It’s no secret that project management is incredibly important for all kinds of
companies and small teams. But when it comes to initial project brainstorming,
organizing all those thoughts and ideas can be quite chaotic. It’s a good thing
we live in a time where there’s software to solve that mind boggling problem.
Hey there project managers! It’s me Meredith, and today we’re covering
mind-mapping. More specifically, mind-mapping tools that help project management teams.
But first, what exactly is a mind map? The term was coined back in 1974 by British
author and TV presenter Tony Buzan. The reason behind this technique was to support the idea
that people think in images rather than linear steps or lists, so it’s an intuitive tool for
capturing ideas in their natural order. For Buzan, that meant having each branch
represent a different idea or thought connected by lines to other branches. Branches can also
have smaller branches on them that represent subtopics within those topics, which are called
sub-branches or sub-sub-branches and so on. Think spider maps with a few more rules.
Mind-mapping left such an impact on the corporate world that it’s still utilized today. But instead
of drawing it out on paper by hand, desktop and mobile app software were programmed to
create these mind-maps for us. Which leaves the question, what tools are available?
Here are 3 mind-mapping tools I found that can help any project management team.
Let’s start with MindMeister. It’s a cloud-based mind mapping
software that lets you create, share, and collaborate on mind maps online.
Its biggest strength is its robust feature set. This tool offers all of the basic features you’d
expect from a mind mapping app: drag-and-drop functionality, images, notes, lists, and more.
It also lets users collaborate on maps through its built-in commenting system as well as attach files
and documents to specific nodes in their map. The most popular feature is MindMeister’s
compatibility with other productivity apps such as Trello or Basecamp. This allows users to
link their MindMeister account with these apps and use them together in a seamless manner.
The free version allows you to create up to five mind maps and share them with
others in the public domain. You can also subscribe to their premium plan which gives
you unlimited access to all features, including the ability to password-protect your maps.
Next up, Mindomo. It’s a mind mapping tool that
can also be used for project management. It has all the features and capabilities you need to
organize your thoughts, ideas, and plans. With this tool, you can create mind maps
in an intuitive environment, with a variety of styles, shapes, and colors. You can also import
files from different sources or export files in different formats, such as JPEG or PDF.
Also like MindMeister, Mindomo also lets you collaborate with other team members
using real-time synchronous editing and commenting. This feature makes Mindomo
a good choice for online team projects. Features in subscription tiers include:
Mind maps with an unlimited number of branches Automatic layout algorithms for better overview
and usability Colored branches
and labels to improve readability Integrations with Google Drive (Docs),
Dropbox, OneDrive (SkyDrive), Box, Egnyte, Evernote, and others.
However, if you don’t want to commit to the subscription cost right away,
there’s a free version available with a limited number of diagrams to create.
Finally, we have Xmind. Like the others, it’s a mind mapping
tool that can be used to visualize information in a way that is easy to understand. Plus, it’s a
great tool for project managers who want to create and share complex diagrams with their teams.
XMind allows users to create maps and then add tasks, notes, and images. It
also supports handwriting recognition and allows users to add links between tasks.
This means it’s possible to add documents related to specific tasks, so they can be
accessed easily while working on the project. In addition, the app supports collaboration
features, such as simultaneous editing of maps and real-time sharing of changes with
other users through the cloud service or an API (application programming interface). There are
no limits on the number of people who can work on a map at once or the number of maps that can be
created in each account, which makes it ideal for large projects with many participants.
Along with that, XMind makes it easy for users to keep track of where they are up to in their
tasks without getting lost in unproductive activities such as searching through emails
or trying to remember where you put something important last week (or even yesterday).
The software is available as an online app,
desktop application, and mobile app. All are available to download for free,
but certain features can only be accessed with a 6-month or annual subscription. plan
It’s safe to say that all these tools achieve the same goal, which is to allow
users to utilize mind-mapping software and features. But the UX interface for each of
them is completely different, so I highly recommend giving each a try for yourself
to determine which is best for your team. Also, if any of you have experience with one or
more of these tools, then go ahead and leave a comment. The more advice, the better.
All these tools are readily available online for anyone to try out. Links to
free trials and versions are listed in the description below. And while you’re online,
go check out Project-DASH-Management.com for the latest software reviews, or visit the Technology
Advice youtube channel for more overview videos if you want to continue exploring
other project management tools. And if you found this video helpful,
be sure to click the like icon and hit the subscribe button if you want to see more of
these kinds of videos. Thanks for watching!