Minute Taking Training

Minute by Minute: Distilling and Documenting Meeting Conversations

Program Overview

To ensure that meetings are productive and worth the expense involved, three ingredients are necessary: an assurance of closure, a strong chair or leader, and accurate minutes. After all, if people can't remember or agree on what actually occurred at a meeting, how can the group effectively accomplish its objectives? This program will enable participants to understand their role as a minute taker and the best techniques for producing minutes that include all the essential information needed.

Program Objectives

At this program's conclusion, participants should be able to:

• Recognize the importance of taking minutes.
• Develop key minute-taking skills, including listening skills, critical thinking, and organization.
• Remedy many of the complaints that beset minute takers.
• Write minutes that are suitable for formal meetings, semi-formal meetings, and action minutes.
• Prepare and maintain a minute book.

The following outline highlights some of the course's key learning points. As part of your training program, we will modify content as needed to meet your business objectives. Upon request, we will provide you with a copy of the participant materials prior to the session(s).

Course Outline

What Kind of Job Is This?: The Role of a Minute Taker

To begin, participants will discuss the role of a minute taker. They will also explore common problems and solutions in small groups.

Am I Qualified?: The Skills of a Minute Taker

Next, participants will learn about the three key skills that a minute taker must have: an ability to listen, critical thinking skills, and good organization techniques.

Is There Something I Can Look At?: Meeting Agreements

This segment of the program explores meeting agreements and give participants three templates to take away and customize. Participants will also review samples of three types of minutes: formal, informal, and action.

What Do I Record?: What's Important and What's Not

Next, participants will learn what to record during a meeting and what tools are available for creating minutes, including organization methods, techniques for writing drafts, and proofreading tips.

How Do I Keep Track of All This?:The Minute Book

To wrap up the day, participants will learn how to build and maintain a minute book.

At the program's conclusion, participants will have an understanding of minute taking techniques: how to use a to-do list, how to prioritize, how to stop procrastinating, and how to work better with others.