Task Tree vs Mind Map vs Kanban: Which Structure Fits Your Work?
- Liubov Hryhorieva
- Jan 12
- 5 min read
Most of us don’t have a tool problem. We have a structure problem.
You can switch from app to app all day, but if everything you do ends up as either:
a messy mind map,
a flat to-do list, or
a crowded kanban board
You’ll keep running into the same issues: overwhelm, unclear priorities, and plans that fall apart as soon as reality changes.
In previous articles, we looked at:
“Better mind maps… without mind maps?” – why mind maps are great but limited
“Why the task tree is better than mind maps” – why hierarchical task structures fit the brain
“From brain dump to real work” – how to turn messy ideas into a task tree in Nean Project
This time, let’s zoom out and compare three common structures directly: mind map vs kanban vs task tree, and see which one fits which kind of work, and where Nean Project sits in that picture.
Why Structure Matters More Than the Tool
Most people change tools because they feel “this isn’t working anymore”. But often, the problem isn’t the app, it’s that the structure doesn’t match the stage of the work.
Roughly, you can think of it like this:
Mind maps: “What’s going on here? What’s possible?”
Kanban boards: “What’s the status of these tasks?”
Task trees (hierarchical task management): “How does everything fit together from goal → project → task?”
If you try to use a kanban board to brainstorm, it feels rigid.
If you try to use a mind map to run a launch, it feels vague.
If you try to use a flat list for a complex product, it quickly collapses.
Getting the structure–stage match right is a lot more important than adding one more app to your stack.
Mind Maps – Best for Exploring Ideas
Mind maps shine in the early phase of work, when you’re still asking:
What do we know?
What are the options?
What’s connected to what?
They’re great when you want to:
brainstorm freely
explore a topic or domain
see all related ideas as a visual network
make sense of a messy problem
Mind maps give you:
zero friction for adding new branches
a sense of “this belongs next to that”
a flexible, non-linear view of your thoughts
But in the classic mind map vs task list or mind map vs kanban comparison, they break down the moment you ask a very simple question:
“What exactly should I do next?”
Mind maps usually don’t have:
clear next actions
status (not started / in progress / done)
owners and deadlines
good support for recurring or long-running work
That’s why so many people end up with beautiful mind maps they never execute on. The structure is perfect for discovery, but not for delivery.
Kanban Boards - Best for Managing Flow
Kanban boards became popular because they answer a different question:
“What’s the status of our work right now?”
The structure is simple:
columns like Backlog → To Do → In Progress → Done
cards that move left to right as work progresses
Kanban is great when:
tasks are already defined
you want to visualize flow and bottlenecks
you need to limit WIP (work in progress)
a team needs a shared view of who is doing what
But kanban has its own limits, especially for founders, product people, and creatives:
It doesn’t show hierarchy (goals → projects → tasks → subtasks).
It’s not great at holding context (notes, docs, decisions) in a structured way.
It assumes you know what to do. It doesn’t help you shape ideas into the right tasks.
So in a direct mind map vs kanban comparison:
mind maps win at thinking and exploring
kanban wins at tracking and finishing defined work
But both leave a gap in the middle: turning ideas into a structured, multi-level plan.
Task Trees – Best for Connecting Goals, Projects, and Tasks
This is where task trees and hierarchical task management come in.
A task tree is a hierarchical task structure:
at the top: a goal or big outcome
under it: projects or areas
under those: tasks
and when needed: subtasks
A simple task tree example for a marketing campaign might look like:
This kind of structure gives you:
Clarity - you see where each task fits and why it matters.
Priorities - you can see which branch matters most right now.
Focus - you can “zoom in” on one branch while still knowing where it sits in the big picture.
Context - you have a natural place to attach notes, docs, links to the right node.
Unlike a flat list, hierarchical task management matches how your brain already works: in groups, layers, and nested ideas.
So in the task tree vs mind map vs kanban comparison:
mind map → explore the space
task tree → structure the work
kanban → track the flow of tasks
The magic happens when they’re not separate worlds.
How Nean Project Uses Task Trees (Without Losing Mind Map Flexibility)
Nean Project is built around one core idea:
Start like a mind map, grow into a task tree, and be ready for execution like a project tool.
In Nean Project, you can:
start with a brain dump of ideas as loose nodes
group them into branches (themes, areas, goals)
organize ideas into projects directly on the same structure
turn nodes into tasks and subtasks as your thinking solidifies
keep notes, docs, and links attached to the right parts of the tree
You get mind-map-style freedom on top and hierarchical task management underneath:
it’s visual and non-linear when you’re exploring
it’s structured and actionable when you’re executing
you’re not forced to copy things from “thinking tool” → “doing tool”
Instead of juggling:
“mind map in one app”
“tasks in another”
“docs in a third”
The platform gives you a single task tree where:
ideas live as nodes
tasks live on the same tree
context stays attached to the work
You can still integrate with kanban-style views or other tools if needed, but your source of truth stays in one place.
Which Structure Should You Use When?
You don’t have to pick one structure forever. You just need to pick the right one for the stage you’re in.
Use a mind map when:
you’re exploring a new idea or domain
you don’t know the shape of the work yet
you want to see “everything related to X” on one canvas
Use kanban when:
you already have clear tasks
you need to manage flow and status
you’re collaborating with a team on execution
Use a task tree when:
you have complex, multi-level work
you want to connect goals → projects → tasks → subtasks
you want your brain dump to evolve into a plan
you’re tired of mind maps that never turn into real progress, and kanban boards that feel disconnected from your original thinking
Conclusion: Choose the Structure That Fits Your Work
You don’t have an idea problem. You have a structure problem.
The pattern is usually the same:
lots of ideas
lots of tools
not enough coherent structure between them
Mind maps are great for exploring. Kanban boards are great for tracking flow. Task trees – hierarchical task structures – are great for connecting goals → projects → tasks when the work gets complex.
If you’re at the stage where you’re managing complex projects and flat lists or disconnected mind maps are no longer enough, it’s worth experimenting with a task tree:
pick one big goal,
break it into branches,
turn those branches into concrete tasks.
And if you’d like a workspace that’s built around this idea of task trees and hierarchical task management, you can try doing it inside Nean Project and see whether this structure fits the way your brain already works.
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