Blueprint for a Successful Presentation by Biswajit Tripathy - HTML preview

Mind Mapping

At the end of this chapter you will know about

Using Mind Mapping Drawing a Mind Map Benefits of Mind Map Creating a Mind Map Whenever I plan to make a presentation, I simply get stressed by thinking about it.

How do I begin? What format I should use? How can I make my presentation as impressive as possible? Sometimes this creates a serious mind block and I keep postponing the presentation. It was not that I didn’t know what to do? It was because too many things were in the mind about how to present the presentation.

Later I realized maybe I don’t have all the information required for choosing a format for the presentation. I used to get excited that the presentation always posed both as a creative & intellectual challenge for me.
When presented with challenging tasks like this, we often fail to organize our thought process – even if it is an allimportant presentation that could be the turning point in our career.
Mind Mapping is a process that helps us beat these mind blocks. So what is a mind map actually?

Mind Maps are very important techniques for improving the way we take notes. By using Mind Maps we show the structure of the subject and linkages between points, as well as the raw facts contained in normal notes. Mind Maps hold information in a format that our mind will find easy to remember and quick to review.

Mind Maps abandon the list format of conventional note taking. They do this in favor of a two-dimensional structure. A good Mind Map shows the 'shape' of the subject, the relative importance of individual points and the way in which one fact relates to other.

Mind Maps are more compact than conventional notes, often taking up one side of paper. This helps you to make associations easily. If you find out more information after you have drawn the main Mind Map, then you can easily integrate it with little disruption.

Mind Maps are also useful for:
Summarizing information
Consolidating information from different research sources Thinking through complex problems, and
Presenting information that shows the overall structure of your subject

Mind Maps are also very quick to review, as it is easy to refresh information in your mind just by glancing at one.
The following example shows how mind mapping can be used to think creatively.

Give a child to write an essay on any particular topic. He will have trouble finding enough words to write the essay. Now follow this method. Instead of asking him to write an essay, ask him to write certain words associated with the topic. As his imagination runs through, he will fill up the sheet with a lot of words. Once he is through with that, ask him to use the words as reference to write an essay. He will be able to write the essay.

How to Draw a Mind Map

Use just key words, or wherever possible images. Only related points & few words (as few as possible) Keep your thoughts logical.
Start from the center of the page and work out.
Make the center a clear and strong visual image that depicts the general theme of the map.
Create sub-centers for sub-themes.
Put key words on lines. This reinforces structure of notes.
Print rather than write in script. It makes them more readable and memorable. Lower case is more visually distinctive (and better remembered) than upper case.
Use color to depict themes, associations and to make things stand out.
Anything that stands out on the page will stand out in your mind.
Think three-dimensionally.
When two topics seems related, connect them using an arrow.
Don't get stuck in one area. If you dry up in one area go to another branch.
Put ideas down as they occur, wherever they fit. Don't judge or hold back.
Break boundaries. If you run out of space, don't start a new sheet; paste more paper onto the map. (Break the 8x11 mentality.)
If you forgot something, come back, add them & continue.
Be creative. Creativity aids memory.
Take a break. Come back, see what you’ve done. Spend sometime modifying the map that you have prepared. Benefits of Mind Mapping