Spatial memory

When you draw, for example on a whiteboard, people have an amazing ability to remember where pictures and symbols are located on different parts of the board.

Even looking at a blank board Spike can still recall the visual map that was there moments ago

I have demonstrated this countless times by drawing a complete map on a whiteboard in front of audiences ranging from business people to students and children. Once I have completed the map, I spin the board around to show a totally blank whiteboard to the group. I ask them to imagine they can still see the complete coloured map.

I then ask them questions about the map and ask them to point to places on the board to indicate various elements I have drawn. Even though the board is blank, they are easily able to point correctly to different parts of the map as they answer my questions. They have no trouble when I ask them questions about the information. The audiences are always amazed at how easily they can answer the questions and point to the correct place. This is all despite the fact that they have made no apparent effort to learn the material.

This has a staggering effect on people’s perception of their ability to learn and also their confidence because, typically, they believe that learning requires a lot of effort. Furthermore, most people believe that they are not good at learning and are therefore surprised at the positive results.

Radiant thinking – the map’s structure mirrors how the brain works

Tony Buzan, in The Mind Map Book, describes the brain’s thinking pattern as:

‘a gigantic Branching Association Machine (BAM), a super bio-computer with lines of thought radiating from a virtually infinite number of data nodes. This structure reflects the neuronal networks that make up the physical architecture of your brain.’

Hence, in mirroring this structure, our maps will always start in the centre and branch outwards with radiating lines. The information is arranged in an ordered way where it is easy to see how one part relates to the other. Therefore, when maps are organised in this way, rather than randomly, they are much easier to remember.

The brain loves to get the big picture first

Most people find it easier to learn if they get the overall idea first and only then focus on the details. It is amazing how much information people can absorb when they receive it in an ordered way rather than in some random fashion. By drawing a map that has the big ideas on the main branches and the detail on the sub-branches it is easy for us to see the big picture and how everything else fits in.

Visual maps show information in memorable chunks

A visual map makes it easier for us remember information by grouping it into chunks, i.e. the main branches are the big chunks.

If we think about remembering telephone numbers, we can remember them more easily if we group numbers together.

Many opportunities for us to make ideas memorable

Drawing a map gives us lots of ways to draw, write and say things in ways that stand out.

When we create a map we can include many techniques that help people remember:

• humour in pictures and in what we say;
• striking colours, shapes and lines;
• the unusual, something different or quirky.

One of the great reasons why drawing maps ‘live’ works so well is that when people see the start of something they are always curious to see how it finishes. This happens when people watch films and television dramas, or read a gripping novel. Once they are hooked, they are really keen to see how the story ends. We can achieve the same effect when we are creating a map to explain a topic.

It can be quick

Using this method is a really fast way of getting a topic across to a group. In fact, in my experience, when drawing and speaking at the same time I find that people can listen very easily to a fast-paced talk.

Drawing the pictures and writing as you talk really keeps people engaged and it is often possible to convey a great deal of information about a topic even within the space of 10 or 15 minutes. From the listeners’ point of view they probably do not want to be listening for much longer anyway. If you needed a lot longer to explain something it would probably be helpful to do something to break it up. You could, for example, explain part of it with a different method, or change the pace by giving time to reflect or ask questions before moving onto another section.

The drawings do not even have to be especially neat and tidy, which is great news. Once you start sketching, people will remember even quickly drawn rough sketches just as well as those that are perfectly drawn. It is often better to keep the pace up than dwell on drawing everything perfectly.

Those watching can be relaxed yet alert

The beauty of presenting a topic in this way is how people feel while you are speaking. This style of presenting naturally induces a state of relaxed alertness which is highly conducive to the absorption of information with apparent lack of effort.

This is very different from other states that the audience may often be experiencing. As an example, sometimes when people are really bored their level of alertness drops and they approach what might be described as a sleepy or drowsy state.

It is clear, therefore, that there are numerous reasons why it makes sense to consider visual mapping as a way of presenting entire topics. Let us take a look now at what kinds of topics may be suitable for this method.

Topics with a few sections are ideal for presenting ‘live’

When drawing ‘live’ use visual mapping for topics that ideally have up to five sections, or a maximum of about seven. Any more than that means it is likely that the map will take you too long to draw and this can have an adverse impact on your audience’s attention.

Pre-prepared maps could have more sections

Pre-prepared maps are quicker to explain and therefore may contain more branches without adversely affecting audience engagement.

The pre-prepared versions do work really well when teams are creating maps, for example to show their ideas. Working in small groups, teams can create their maps to reflect their discussions as they go along. They can then present their completed maps to colleagues.

Visual map design

There are a few rules to follow to ensure you do create your map properly – otherwise it might not be so memorable. The first thing we need to look at is the design of the map itself. The following steps will show you how to create the basic structure and then there are tips on how to enhance its effectiveness.

Here are the steps to building your map:

1 Have your paper in landscape orientation – it is easier than portrait orientation to set out your ideas and for people to take them in.

2 Start in the centre – draw a picture or symbol to represent the topic and write a topic name.

3 Draw branches for the main ideas – for each chunk of the topic draw a line outwards.

4 Label each of these main branches ideally with one word – or a brief heading.

5 Draw sub-branches off each branch – and label these along the lines with capitals.

6 Now add pictures or symbols to go with your words, and place pictures near the corresponding words.

7 Check the whole map – this is a chance to check that all the information is arranged in a way that makes sense hierarchically. For example, check if you have come up with any subheading branches that should really be elevated to the status of main ideas or vice versa.

8 Redraw your map to make it even better and, most importantly, memorable – inevitably, in the initial drafting a map’s elements will not necessarily appear exactly as you might want them in a finished version. Therefore, this is a chance to refine the design and check that everything is in order.

Tips to enhance its effectiveness

• Arrange branches evenly around the page. This will give it a sense of order compared with drawing them in a more random way. It will be more appealing to the eye.
• Use colours. You may use colour coding for repeated ideas and this will make it much easier for people to focus on key ideas.
• Print clearly. Capital letters typically work best.
• Use one word for labels. Wherever possible reduce labels to just one word. If you cannot keep a label to one word, at least make it as short as possible.
• Make sure every word or phrase is accompanied by a picture or symbol. In this way you are creating a link between the word and picture. By binding them together they will be so much easier to remember.
• Write words near to the corresponding pictures. When a word is right next to a picture we connect the two much more easily than if it is somewhat separate. Therefore, make sure you write a label very close to the picture it describes. Likewise, when labelling a branch, make the word go along the branch.
• Write bigger for the main ideas. People are used to the idea of more important things being bigger (e.g. chapter headings in books are bigger than sub-headings).
• Keep the pictures simple. This will help to make it easy to draw them ‘live’ in front of a group.
• Write words in a way that reinforces the idea where appropriate. For example, if ‘tall’ is written in tall letters or ‘debt’ is written in red, it will be easier to recall. I would not recommend doing this all the time but using this technique where appropriate does make words stand out.
• Ensure that you have plenty of white space. If the drawing is too crowded it makes it more difficult to see the information clearly. Plenty of white space makes it more appealing to the viewer and visually calmer.

How to check memory and reinforce learning

First, complete the map without interruption. Then remove the map from their sight. If you have drawn the map on flipchart paper, you could remove it to reveal a blank sheet of paper behind it.

Then I will ask people to work in pairs using A4 paper and coloured pens to recreate what they have just seen. If you want to make it slightly easier you could always draw the main branches on the blank paper. In this way they can see the framework but still have to recall all the words and pictures. They always remember most, if not all, of the map and often are surprised at just how much they can recall. Their success creates a positive atmosphere, and also reinforces their learning, which is a good confidence booster.

It works

You will actually find that people will be able to grasp your entire topic and its details very easily. It is therefore a very effective way to get a lot of information across to a group.

It’s different from what may be expected

Creating a map will engage people in a different way than they are typically used to in a business presentation. People are used to seeing electronic presentations, so this will definitely be something out of the ordinary for most people. This difference typically will be perceived as something creative and unusual and the fact that the information will be memorable will demonstrate the value of this approach.

It’s informal and doesn’t need special equipment

Other than some coloured flipchart pens and paper no other equipment is needed. If a whiteboard is not available, paper simply can be fixed to the wall.

It’s impressive and enjoyable

People are always very impressed and find it an enjoyable way to learn.

So enjoy creating some topic maps for your own content and trying out the technique. Remember, it still works if the drawings are not perfect, so just have a go!