Figure 13.1 Chapter 13 Summary
This chapter will cover
Real-time idea mapping is creating your map while the information is coming at you in the moment. It combines everything you know about listening, making decisions on the amount of detail to include, boiling thoughts into key words, using images to represent large portions of data or to enhance recall, and deciding on your purpose for the map.
The watermark on the cover of this book was a real-time map that I created in 1998 in front of a large audience during a 3-hour presentation. Talk about pressure! I captured the main points of the speaker’s message even when there were parts I didn’t completely understand. You also saw an example from Choon Boo Lim in Chapter 10.
This is the most challenging idea-mapping activity. Tackle this after you have some experience with other mapping applications. In a “real-time” note-taking situation (such as a lecture), there can be many challenges present at the same time, including:
First a note of encouragement—this is an advanced application, and it will take a variety of attempts to feel comfortable, so be persistent! Given all of these challenges, let me make a few key suggestions.
Make sure you are comfortable with idea mapping before using it in critical or difficult scenarios. In the 2-day course I teach, participants face a challenging activity like this on the afternoon of the second day. Even with their thorough training, I suggest they begin with small and safe “real-time” applications.
Start with a situation in which the sharing of information happens at a relatively reasonable speed—a meeting for example. The pace is slower because discussions can get repetitive, there is usually an agenda, and sometimes (dare I say) they can be boring. This provides an opportunity to focus on trying the mapping technique and preventing boredom at the same time. Your notes will end up being more complete, succinct, and organized than anyone else’s in the room. Mapping the meeting will keep you engaged and provide an opportunity to hone your skills at the same time! Tell the group what you are doing so you don’t become a distraction by “doodling” through the meeting. Everyone will want to see the map at the end of the meeting.
Define your purpose for taking notes. This will guide what information is included in the map and the amount of detail.
If possible, pre-draw the main branches. You might find these on an agenda, they could comprise your previous knowledge about the topic, or they might summarize what you would like to gain from the map. Even if there is an agenda, this is no guarantee the speaker will follow it. Your job is to keep your ears and mind keenly attuned to the main and key ideas that are important to YOU. These will become the main branches and detail branches of your map. When examining the map afterward, don’t worry if in hindsight you decide you want to change its organization. If the first map has served its purpose, stop there. However, if there is a reason, you can make updates later in a second draft.
As you tackle more challenging “real-time” applications, the issues and difficulties you will face will include: greater volumes of information coming at you with an increased rate of speed, greater complexity of the information, and disorganized information. With higher speeds, I recommend sticking to a single color or using a four-color pen (click quietly). Don’t waste time switching marker colors. If you run out of space on your paper, start a second sheet with the same central image and off you go! With greater complexity—just do your best to catch the highlights. Fill in the necessary details later.
If you find you are dealing with a disorganized speaker who switches back and forth between topics, add new information to the branch that seems most appropriate. If the facilitator repeats thoughts multiple times, resist adding the repetitive information to the map unless there is a purpose. Use arrows or symbols to show connections and repetition if it is helpful. Stay alert.
As you get comfortable, try longer and more complicated events. Tackle a presentation in which there is no agenda provided. I’ll bet your idea map will end up being more organized than the speaker’s presentation!
Try to avoid frustration. Don’t give up!! Taking notes in this format almost guarantees capturing more data than linear notes. Yes, it might look like a total mess, but you will be able to understand it because it is your creation. The next time it will be so much easier.
Meetings, sermons, presentations, conference speeches, and videos provide opportunities to practice this advanced skill. Give it a try. See Figure 13.1 for a summary of this chapter.
Figure 13.1 Chapter 13 Summary
We have finally arrived at the end of this book. Have you begun to get a glimpse of your hidden brain power? Have idea maps already helped you to learn, plan, think, or create faster in any way? Have you enjoyed the process so far? Do you see how idea maps can be a tool to achieve greater success in business and life? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you are well into this adventure.
My final charge to you is this—Practice! Although this is still a new skill, you should feel a great sense of accomplishment in seeing such progress. It truly is a process. Each person is going to grow their idea-mapping skills at different speeds. Some will use this tool for complex issues while others will use it for more simple purposes. Remember, the measure of success isn’t the beauty of the map. Most of the examples in this book look much more spectacular than the majority of my own creations. The measure of success is in finding, learning, and using a tool that will lead you to new ways of thinking. I measure my personal success by the degree to which this tool helps you. I hope that the use of idea mapping will make your work and life more productive, creative, memorable, fun, clear, abundant, organized, imaginative, colorful, and filled with possibilities!
Allow yourself to embrace and enjoy this new way of thinking, learning, and creating. Give yourself this gift. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I hope it enriches your work and life as much as it has mine. Now get out there and start idea mapping with a vengeance!