why the career center at Duke University recommends using mind maps. Deciding on a career path is a big decision with a lot of factors to consider.\r\n\r\nEnter the mind map. It\u2019s the best way to create a high-level overview of your life. If you just tried to write everything down on paper, you\u2019d naturally create something similar.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n(Image Source<\/a>)\r\n\r\nMind maps help people focus their thinking. They make everyone consider the whole picture when they\u2019re coming up with new ideas.\r\n\r\nWith all your skills, experience, and interests visualized, it\u2019s much easier to see which jobs fit. It creates a visual template for your brain to compare any ideas against.\r\n\r\nAnd that\u2019s what makes it so powerful for business problem solving<\/a> as well. With all factors on the table, you can quickly dismiss lacking ideas.\r\n\r\nOnce you have a few preliminary ideas, you can also continue to explore them. For example, you can visually work out how to expand a solution to cover all the necessary areas.\r\nMost popular applications of mind maps in business<\/h3>\r\nAccording to a 2019 survey<\/a> from the Mind Mapping Software blog, these are the most popular use cases for mind maps in companies:\r\n
\r\n \t
Mind maps and business productivity<\/h3>\r\nThe survey showed that using mind mapping software<\/a> increased productivity.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n(Image Source<\/a>)\r\n\r\nIt also helped managers and executives reach clarity on crucial business issues faster.\r\n\r\nIn the modern marketplace, speed is everything. Even slow and reliable tortoises are expected to keep up with the latest developments.\r\n\r\nIf you\u2019re still not sold on mind mapping, let\u2019s see how it stacks up against other ideation techniques.\r\nMind mapping vs. other brainstorming techniques<\/h2>\r\nOf course, mind mapping isn\u2019t the only technique for coming up with new ideas. Let\u2019s take a closer look at some of the most popular techniques teams use to help innovate.\r\n
Free-format brainstorming<\/h3>\r\nThe first technique \u2014 if you can call it that \u2014 is a free format brainstorming session.\r\n\r\nSomeone writes down a problem on the whiteboard \u2014 or Zoom screen \u2014 and off everyone goes.\r\n
Studies<\/a> have shown that unstructured brainstorming \u2014 or round-robin brainstorming \u2014 where everyone discusses the problem collectively from the beginning can lead to fewer, less diverse, lower-quality ideas than when people write their own.<\/blockquote>\r\nWhy? As soon as someone voices an idea, that affects everyone else. It makes people less likely to follow original trains of thought.\r\n\r\nThe final result: fewer, more similar ideas. Not exactly a technique to write home about.\r\n
Brainwriting and rapid ideation<\/h3>\r\nIt\u2019s easy for perfectly good ideas to get lost as dominant personalities push theirs through.\r\n\r\nTo solve the main issue with brainstorming, psychologists and consultants have found 2 concepts: brainwriting and rapid ideation.\r\n\r\nIn Brainwriting, you pose the problem or question to everyone separately. Everyone writes down their ideas before <\/em>meeting for a brainstorming session.\r\n\r\nRapid ideation is when brainwriting happens during the first few minutes of a meeting. Everyone writes their ideas down on the spot. After this initial silent, individual brainstorming, you talk to the group.\r\n\r\nBoth methods have their merits, but they\u2019re not mutually exclusive with mind mapping.\r\n
The advantages of mind mapping<\/h3>\r\nCompared to basic brainstorming techniques, mind mapping offers a few unique advantages.\r\n\r\nSome of these advantages include:\r\n
\r\n \t
\r\n\r\n(Image Source<\/a>)\r\n\r\nMind mapping ensures the session is visual, that you can build on other ideas and stay focused on the topic at hand.\r\n\r\nHaving a process in place that helps your teams work together to generate better ideas is essential for workplace collaboration<\/a>.\r\nHow do you create a mind map that suits your purpose?<\/h2>\r\nWhen you\u2019re creating your mind map, you must consider your objectives and reflect them in the main ideas.\r\n\r\nWhether or not you are collaborating with other people will also play a part in the setup.\r\n\r\nBut let\u2019s start with the basics first.\r\n
What 3 things must a mind map have?<\/h3>\r\nYour mind map won\u2019t get anywhere unless it includes your central idea or problem, different branches \u2014 potential solutions or problem areas \u2014 and their relationships.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nIn this simple 3-level mind map example, you divide the main idea into problem areas, and finally, list potential solutions.\r\n\r\nEven if you break it down into more levels, the core building blocks are the same. You just keep adding branches to the main trunk.\r\n\r\nYou can also expand the mind map with images to help visualize the different moving parts at a glance.\r\nTips for using mind maps for problem solving<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n \t
\r\n\r\nIf you\u2019re looking to boost performance in a marketing campaign, these broad ideas aren\u2019t enough, of course. But they\u2019re a starting point.\r\n\r\nIf you get a lot of ideas, you can either create a list<\/a> and vote on what to follow up on or create a prioritized list.\r\n\r\nIf you are working with fewer ideas, you could create a subset of mind maps for the individual solutions to test that they hold water.\r\n\r\nIf your team includes remote workers, you can use a digital mind mapping tool instead of a whiteboard.\r\nHow monday.com can help you finalize your ideas and make your project a reality<\/h2>\r\nIn a connected world where many teams are distributed or even remote, a physical whiteboard doesn\u2019t always cut it.\r\n\r\nWith monday.com, you can introduce mind maps in a way that engages your whole team. Go beyond the initial brainstorming, plan specifics, and turn the project into a reality.\r\n
Use our virtual whiteboard to collaborate on a mind map in real-time.<\/h3>\r\nWith our virtual whiteboard app, your team can easily collaborate on a rough whiteboard in real-time.\r\n\r\nYou can draw and drag shapes, write out text, and even add pictures in live collaboration.\r\n\r\nYou\u2019ll be able to actively brainstorm and interact with your team while on a Zoom or Skype call.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe resulting mind map is saved automatically in the cloud, and you can easily export text to other boards.\r\n\r\nOf course, mind mapping is just one technique you need to make your ideas a reality. You can also create rough wireframes or run hypothetical tests on ideas.\r\n\r\nOnce you\u2019ve discovered a few initial ideas, you need to figure out which ones to take to the next level.\r\n\r\nLuckily, monday.com gives you the perfect option for storing and evaluating your ideas as well.\r\nEvaluate the quality of ideas using a Kanban board.<\/h3>\r\nWith the Kanban view, you can easily create an idea board to store, categorize, and review your ideas.\r\n\r\nAdd unique categories and color-code the board to suit your team\u2019s preferences.\r\n\r\nWith a reliable process like this, you ensure the quality of ideas. You also guarantee that you have considered all options fairly.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nEverything that you don\u2019t write down or record will get forgotten over the long term.\r\n\r\nOnce you narrow the list of potential ideas down to only the usable ones, you can send them over for final approval from managers or executives.\r\nStart breaking down the project into milestones and high-level deliverables.<\/h3>\r\nmonday.com isn\u2019t a limited mind mapping tool or ideas platform. It\u2019s a Work OS that enables you to create the project management platform your company needs.\r\n\r\nYou can use our project proposal template to break down the idea into actual milestones and deliverables.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe scope and timeline depend on the size of the problem you\u2019re trying to solve. Optimizing a campaign might only take a few weeks. Rebuilding a process from the ground up can take months or even years.\r\n\r\nIn other words, plan accordingly.\r\nImplement standardized workflows with customized templates and integrations.<\/h3>\r\nOnce you take the project live, the best way to keep things under is to standardize the entire process.\r\n\r\nTo do this, you can:\r\n
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Use a real-time dashboard to track progress.<\/h3>\r\nOnce a project is beyond the ideation stage, it\u2019s like a child who leaves home for the first time \u2014 hard to keep track of.\r\n\r\nThat\u2019s why monday.com lets you build custom dashboards that track multiple project boards at once.\r\n\r\nYou can highlight the metrics, KPIs, and schedules that matter the most to you.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nWith custom widgets, you can build an interface that shows only the data that you want. You can also add elements that include live data from third-party sources.\r\n\r\nReal-time data will help you make the right calls at the right time.\r\nA mind map is only the beginning<\/h2>\r\nA mind map isn\u2019t just a technique for taking notes or a diagram of related things. It\u2019s a powerful tool for developing and refining ideas.\r\n\r\nYou can use our interactive whiteboard<\/a> app to start mind mapping remotely today. But that\u2019s only the first step of the journey.\r\n\r\nIf you\u2019re using the mind map in the hopes of bringing an ambitious project to life, monday.com can help you manage the ideas and turn them into something real.\r\n\r\nWith the right platform, you can boost your productivity and ensure that more ideas see the light of day.\r\n