To succeed in your projects, you need: a clear vision of what you want, a good dose of organization, a winning mindset, but also a good strategy management tool, and that tool is Mind Mapping. But how do you make a mind map?

And why am I talking to you about Mind Mapping?

Because I’m 100% convinced of the advantages of Mind Mapping over traditional project management tools, which are based on a linear, fixed vision of thought. Find out more about the concept, its benefits and its many applications in this article.

How do I make a mind map?

A mind map is a diagram used to link ideas, objectives or themes around a central subject.

The construction principle is simple: you place your current project or objective at the center, using a key word or image.

For example, you want to write a novel. You place the word “novel” in the center, or paste the image of a book.

Then, from this central core, you create branches and offshoots representing your related ideas, your sub-objectives, your main areas of action.

To take my example again, starting with the word “novel”, I’ll create branches: idea research, summary, publication, etc. That’s how to do mind mapping progressively.

Then, I’ll break down the “idea research” branch into secondary branches: characters, places, plot, etc.

As you progress in breaking down your project, the mind map grows richer and richer, until it takes the shape of a big, bushy tree.

To learn how to make a mind map, you can for example draw it on a sheet of paper.

This method of organizing ideas can be confusing, as we’re not used to schematizing our thoughts in this way.

But Mind Mapping offers considerable advantages.

BENEFIT N°1: MIND MAPPING IS A POWERFUL TOOL FOR FINDING IDEAS
Thanks to its graphic and tree-like configuration, Mind Mapping enhances creativity. In fact, a study by researchers Paul Farrand and Enid Hennessy showed that students taught how to do mind mapping increased their memory capacity by 10%. So, yes, mind mapping is a technique that works. It’s no accident. Visualizing data in a tree structure encourages better organization of ideas.

This tool is renowned for using the same channels as your brain, i.e. it works by associating ideas. One idea leads to another, which leads to another, and so on.

Put it to the test and you’ll see how quickly a wealth of ideas can emerge.

The mind map really is the ideal tool for boosting your creativity!

BENEFIT N°2: MIND MAPPING HELPS YOU STRUCTURE YOUR PROJECTS
When you use a mind map, you instantly see links between the different themes of your project.

The first-level branches represent the main categories, the second-level branches the secondary ideas, and so on.

So you immediately have a structure in front of you. Indeed, the ideas closest to the center are the most important. And as you move away from the center, the more accessory ideas are developed.

At every stage of your project, you’ll be able to refer back to your mind map, so you’ll know what you need to focus on. Knowing how to do mind mapping is therefore very important for the success of your projects.

BENEFIT N°3: MIND MAPPING PROVIDES A GLOBAL VISION OF A PROJECT
Another advantage of Mind Mapping that I’d like to highlight here is the global vision it brings to your project.

At a glance, the structure of your project becomes apparent, as the tool is highly visual.

The project is summarized in the form of key words or images.

You get straight to the point.

Without getting lost in countless details scattered over several tracks.

The main advantage of the Mind Map is its ability to immediately capture the important versus the superfluous. What’s more, its visual aspect makes it easier to remember your objectives. Knowing how to make a mind map also helps you focus on the essentials.

BENEFIT N°4: MIND MAPPING IS AN EVOLVING TOOL FOR YOUR PROJECTS
As you know, every project has its unexpected twists and turns!

Mind Mapping has the advantage of being a tool that can evolve as your project progresses.

If you’ve mastered how to create a mind map, you can easily add or remove a branch because you’ve realized along the way that this objective was too disconnected from your project.

You can also group your ideas together. This modularity is very important to the success of a project, as adaptability is at the heart of good project management.

What’s more, knowing how to do mind mapping can significantly boost productivity. Some dedicated mind mapping software can be integrated into MicrosoftOffice programs (which include Word, Excel, Acces, etc.).

In this way, some companies are able to convert their software projects into Word or PowerPoint documents. This eliminates the need to re-enter data, and saves more time than using flipcharts and whiteboards. What’s more, many entrepreneurs use them to create projects that are both simple and complex.

Create your own mind map project
Start building a Mind Map today!

Now that you know how to make a mind map, start with a simple project. I used the example of a novel above. But mind mapping can be applied to a plethora of projects and subjects. Even for housework, you can create a topographical map that will keep you from spreading yourself too thin. Students use them to learn how to synthesize their lectures and retain them more easily. If you think carefully, you’re bound to find a practical way of creating your Mind Map project in a very short space of time. Practice regularly to create simple, easy-to-implement projects. Gradually, you’ll learn to think in a structured, methodical and more efficient way.

You’ll see how this method can give you the impetus you need to bring your projects to fruition.

Do you use Mind Mapping in your projects? What benefits do you derive from it?