Mind mapping or brainstorming is a simple but effective approach to exploring an issue in more detail, gathering information and ideas. Giving staff the opportunity to share their experiences, thoughts and ideas is a great starting point to understand the problem or current state, and engaging the wider team in improvement work.  

Top tips for mind mapping

• Use the power of collective knowledge - invite everyone to input ideas 
• Go for quantity – generate as many ideas as possible!
• This should be a group exercise with no hierarchy -  make sure all participants have the opportunity to contribute
• Withhold judgement - no criticism or evaluation at this stage
• There are no bad ideas - wild and creative is fine!
• Encourage people to develop other people's ideas to create new ones

The following online platforms are helpful tools

• Miro - An online based whiteboard tool with various templates to help you collate and organise ideas and project plan. 
• Lucid Charts - A simple online based tool for quickly creating process maps.
• Flinga - A simple online tool good for collaboration