Note-taking is important in meetings, but it can sometimes be complex. It is an exercise that requires methodology.
So, in order for you to become a note taking expert, we explain the 5 key steps to follow !
Table of contents :
I/ Choosing the right medium to take notes
II/ Inquire about the meeting beforehand
III/ Write a bit, write useful
IV/ Structuring your note-taking
V/ Enriching your notes after the meeting
First, this article is intended for a broad audience because the term “meeting” encompasses:
- company meetings
- conferences
- training sessions
- staff representative bodies
- interviews and talks
In short, you will have understood that meetings come in many forms, and for each of these examples, note-taking is essential !
I/ Choosing the right medium to take notes 📝
- Word ⇒ simple and efficient
- Evernote ⇒ many features to enrich your note taking but a substantial price tag
- Microsoft Onenote ⇒ a free tool to type, draw and write as you wish
- Bear ⇒ for Apple fans
- Simplenote ⇒ which allows you to share your content with your collaborators
Vous avez donc l’embarras du choix, à vous de choisir le support qui match le mieux avec vos besoins et vos attentes !
PS : pour vous assurer de ne rien oublier, enregistrez vous pendant la réunion, afin de pouvoir revenir sur certains moments clefs par la suite.
II/ Inquire about the meeting beforehand 🔍
Why? Simply because it will allow you to be more reactive and to better understand the interactions. You will then be able to write down the key words and important elements right away.
III/ Write a bit, write useful 🎯
1. Sort out the key elements
- What is the purpose of the meeting?
- Who are the targets/addressees?
- What are their expectations?
2. Use automatic dictation with Noota !
- note down your exchange in real time (taking into account the different interlocutors)
- highlight important moments and phrases
- insert screens from any window on your computer to illustrate what is being said
- edit your entire text afterwards ⇒ once you have transcribed your recording, you can add tags, themes and a lot of information to enrich your note taking
IV/ Structuring your note taking ✍🏼
- the subject
- the people involved
- the objectives
- the key points
- the actions to be taken
- potential outstanding questions
V/ Enriching your notes after the
meeting ⏳
- fill in the “blank” areas
- correct abbreviations that are too vague
- add comments to important points (deadlines, objectives, expectations…)
- rewrite passages that are not very readable
- structure the form : add titles and subtitles for example
If you follow all these steps, you should be ready for your next meeting !