Looking
for ideas to get the creative juices flowing? This week’s tip is to use a mind
map to spark creativity!
What
is a mind map? It’s a diagram used to visually outline information. Typically
it begins with a word, image or phrase in the center and then other ideas and
images branch out from the center across the page. One of the key benefits of a mind map is that
an idea doesn’t have to be full or complete or even in sentence form in order
to be displayed. The idea is that the process of a mind map resembles how your
brain actually works!
Tips
for an effective mind map:
- Start with a large piece of paper (Give your brain room to think!)
- Use images, not just words
- Vary the size, color and alignment of your images and
text
- Keep topics and labels short (Think big picture.)
Mind
maps are useful tools for individual creativity and also can help to get
creative ideas flowing among a team of people. In your next team brainstorming
session, consider using a whiteboard or oversized Post-it to
map out ideas as they’re given and see where mind mapping can take you! If you
prefer tech tools to paper versions, check out MindMeld or Mindmeister.
