Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism and Argyll’s constituency MSP, has become well known for his skills in mind-mapping and his habit of superfast mapping on his laptop of the nature and direction of meetings as they progress.

He feels that the mind-mapping of discussions allows shape and direction to emerge in a way that enables strategic planning to follow in response. Taking minutes is a simple mechanical function that does not require the minute-taker to engage brain with the proceedings. Mr Mather’s use of mind-mapping (developed in its modern form by Tony Buzan from an earlier development in the fifties by Dr Alan Collins) requires him to engage constantly with the substance of what is being said. It also has the advantage of producing a map that can be shared with all present, who then, literally, see the same picture.

Mr Mather chaired a busy Third Sector Forum in the Community Education Centre in Lochgilphead on Friday (29th August) – using the technique there as he does in all of his meetings. The Argyll Third Sector Forum was the latest of a series of ‘Conversations’ with various sectors in Argyll and Bute in which the Minister has deployed this technique.

His purpose in holding such meetings is, as he says: “… to get all the sectors of the local economy working more closely and better able to keep jobs and money in Argyll & Bute”.

He sees the additional benefits of such collective meetings as; “allowing the Council, HIE and other elected representatives to be better informed about each of these important sectors as well as fostering the idea that we are all in this together and that helping each other makes us all stronger. In other words, we have learned that following the same tired old methods used by our predecessors will not bring about the improvements we need to see to bring about prosperity in Argyll and Bute”.