As technology grows more powerful and outsourcing becomes the norm, creativity will become more valuable to employers. As you search for your next opportunity, look into further developing your mind-mapping skills. Mind-mapping is a drawing and writing technique many people use to define problems, organize ideas, and come up with new approaches.
Why spend time developing mind-mapping skills? Here are seven good reasons why people with mind-mapping skills tend to be more hireable than their peers:
1. They Generate Lots of Ideas
Using a mind map is a great way to generate a lot of ideas in a short amount of time. Ideas are the currency of the business world. If you bring ten ideas to a meeting, you will almost certainly stand out compared to everyone else.
Tip: Creativity does not happen by accident. You can can develop your creative skills by reviewing 30 tips to become more creative.
2. They Can Push The Boundaries Of Normal Solutions
As you develop your career, it is important to know when and how to push boundaries. When you use a mind map at work, you free yourself from the constraint of spreadsheets and other traditional business tools. This makes you more valuable as a worker. Of course, you also need the ability to implement your good ideas.
3. They Know How To Run A Creative Meeting
As you develop your skill with mind maps, you will be able to lead others in mind map sessions. The ability to run such a session shows that you have the ability to draw creative ideas from other people and collaborate. Managing conflict to come up with creative solutions is valuable because most people are simply overwhelmed by conflict.
Resource: Running a creative meeting will feel overwhelming unless you master basic meeting habits.
4. They Know How To Use Specialized Apps
As a knowledge worker or creative professional, your ability to use complex, sophisticated applications matters. Most companies will assume that you are proficient at using Microsoft Office. Which skill sets will help you stand out, then? One approach is to specialize in mind mapping software such as MindJet or Xmind.
5. They Understand How To Define A Problem Well
Writing a mind map is an excellent way to define a problem. This is an under-appreciated skill in the office. At first glance, the problem may appear simple such as “the customer is upset.” A mind map will help the company to understand all aspects of the problem and come up with a better solution.
Tip: To take your problem solving skills to the next level, learn the art of complex problem solving.
6. They Build Project Momentum Quickly
More and more work activities are becoming projects, whether it involves producing a product, launching an event, or improving a process. Good momentum is vital to the launch of any project. Using a mind map to define the problem, develop alternative solutions, and set project milestones is a great way to start work on a project.
Tip: To become even better at managing projects, read 10 books to become a better project manager.
7. They Use Mind Mapping To Learn New Skills
Mind mapping has been used by highly successful students in various fields for years. Why? Mind maps are a great way to improve memory and boost learning. In a job interview, demonstrating your ability to learn quickly matters because you will have a lot to learn as a new hire. In that case, you can mention how creating a mind map has helped you to learn new skills faster with less effort.
Tip: Read 10 Things Quick Learners Do Differently To Pick Up Anything to further develop your learning skills.
Featured photo credit: dizain via shutterstock.com
