An interesting session that unlocks the mind

Like they say in some corny ads, ‘Pehle main bohot pareshan thaa’.

In school, I was frustrated because my note taking hand couldn’t keep pace with the limitless possibilities around things and ideas that were being taught. I used to ask lot of questions and conduct experiments on my own and therefore earned the derisive nickname of a scientist.

Then something caught my attention in 1992 in a book on Mind Power Study Techniques by Raj Bapna where for the first time I came across 4 concepts - speed reading, NLP, Silva Mind Control and mind maps.

About 20 years later, I finally got to learn it and it took me some practice to unlearn and undo the neural pathways created by decades of linear note-taking to unlock tremendous potential that radiant thinking, key word thinking, associational thinking, imagination (which expands into images-in-action) and more that a mind map helps you learn and bring out.

Today, I apply mind maps to literally almost anything I do from note taking, to client need analysis, to designing an intervention, planning a complex trip, root cause analysis, ideation and more. I design my training participant workbooks as well in line with principles of mind mapping.

It is said in our learning and development sector that you learn best what you teach most.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to teach mind mapping to students, teachers, corporates, people in the paramilitary like the BSF and more.

Just now I finished a master class introductory online session on mind mapping to a group of 30 plus people from diverse professional backgrounds and locations. Their eagerness to learn and contribute to the learning was amazing.

I had a great time, sharing:

- The principles of mind mapping,

- Its untapped value

- Potential applications across limitless topics as well as

- Business impact.

I also shared a number of mind maps that I have:

- Made on various topics including problem solving; coaching a person and not the problem;

- On Project Management and Event planning

- A few that were made by my son when he was in the 7th standard in school on history, mixtures, sonar and a greeting card for his favourite teacher

- On leadership and management by trainee sub-inspectors of the BSF in September 2016 at their training academy in Tekanpur, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

We even brought Javed Akhtar Saab and his famous song ‘Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga..’ into teaching an interesting aspect of mind mapping and in unlocking a limiting belief.

The participants committed to making a mind map about themselves which will capture more than what a traditional resume can ever do as well as another mind map on love.

Thanks a lot Hemantji for asking me to do this session for the community of coaches.

I can end by saying that Tony Buzan - the late creator of mind maps - might say from the heavens - ‘Tony Buzan khush hua’.