Leadership
Mind Maps need not be restricted to the speaker’s notes. They make excellent visual aids to engage your audience. A Mind Map can be projected to show an overview of what will be covered and how different elements are connected. This can be taken further by using iMindMap software, which includes a presentation mode. A Mind Map can be animated, zooming in on each element as it is explained. This captures attention and engages your audience in a far more powerful way than dreaded Powerpoint bullet points.
If I am giving an extended presentation or training course I create mini presentations in Apple Keynote of less than 10 slides each. These can then be linked to branches of the Mind Map and launched at the relevant part of the presentation. The Mind Map shows context and the presentations show detail. This has two distinct advantages. Firstly, if I want to create a new presentation for a different audience I can simply rearrange the branches of the Mind Map and all the other elements look after themselves. This massively reduces preparation time.
Secondly, if I so wish, I can choose to present in a non-linear fashion. If a question arises that relates to a topic due to be covered later, I can simply click on a later branch and launch into that section. There is not scrolling through a long set of thumbnails searching for the right place and no disruption to my flow. The Mind Map clearly shows how that part fits into the overall scheme. You have the power to be truly responsive to questions. This is what presentations should be all about – delivering relevant, valuable experiences tailored to your audience.
I hope I have given you some insight into the remarkable power of Mind Maps and I urge you to give them a try. With practise they can revolutionise how you speak and even how you think.
Phil Chambers is is a ThinkBuzan Master Trainer, trained by Tony Buzan (Originator of Mind Mapping), a Registered Accelerated Learning trainer, Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and a member of the Professional Speaking Association.
He is the reigning and twice World Mind Mapping Champion, a six times Mind Sports Olympiad Medallist and an International Grand Master of Mind Mapping. He is author/co-author of eight books on thinking skills, memory and learning in business and education including Brilliant Speed Reading (Pearson 2013).