I have seen first hand hundreds of diverse usage scenarios how mapping technology can assist people from improved clarity of thinking, improved communication and increased productivity. Whether applied at an individual or team level, all these values remain true.

Mind mapping helps you with organisational improvement through mid-maps, a technique that was popularised by Tony Buzan in the 70’s. Many of us probably used some kind of spider diagrams at school or university which is really the beginning of the mind mapping story. Then came the introduction of mind-mapping software which further enriches the process and gives you the ability to be more productive and innovative, because of the way you can capture and organise your thoughts and ideas. Mind mapping software is a tool that can change your life and it certainly changed mine.

Today it is used for many tasks including project management, consulting, problem-solving, information management and planning. It can help businesses to be more efficient and save money, but it’s fair to say that proving it is an entirely different matter. In fact, as a technique, mainstream business has yet to fully embrace it, however, the mindset is broadening by the day as more and more people see that mapping software represents an incremental way of working and not a step change from existing applications. This is aided by ever tighter product integration into existing applications.

I have seen firsthand hundreds of diverse usage scenarios how mapping technology can assist people from improved clarity of thinking, improved communication and increased productivity. Whether applied at an individual or team level, all these values remain true.

The DNA of using mind-mapping software is all about action and output. Too many meetings end with lots of great ideas but with no accountability or follow through. With tight integration to other software such as MS Outlook and ability to assign tasks, teams can leave meetings with absolute clarity on what the priorities are and who is going to be doing what.

Whilst all ‘knowledge workers’ in both business and learning establishments can fundamentally benefit from mind mapping software, I have seen key groups such as any client facing teams (covering sales, consulting and project management), as getting the most tangible benefits. This is due to the nature in which mapping enables full participation and dialogue to be rapidly established across all parties.

So how can mind mapping be applied specifically? Well for a start it’s an ideal desktop dashboard to information, a way of linking all your disparate data, resources and projects into a single, easy to navigate view – this should apply to anyone who is suffering from information overload which is most of us these days.

For really free flowing and dynamic brainstorming, mind mapping software provides an exploratory canvas for anyone or team that needs to conduct a process of gathering ideas to distil into some kind of sense. This scenario can play out in business meetings or classrooms alike. Sometimes the map may merely be the framework to prompt discussion within a group.

Mind mapping software has really made its mark when its output led. This is when the map is driving towards a specific goal or set of goals, this is where we see the software being adopted most prolifically across Project Management and Customer Engagement teams. The trend is quite simply on the up, with map based content become an increasingly common and accepted medium for sharing data across organisations.

For everyday use, I have my personal dashboard of immediate things that need to be done, as well as my ‘radar’ of things I’m generally thinking about or need to keep an eye on. For the immediate tasks, I have these synchronised with my Outlook task manager which in turn is in synch with my Blackberry. Then, less frequently I will use MindGenius mind mapping software to explore a new set of ideas. Recently I needed to revamp my channel partner program. I conducted the entire process in a mind map and then used the map as a vehicle for internally soliciting input from my colleagues. The interactive nature of this process is what sets mapping apart from more traditional linear presentation tools. In addition it is so easy to use that you don’t need any formal training to get up and running.

In conclusion, I think that the challenges of information overload, coupled with mapping software becoming ever tighter integrated into our existing software products will continue to drive both the need and the acceptance of this technology.