Nearly every workshop participant struggles with this question at some point. Here are some suggestions.

  • Before starting your map, determine the purpose of your map. Your purpose will be the main driver in the amount of detail you collect. (For example, is the map for you or will it be shared? Are you doing a brainstorm or is this information you need to learn/memorize? Will you be tested on the information?)
  • Only include enough detail to enable you to remember the information you need. Often we include too much detail because we don’t trust our memories.
  • A picture can represent a thousand words, so remember to include them as well.

If you have a question or a struggle with your Idea Maps, reply to this post or send me a note via my contact form.