In a business, sharing ideas, working together to build complex processes, and managing sophisticated projects are all routine activities. These activities require structure. So when the concept of mind maps reached the business community, they adopted it immediately.
Business mind maps are used for constructing fundamental structures for business plans, project timelines, and process plans, undertaking industry analyses, and so much more.
If you are new to the idea of mind maps or thinking about how to create a business mind map, this article is for you. We will show you why using mind maps in business is beneficial, what some of its popular types are, give you examples of 6 commonly used business mind maps, and tell you about the entire process of building one using Boardmix, a modern free mind map maker.
So let’s dive straight into it.
Part 1. Why Use Business Mind Maps?
Mind map is a very handy tool for organizing ideas into practical tasks and processes. Whether you are working on your own or want your team’s input, creating a business mind map can help you get there fast and without missing out on any important matters.
Among other benefits, when you create a business mind map with your team, you can:
- Examine, expand upon, and refine various business ideas;
- Organize steps in a project, process, or task;
- Build outlines for complex procedures, business operations, and special projects;
- Divide and categorize tasks for different aspects of the business;
- Generate ideas for new products and services;
- Conduct sessions to update the team on new research and discuss findings that are significant to your business;
- Better understand the market and create effective customer personas;
- Much more.
With business mind maps, you can achieve all these in a way where all team members feel valued because they can openly share their ideas and inputs in the process.
Part 2. 6 Key Types of Mind Maps for Business
You can make mind maps for just about any process and activity that falls within the parameters of business management. For example, you may create a business mind map for brand awareness, understanding lead generation channels, building your marketing plan, brainstorming ideas, organizing business development tasks, and problem-solving, to name a few.
However, we have identified 6 core types of business mind maps that all business leaders and managers must know and use.
In the paragraphs that follow, we discuss each of these types of mind maps and provide you with an example illustration using Boardmix.
1. Brainstorming Business Mind Map
Brainstorming business mind maps are used commonly when organizations need to come up with a new plan or process. With a session dedicated to building a brainstorming business mind map using a platform or tool that everybody in the team can easily access (like Boardmix), you allow your team members to throw in their input while the session host records all ideas and organizes information using the mind map diagram.
2. Business Development Mind Map
Business development is a key function that organizations have to carefully plan, structure and monitor. It drives sales and is, thus, the cornerstone of business growth.
This is why having a sound business development plan is key to success. And a business mind map can help you create such a plan effectively.
The illustrated business development mind map you see above outlines the key aspects of a business development plan. It has laid out the various steps in the process in their natural order and demonstrates how far along the plan has been implemented.
3. Marketing Plan Business Mind Map
Marketing plans are a necessary component of business operations. Having a sound marketing plan helps businesses determine their marketing goals, understand customer personas, identify and assess competitors, and select their spectrum of promotional channels.
As you can see in the illustration above, a marketing plan can be made effectively using a business mind map. Your marketing plan mind map can be built into a robust strategic map for your marketing team.
You can use this marketing plan mind map as a base for your own. Customize it and use a free mind map maker like Boardmix to build your own.
4. Risk Management Business Mind Map
Risk management is a pertinent area within project management. Your risk management strategies delineate what kinds of risks you should expect while working on the project, what opportunities are likely to emerge out of the project, and what effects they may have on your business, among other things.
When you draw your risk management plan out like a mind map, as illustrated above, it can give you a clear picture of what risks are imminent, how you solve them, and how you can avoid them in the future.
5. Decision-Making Business Mind Map
Decision-making mind maps are commonly used in all sorts of business organizations because they let you make important decisions with all significant factors right in front of your eyes. Decision-makers who are not in the habit of making complex decisions on their own can particularly benefit from a decision-making business mind map just like the one you see illustrated above.
One big advantage of using a decision-making mind map is that you can show it to somebody you want to take advice from. This person will be able to easily see how you connect each factor of the decision with the visuals and help you solve your problem.
6. Resource Development Business Mind Map
You can also use a business mind map to create an effective development plan for your human resources. Employees, especially those starting in a new role, often require some level of training to be able to perform their duties proficiently.
As you can see in the illustrated mind map above, an employee training program can be built with all its important aspects using a mind map. With a visual representation of its various components, making sure all tasks are performed on time seems more convenient.
You can build your own resource training mind map using Boardmix right now.
Part 3. How Do I Create a Mind Map for My Business?
A mind map works like a blueprint. To make one, you need some information.
Even if you do not have any sound information at hand, you must at least have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Knowing your goal, or the key problem you want to solve, you can build a project to accomplish what you want.
With this goal guiding you through the process, you can create an effective business mind map in a brainstorming session either with your teammates or on your own. Build this mind map with your goal at the center and outline important elements around it.
For instance, look at the illustration below. It gives you a sound structure with which to begin working on the first project mind map for your business.
To elaborate, in order to build your business mind map, you need to follow these steps in the order used:
- Think of the ultimate goal you want to achieve;
- Break down this larger goal into smaller, distinct objectives;
- Conduct a cost-benefit analysis;
- Make a list of project stakeholders;
- Identify key deliverables for the project.
When you follow these steps, you will naturally build a comprehensive summary of everything you need to do. And all of this information will become a part of your first business mind map.
Conclusion
To conclude the article, there is much to be said about the utility of business mind maps. Decision makers, managers, and team leaders should learn to build effective mind maps for various business purposes. It will not only help them save time in communicating ideas with other stakeholders but also ensure they get the right people’s input during the process and reach their goal faster.
If you are thinking about what platform to use for creating your business mind maps, give Boardmix a try.
