What is Mind Mapping?

Mind mapping is a tool and a modern learning technique that arranges one's visual ideas and tries to interconnect them. The technique is used to graphically arrange and link concepts with other concepts and issues.

It's a vast study that allows to create, capture, organize, and communicate understood interactive visual representations of information and complex ideas. It brings out the best use of brain power.

We have been hearing, 'seeing is believing' from a long time, and if that's true, it can help you and your business develop a universe of ideas. The technique lets students, engineers, business, etc., make notes that use only keywords and images.

We have been aware of the technique from centuries. They were used to analyze various kinds of problems, for example, the graphical representations of the categories of Aristotle by Neoplatonist thinker Poephry in the 3rd century. But, it was a British psychologist and creative business guru, Tony Buzan, who made them popular in 1960s.

In brief, these are diagrams that are used to represent ideas, words, tasks, etc., which are linked and centered around a keyword. They help in visualizing problems and help make decisions to reach to an innovative effective solution.

Their four important characteristics are:

• A central image that represents the subject.
• The important themes of the subject diversify from the central image known as main branches.
• Minor themes are linked to important (major) themes.
• A nodal structure connects all branches.

• You can systematize, re-systematize, and filter collected thoughts and ideas.
• Brainstorm, within groups or individually.
• Research and consolidate information from multiple sources.
• Visualize human information exchange.
• Gain insights on complex topics and problems.

• Form relationships between key-points, by analyzing and structuring the information.
• To improve knowledge management systems.
• Manage the information for meetings, presentations, proposals, projects, etc., in preparation, execution, and follow-up phase.

You definitely must be wondering the process, and how it actually helps, or is there any practical example in today's world. Well, the answer is yes. They are popular all over Asia and Europe. A fact being, Boeing Aircraft utilizes a 25-foot long mind map to help a team of aeronautical engineers learn things that would have taken a few years.

And the bonanza is, they save a whopping $10 million. Not only Boeing, many others like Hyundai, British Petroleum, and Digital Equipment use the technique to improve their performance.

The earlier the technique is learned and executed, the better it is for you and your endeavors. They have already forayed into schools where children learn to make them.

It allows students to acquire a strategy for note making, creative writing, report writing, decision making, studying complex topics in an easy way, and a lot more. Children learn to extend their ability to make contributions.

The technique, if implemented and followed properly, engages the brain in a much better and richer way, helping find a solution to almost any problem. Moreover, it's all fun!