Mind Mapping Author, Coach and Workplace Learning Professional and Buzan Licensed InStructor, Raju Mandhyan explains how mind maps can help you improve your learning, teaching and speaking! Mind Mapping is a fun and simple technique that can help you generate large number of ideas, sort them by effectiveness and applicability. It can also analyse options more efficiently, structure presentations, memorize more and store large volumes of data, ideas, opinions and thoughts on single sheets of paper.

1. W ALK
edUCatORs & tRaIneRs
2009 VOL 3
YOUR
TALK
Ideas tO ImpLement • aCtIOns tO eXeCUte
Using
PSYCHOLOGY & HUMOUR
for Results
TIM WADE SCOTT FRIEDMAN

2. EDUCATORS
M
& TRAINERS
ind
apping
Author, consultant and mind mapping trainer Raju Mandhyan explains how mind maps
can help you improve your learning, teaching and speaking!
M ind Mapping is a fun and
simple technique that can help
you generate large number of
ideas, sort them by effectiveness and
applicability. It can also analyse options
learning, thinking, and speaking skills.
I came upon this technique several
years ago while I was conducting a
presentation skills workshop for the
British Council in Manila. A young
At first, I thought she was getting
bored. Then I thought that perhaps
she didn’t like what she was hearing or
probably knew much more than I did.
It was intimidating and scary. Curious,
more efficiently, structure presentations, Englishwoman with bright eyes and an I walked up to her and expressed my
memorise more and store large volumes easy smile sat through my workshop concerns. She smiled, held up the Mind
of data, ideas, opinions and thoughts and seemed to do very little except Map book and her notes in a Mind Map
on single sheets of paper. Originated keep her eyes on me. She seemed to be form. Later in the session, she shared
by creativity expert Tony Buzan, Mind listening to every word I spoke with an with us the rationale and the benefits of
Mapping has done wonders for my uncanny ease. the technique. It allowed her to listen
Unleashing personal excellence with creative thinking
Walk
your
Talk
www.WalkYourTalk.asia • Vol 3 2009 46

3. EDUCATORS
& TRAINERS
and participate a hundred percent and at down as quickly as they occur. For more on the central theme. Make the
the same time capture all ideas on paper example, if 10 ideas flash through our central image a representation of the
in key words, colours and images. minds then we may only be able to topic. Use images rather than words.
That night, I went home and did some express only half of them verbally and
research, called up some friends, and
was intrigued enough to spend days
less than a quarter in writing. Mind
Mapping provides the answer to this
3 Draw the main, appealing ideas as
thick branches coming from the
central image. Unworry about order,
and weeks learning more about it. In a malady: It is like a thought-grabber with
importance or relationships. That can be
matter of weeks I started applying the eight or ten sets of limbs. Capturing
rearranged later. Let your brain, initially,
technique and soon became addicted. It your thoughts quickly gives you time
storm up ideas.
worked fabulously! to analyze and qualify them later. This
Today, I apply it for reading,
researching, writing, strategising,
makes your thinking process more
effective. Putting down thoughts in 4 Whenever possible, use different
color themes for different branches.
managing meetings and most images and colours also enhances This will make it easier for you to
powerfully for public speaking. This retention and invites the creative, right segregate and qualify ideas later. At all
is how I define Mind Mapping: “A side of your brain to come and play! rates, be fast about mapping and leave
colourful, two dimensional, quick the analysis and ordering of ideas to a
representation of your own ideas, Here are ten steps on how later moment.
to create a Mind Map.
5
thoughts, emotions and options
Maintain one word per branch
1
captured on paper in colour and in your Take a blank sheet of paper and lay and keep that word on top of the
own pictures. The key words here are it laterally. A blank sheet will allow branch. This one word may allow for a
“your own,” because a Mind Map is not freedom and will not let lines influence freewheeling of additional ideas and will
a streamlined presentation that can be you into linear thinking. A lateral layout create many more associations.
understood well by any person other means you can spread wide your ideas
than the creator of the Mind Map.
The rationale behind Mind Mapping
and still be able to read them later.
6 Add images wherever you can
instead of words. You already know
is that our senses take in a lot of
information, and all this input generates 2 Draw an image of your topic or
using at least three colours at the
centre of the paper. Three colours and
that a picture is worth a thousand words
and people remember images better
than words.
responses, ideas, and opinions that
cannot be expressed vocally or written an image will allow you to delve a bit
Walk
your
Talk
45 2009 Vol 3 • www.WalkYourTalk.asia

4. EDUCATORS
& TRAINERS
7 Add arrows between images and
branches and ideas expressing
Benefits of Mind Mapping the logical left and the creative right
side of the brain, the mind becomes
relationships or commonalities among
the ideas. There will always be a 1 Noting and reading only relevant
words saves a lot of time.
increasingly alert and receptive.
2
persisting relationships or repetitions in Reviewing is graphical and can be Over the years, as an ardent “Mind-
your outputs. That’s okay. Our mind is a done at a glance. Mapper,” I have come to realize that
volcano of thought not a computer. Mind-Mapping my ideas and emotions
8 Flow with abandon. Do not judge
your thoughts. Grab your ideas
3 Concentration on real issues is
enhanced.
helps me look at them through a deeper,
more colorful perspective.
4 Key words are easily discernible Mind-Mapping my ideas and letting
first and quantify them later. In them percolate for a while allows my
other schools of thought, it is called since they are placed according to
importance for easier recall. subconscious to kick-in and gently
brainstorming. With Mind Mapping delete what is unnecessary, enhance
you are letting your conscious and
unconscious mind brainstorm together
quietly and efficiently.
9 Use capital letters, print, and be
creative with your Mind Maps.
Printed words are always easier to
read back and during the “slowness”
of printing your intellect does a rapid
approval of the word/idea. The word
and the idea also stick better into our
memories.
10 Last but not the least, have fun
doing it.
Reading a Mind Map
A Mind Map is drawn from the center
going outwards and read from the
outside going inwards. The primary
branches form the main points and the
secondary and tertiary branches form
the sub-headings or points. The branch
and its sub-branches are read flexibly.
5
Clear and appropriate associations
are made between key words.
and internalise what is useful and good.
The process also increases my faith in
Read clockwise and then convert single
words into simple sentences as you go.
6
The brain finds it easier to
accept and remember the visually
stimulating, multi-coloured, multi-
the value of the material and confidence
in my own self.
And, finally, it has also helped me
Structure, sequence, and polishing off write and release two very successful
dimensional Mind Maps rather than
the language in the complete text can be books, The Heart of Public Speaking and,
monotonous, boring linear notes.
done later. The Heart of Humor.
7While Mind
Mapping, one is
constantly on the verge
of new realisations;
this encourages a
continuous and
potentially endless flow
of thought.
8 The Mind Map
works in harmony
with the brain’s
natural desire for
Raju Mandhyan
completion or
wholeness.
9 By constantly
utilising both
• www.mandhyan.com
Walk
your
Talk
www.WalkYourTalk.asia • Vol 3 2009 44

5. W
ALK
LeadeRs & pROFessIOnaLs
2009 VOL 3
YOUR
TALK
Ideas tO ImpLement • aCtIOns tO eXeCUte
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