A KAWA on Respect

What does KAWA actually mean?

KAWA, according to Vera F. Birkenbihl, is an acronym that stands for: Kreative Ausbeute von Wort-Assoziationen (Creative Exploitation of Word Associations). But KAWA is easier to remember. KAWAs can be made on any topic that interests you.

How about your own KAWA and why does this technique work?

First, write the topic in large letters in the middle. By the way, I always use the paper horizontally for this and draw the letters so that they can be colored in later. In our Mind Map Template Ring Block, KAWAs are drawn on the left-hand white page. Now, let your thoughts wander and consider what comes to mind regarding the term and what would be important enough to write down. The rule of the game: What you write down must begin with one of the letters in the middle. The smaller the term, the fewer letters you have available, and the more you have to think. The scarcity of letters ensures that you have to think more intensely about a topic. By the way, it's not compulsory to fill every letter. And: there is no right or wrong with KAWA. An example: Suppose you want to create a KAWA about your best friend Eva, then you only have three letters available. But you can use them multiple times. Perhaps E stands for elegant, successful, eloquent, for V you find her trustworthy, crazy, and in love, and for A you've associated silly and single. If your best friend had been named Hannelore, you would, of course, have had more letters available.

From KAWA to KAGA

If you also dress the whole thing in many pictures, your KAWA becomes a KAGA, and the G then stands for Graphic Design. I myself often write in KAWA form in meetings. That keeps me awake, no matter how unimportant or boring a meeting is. And I catch everything. Here's an example on the topic: Have fun, Jens Voigt