Encyclopedia of Leadership

PARTIAL EXAMPLE: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

This partial example illustrates (without color!) what an original map would look like for a

group working on leadership development.

HOW TO USE THIS LEADERSHIP TOOL

“Mind mapping promotes free association of ideas and ‘pops’ new meanings for familiar concepts. It provides

paths around our normal self-censoring and supports joint intuitive right-brain work within a group.”

—Will McWhinney et al., CREATING PATHS OF CHANGE

Mind mapping is a versatile, helpful, and engaging tool to use in situations including these:

✔ finding new solutions to old problems;

✔ analyzing, organizing, and picturing new problems;

✔ reorganizing and revitalizing an old concern;

✔ when concerns are complex—many interrelated items;

✔ to help a group to think more systemically;

✔ focusing priorities on areas of most leverage;

✔ when a group needs a visual representation of much written information;

✔ when a group needs to be energized and unlock its creative side;

✔ to help plan action in the most effective area.

Some pointers to make mind mapping work in a group:

❑ Group size can vary from 1 (do it yourself) to 50.

❑ Time needed can vary from 15 minutes to quickly map a situation, to long-term: an

incremental map remains in a project team’s meeting space, with members encouraged

to add items and interlinks as they are discovered.

❑ If you use the incremental chart, at meetings, discuss what is emerging and rechart as

needed.

194 SECTION 6 TOOLS FORCRITICALTHINKING ANDINNOVATION

Management support Strategy

Mgmt Style Systems Thinking

Performance mgmt

Role of HR? rewards

compensation

L eadership Development

Career paths

Training

skills needed? Succession Planning

COMPETENCIES