Mind Mapping: A Method For Sparking Your Team’s Creativity
In our last post, we discussed methods of establishing an environment that is conducive to creativity, in order to help your team generate a great deal of ideas in a short period. Now we’ll talk about the first of two techniques that can help further that idea. The Mind Map is geared toward freeing up the left-brain thinkers.
Mind Mapping is an effective individual brainstorming method to encourage all group members to think freely about the same problem at the same time without fear of interruptions, distractions, or the domination by some members of the group. Many of us are used to making lists of all of the things that need to be done, which is a very left-brained approach, and potentially very constricting when it comes to devising new ideas and solutions to a problem.
Mind Mapping can be used with great success on a wide range of issues, and can even help when you’re feeling overwhelmed with too much to do and anxious about how to get it all done. There is something very freeing and uplifting about getting all of these issues, distractions, tasks out of your head and on the page in front of you so that you can begin to tackle them.
So how does Mind Mapping work? Get out a blank piece of paper and turn it landscape style (horizontally) in front of you. The idea of the blank page can be a little scary, but this tool really works. Write the problem statement in the center of the page and draw a circle around it. This is your central theme. Then, let your mind run free.
As an idea occurs to you, draw a line outward from the center circle, write the thought at the end of the line, and draw another circle around it. Does a related idea come out of that one? Simply draw a line from your new circle and write the idea at the end of that line. Got a new train of thought? Pick another spot on the page, jot down your idea, draw a circle around it, and connect with a line to the central theme. Simply jot down ideas as they come to you. Don't let that analytical logical side of your brain take over—no editing or judging allowed. Keep it free flowing and right-brain-oriented.
Remain relaxed, because there is no right or wrong way to do this. That is the beauty of this tool. Think of it as emptying your brain of all ideas related to the focused problem statement in front of you. Some mind mapping experts encourage you to use colors, drawings, symbols, and other visual techniques, but many people prefer the speed and simplicity of a regular pencil.
Once you have truly captured all of the ideas on the page, it’s time to step back and allow the left brain to work.
What interrelationships do you see?
Are there some patterns that you hadn ’t noticed before?
Do some ideas rise above the rest as being more creative, actionable, likely to solve the issue?
Have fun with it, and let your natural creative instincts take over. They are there just waiting to be released —almost like fire flies from the jar!
Now that you’ve mastered Mind Mapping, freeing up the left brain thinkers on your team, it’s time to turn your attention to the right brained team members. Brainwriting is a tool that’s perfect for helping to bring focus to the right brain thinkers, allowing them to effectively channel their creativity. In our next post we’ll dig into Brainwriting and how to use it.
