Improve productivity and enhance mental skills using Mind Maps
Mind Mapping is a graphical way to represent ideas and concepts. It is a visual thinking tool that helps structuring information, helping to analyse, comprehend, synthesise, recall and generate new ideas. In a Mind Map, information is structured in a way that resembles much more closely how your brain actually works. Mind Maps can be used for many purposes such as note taking, brainstorming, problem solving, studying, memorisation, planning, presenting information, analysing complex problems, etc.
Mind Map users
Mind Maps are used by over 250 million people worldwide for a variety of tasks. Over 100 countries are using Mind Maps today. Even Bill Gates and Al Gore are among very high profile Mind Map users. It is now widely used in India. Mind Maps are gradually becoming a useful tool in Sri Lanka.
Almost all Fortune 500 companies are using Mind Maps such as IBM, Boeing Aircraft, Hewlett Packard, British Petroleum, Apple General Motors, Oracle, BBC, Walt Disney and Microsoft, etc.
Necessary tool
This is the age of intelligence. Today, jobs require more brain power and mental capabilities than before. We need to develop our brain power to successfully survive in today’s age of intelligence. We can improve our brain power and intelligence using Mind Maps.
Improve productivity and enhancing brain power
Mind Map is a graphical thinking tool. Any individual, group or organisation can increase their productivity by using Mind Maps. Mind Maps enhance our inner genius and boost our productivity
They are also powerful graphic techniques to unlock the potential of our brain. Mind Maps help us to improve our intellectual faculties and mental skills. It is believed that we use less than 10 per cent of our brain power. Mind maps facilitate us to improve our brain capacity.
Improve memory and creative capabilities
Mind Maps are the ideal tool for effectively accessing our natural creative ability. The graphical layout of mind maps helps you to gain a better overview and makes new connections more visible. In this way you can create an unlimited number of thoughts, ideas, links and associations on any topic.
Our brain functions specifically on memory and creative capabilities are declining with aging process. Mind Maps reverse the declining process and boost creativity and improve memory.
Mind Map preparation and usages will enhance and develop intellectual faculties and mental skills. Mind Mapping is a simple, practical tool for indirectly improving your mental abilities.
Preparation and usage of Mind Map will develop the following mental skills:
n Enhance our memory; Increase our concentration; Increase our intelligence; Develops you into a better thinker; Helps to study better; Visualise the whole picture; Get a clearer organisation of ideas; Sharpen analytical thinking; Boost our confidence; Boost our motivation; Plan more effectively and Create a Group Mind.
Uses of Mind Maps
Mind Map can be used for the following activities:
n Note Taking; Memorising/Recalling; Problem Solving; Getting new ideas; Planning Activities; Presentation; Summarising information and Gaining insight on complex subjects.
Who will benefit by Mind Maps?
Almost all get benefits using Mind Maps. Some of the key users are:
n Chairmen, CEOS, top management, Head of Divisions, Managers, Business people, Entrepreneurs, Professionals, Accountants, Engineers, Government Officers, School/University Students, Lecturers, Researchers and NGOs.
Mind Map applications
Mind Maps can be applied for a variety of tasks and applications. Mind Maps help to organise and plan our thinking in personal, family, educational or business purposes. Here are some of the popular applications:
* Personal, Self Analysis, Problem Solving, Goal Setting, Mind Map Diary, Weekly Plan, Monthly Plan, Family, Trip Plan, Budget, Event Plan, Education, Teaching, Studying, Business, Business Plan, Meeting, Presentation, Marketing Plan, Business Proposal, Project Management, SWOT analysis, Conference Plan, Sales Plan, Business Start Up, Corporate Planning and Conducting Interviews.
Conclusion
Mind Map is a simple useful and powerful tool today. In Sri Lanka a few people, companies and organisations are getting the benefits of this applications. This article is intended to provide more awareness to people of this country about Mind Maps. (The writer is a Financial Analyst and Mind Map Trainer. He has wide knowledge and expertise in Mind Mapping and has conducted over 40 training programmes and trained over 400 participants. He could be reached at thilaganathan11@yahoo.com)