As the old adage goes, “Good planning is half the battle.” This saying rings true for just about every program or endeavors you undertake, be it for personal or business purposes. To kickstart your next project, you can use these Plan Mind Map Templates that are available on Microsoft Word. Each one has a ready-made format that you can customize to outline your action plan and future activities. From research to marketing, our templates feature professionally-designed graphics with suggestive content that will serve as your reference. Sign up and download one now!
How to Create a Plan Mind Map in MS Word
In one of its articles, Harvard Business Review drove home the lesson that strategic planning is vital to the success of every company. Outside the corporate setting, planning is not only the first but also the deciding factor for many undertakings; from school essays and reports, to passion projects and investments. A mind map is one of the many tools you can use to visualize the steps you need to take to complete any task. To create a good plan mind map, you need to keep in mind the following things:
1. Identify the Scope of Your Project
Every good plan starts with a purpose. For your mind map, you need to determine what your objectives are and the methods you wish to pursue. Identifying the scope means you know how inclusive it is going to be, and what aspects you’re going to include. This will help you come up with specific steps that you will use when you implement your mind map.
2. Visualize the Final Look of Your Mind Map
After identifying the scope, try to picture your final output. A mind map helps you visualize your plans, which is helpful when you begin your projects. If you’re using a ready-made template, make sure the format is suitable for the type of map you are planning to make.
3. Keep In Mind the Relationships of All Elements
Apart from the graphics side of a mind map, your output will also feature different steps and instructions. Depending on your content, it can have specific examples that will branch out into more significant concepts. As you create your mind map, be sure to monitor how one aspect relates to the others in the entire document. Every line must have a purpose, and there should be a balance in the overall look of the map itself.
4. Simplify the Content
Unlike most documents for planning projects, a mind map will utilize both text and design. You will not have as much space for long sentences to incorporate the information the plan needs to have. This means that you need to use keywords and phrases to complete the content side of the output. Identify which ones need spelling out and which ones you can combine into one entry.
5. Utilize Functional Designing Techniques
Since it’s a very visual tool, your mind map has to look good. You can have fun with the colors and other design elements incorporated, but you need to make sure that these elements will not defeat the purpose of your mind map. Use functional labels: the lines and colors must help readers better understand the content.
