This episode of the Checklist Legal Podcast covers:
• How to create a mind map and my favourite application for creating mind maps
• How to create Swimlane process maps for more complicated contracts with lots of moving parts

Head to the website https://www.checklistlegal.com/podcast and click on episode 10 for:
• an example mind map for a basic contract process, from application form to approval, contract execution and welcome pack.
• a basic swim lane diagram template you can use.

Key Takeaways
• Find out who owns the contract process steps that are slowing everyone down
• Check in process step owners and ask how can you make life easier or speed things up for them.
• Reduce the number of people in the process.
• Gather clear and accurate information as early as possible
• Try to link in with an existing customer database to reduce data entry (which people find boring and often put off).
• Make it a firm requirement to get all information from clients or customer before the contract process kicks off (i.e. in an application form or other collection method).
• Add hard stops that don’t allow people to proceed without entering required information.
• Use drop down menus or check boxes instead of free text fields to eliminate errors and speed up data entry.

Start simple, avoid those process pigs! Start out your contract mapping career with some easy… low hanging fruit process. Stick with documents that have linear work flows (i.e. I send to Justin, Justin fills in information signs and sends to Brittany, Brittany signs and we are done!). 

**Actionable Challenge**
Pick a basic contract you work on regularly - it doesn’t have to be a hard one or one you dislike - go to Coggle (or use any mind map tool or pens and paper) and map that contract out step by step.

**LINKS**
Get the Swim Lane Diagram template and other free resources via https://www.checklistlegal.com/resources 

Checklist Legal – Article about Legal Process Mapping
https://www.checklistlegal.com/2017/11/legal-process-mapping-guide/ 

Swim Lane Diagram template download: https://www.checklistlegal.com/example-legal-process-mapping-swim-lane-diagram-2/

**Decision Trees and mapping**
Zingtree: Zingtree is an incredibly powerful way to give guided advice or troubleshoot issues (https://zingtree.com/?aid=17173)
Coggle: Coggle is an amazing mind mapping tool (https://coggle.it/recommend/560e2a38066647fa5777db5e)
Stationary: Or just use Post its or Pen and paper (from your drawer!)
 Post its
 Whiteboard and markers

For the 5 Why technique straight from Toyota, see toyota-global.com/company/toyota_traditions/quality/mar_apr_2006.html, accessed 27 May 2017.

TD Barton, H Haapio and T Borisova, ‘Flexibility and Stability in Contracts’© (2014) Retrieved via ulapland.fi/loader.aspx?id=5a80d6cd-83dd-4126-bb16-a069b85533d2, accessed 10 June 2017.

Think Buzan, ‘Mind Mapping Evidence Report’ Retrieved via b701d59276e9340c5b4d-ba88e5c92710a8d62fc2e3a3b5f53bbb.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/docs/Mind%20Mapping%20Evidence%20Report.pdf, accessed 10 June 2017. 

Mind Mapping, ‘What is a Mind Map?’(2017) Retrieved via mindmapping.com/mind-map.php, accessed 10 June 2017. 

Head to https://www.checklistlegal.com/podcast for show notes, resources links, and templates.
Music: 'Sway this way' by @SilentPartner

This episode of the Checklist Legal Podcast covers: &bull; How to create a mind map and my favourite application for creating mind maps &bull; How to create Swimlane process maps for more complicated contracts with lots of moving parts Head to the website https://www.checklistlegal.com/podcast and click on episode 10 for: &bull; an example mind map for a basic contract process, from application form to approval, contract execution and welcome pack. &bull; a basic swim lane diagram template you can use. Key Takeaways &bull; Find out who owns the contract process steps that are slowing everyone down &bull; Check in process step owners and ask how can you make life easier or speed things up for them. &bull; Reduce the number of people in the process. &bull; Gather clear and accurate information as early as possible &bull; Try to link in with an existing customer database to reduce data entry (which people find boring and often put off). &bull; Make it a firm requirement to get all information from clients or customer before the contract process kicks off (i.e. in an application form or other collection method). &bull; Add hard stops that don&rsquo;t allow people to proceed without entering required information. &bull; Use drop down menus or check boxes instead of free text fields to eliminate errors and speed up data entry. Start simple, avoid those process pigs! Start out your contract mapping career with some easy&hellip; low hanging fruit process. Stick with documents that have linear work flows (i.e. I send to Justin, Justin fills in information signs and sends to Brittany, Brittany signs and we are done!). **Actionable Challenge** Pick a basic contract you work on regularly - it doesn&rsquo;t have to be a hard one or one you dislike - go to Coggle (or use any mind map tool or pens and paper) and map that contract out step by step. **LINKS** Get the Swim Lane Diagram template and other free resources via https://www.checklistlegal.com/resources Checklist Legal &ndash; Article about Legal Process Mapping https://www.checklistlegal.com/2017/11/legal-process-mapping-guide/ Swim Lane Diagram template download: https://www.checklistlegal.com/example-legal-process-mapping-swim-lane-diagram-2/ **Decision Trees and mapping** Zingtree: Zingtree is an incredibly powerful way to give guided advice or troubleshoot issues (https://zingtree.com/?aid=17173) Coggle: Coggle is an amazing mind mapping tool (https://coggle.it/recommend/560e2a38066647fa5777db5e) Stationary: Or just use Post its or Pen and paper (from your drawer!)  Post its  Whiteboard and markers For the 5 Why technique straight from Toyota, see toyota-global.com/company/toyota_traditions/quality/mar_apr_2006.html, accessed 27 May 2017. TD Barton, H Haapio and T Borisova, &lsquo;Flexibility and Stability in Contracts&rsquo;&copy; (2014) Retrieved via ulapland.fi/loader.aspx?id=5a80d6cd-83dd-4126-bb16-a069b85533d2, accessed 10 June 2017. Think Buzan, &lsquo;Mind Mapping Evidence Report&rsquo; Retrieved via b701d59276e9340c5b4d-ba88e5c92710a8d62fc2e3a3b5f53bbb.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/docs/Mind%20Mapping%20Evidence%20Report.pdf, accessed 10 June 2017. Mind Mapping, &lsquo;What is a Mind Map?&rsquo;(2017) Retrieved via mindmapping.com/mind-map.php, accessed 10 June 2017. Head to https://www.checklistlegal.com/podcast for show notes, resources links, and templates. Music: 'Sway this way' by @SilentPartner

Legal Lightbulbs: Bright Ideas to Power Small Legal Teams is the podcast for in-house legal professionals who want to make a big impact with a small team. 

Your host Verity White is an award-winning lawyer, Accredited Specialist in Commercial Law, a legal transformation expert, and Legal Director at Checklist Legal. 

Verity is the lucky lawyer who gets to talk to some of the sharpest minds in the inhouse legal world and shine a light on the clever ways small legal teams inside beloved brands and global companies are transforming how they work. 

Legal Lightbulbs is your go-to source for practical strategies, inspiring stories, and actionable insights to help legal legends like you lighten your legal load, lead with confidence, and spark meaningful change. 

We'll have trailblazing guests who’ve scaled legal influence without scaling headcount and solo episodes direct from Verity’s brain with bite-sized, practical tips you can use today. 

Whether you’re a sole legal counsel juggling a million tasks or leading a lean team looking to level up, Legal Lightbulbs is here for you to spark ideas and (if it's not too lame to say) have a bit of fun along the way. 

🎙️ New episodes each fortnight

📥 Links, tools, & resources in every episode

Legal Lightbulbs: Bright Ideas to Power Small Legal Teams is the podcast for in-house legal professionals who want to make a big impact with a small team.&nbsp;
Your host Verity White is an award-winning lawyer, Accredited Specialist in Commercial Law, a legal transformation expert, and Legal Director at Checklist Legal.&nbsp;
Verity is the lucky lawyer who gets to talk to some of the sharpest minds in the inhouse legal world and shine a light on the clever ways small legal teams inside beloved brands and global companies are transforming how they work.&nbsp;
Legal Lightbulbs is your go-to source for practical strategies, inspiring stories, and actionable insights to help legal legends like you lighten your legal load, lead with confidence, and spark meaningful change.&nbsp;
We'll have trailblazing guests who&rsquo;ve scaled legal influence without scaling headcount and solo episodes direct from Verity&rsquo;s brain with bite-sized, practical tips you can use today.&nbsp;
Whether you&rsquo;re a sole legal counsel juggling a million tasks or leading a lean team looking to level up, Legal Lightbulbs is here for you to spark ideas and (if it's not too lame to say) have a bit of fun along the way.&nbsp;
🎙️ New episodes each fortnight
📥 Links, tools, &amp; resources in every episode

**Create contracts clients love**The Checklist …

Legal Lightbulbs

Mindset: IT’S COMPLICATED (But it doesn’t have to…