Mind maps are an effective brainstorming technique that mimics natural associations in the mind. They help collect ideas, questions, problems, and potential solutions without judgment, allowing for fearless sharing and capturing of every idea that comes to mind. Mind maps can be created using paper or digital tools like MindMeister, which offers features such as drag-and-drop functionality, file attachments, and real-time collaboration. The tool is useful for various projects, including defining project requirements, creating product roadmaps, developing marketing strategies, defining team goals and priorities, documenting workflows and processes, onboarding new software, planning events, creating editorial calendars, and capturing ideas for personal projects. Once the mind map is complete, it can be converted into actionable tasks using a tool like MeisterTask, which integrates with MindMeister to provide real-time collaboration and project management capabilities.