some effetive tips when taking minutes of meeting

Indonesia
March 25, 2012 5:41pm CST
I am sure some of us who works in the office will always involve in the meeting, either as participant,chairman or minutes taker. Sometimes the chairman write the minutes themselves as well..Even sometimes not objective since they will wrote what they want and not the real situation in the meeting..If the meeting is routine, meaning like weekly or bi-weekly meeting,we should have effective minutes format which most of the time using word processor. This format must be easy to understand and to update as well.. I have observed many notes with too simple or complicated format,meaning too simple without person in charge or no action date,something like that so the participants will not feel responsible after the meeting. And also on how to update the minutes, some people like to delete the complete action items right away but some still shows with only put "done or completed" remark. How about you? What kind of format or tips you like and more effective for you as minutes taker,participant or chairman?
3 responses
• United States
26 Mar 12
I do the monthly minutes for a Board of Directors. I always use a tape recorder to record the minutes as well as take notes. That way when I type up the mintues I can use my notes and if I have some questions I can listen to the tape. I find this to be the most effective method for me.
@pjha1975 (214)
• India
26 Mar 12
Yea, for sure this is a very good idea. Next time I go for our general weekly meeting I would try to do the same. Thanks for the idea.
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
27 Mar 12
Yes, me too , jgmarble. I use a small tape recorder to record the meeting. When the meeting is done, i would immediately listen to it and make my minutes out of it.
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
3 Apr 12
It is always effective for me to try to write down every word and when the meeting gets tough, then i would try to write down as much keywords as possible. it helps me remember the details about the meeting that transpired. :D
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
26 Mar 12
My second job actually was a corporate secretary in a government-owned corporation. We usually have monthly board meetings and one of my responsibilities is to see that the minutes are accurate and precise. We always have our meetings recorded. This is crucial since we could counter check the written minutes with the tape. Minutes are actually a summary of what transpired. We only put down the important things. But we also have the transcript of the meeting. What was taped is transcribed verbatim. This also serves as a reference. There are actually various formats of how minutes are taken, and they usually differ on the type of meeting done. I mean, if it's only a weekly meeting for example, recording isn't necessary. The one who takes down notes would just have to put the important things based on the agenda. All things discussed outside the agenda are noted as other matters which is also included in the minutes.