In this three part course, Carmen will take you through how learn the art of minute taking.

Course Overview: Learning to Take Minutes

Introduction to Minute Taking

• Purpose and Importance of Minutes: Understand why minutes are a crucial part of meetings and their role in organizational communication.
• Types of Meetings: Overview of different meeting formats (board meetings, committees, workshops) and their specific minute-taking requirements.

Preparing for a Meeting

• Understanding the Agenda: Learn how to interpret meeting agendas and their significance in guiding minute-taking.
• Tools and Equipment: Overview of necessary tools (digital vs. traditional) for effective minute-taking.

The Minute-Taking Process

• Listening Skills: Techniques for active and effective listening to capture key points.
• Note-Taking Strategies: Different methods for note-taking, including shorthand, symbols, and structured outlines.
• Language and Tone: How to use clear and neutral language appropriate for official records.

Writing Minutes

• Formatting Minutes: Standard formats for minutes and how to structure them logically.
• Recording Motions and Decisions: Guidelines for accurately capturing decisions, actions, and resolutions.
• Editing and Proofreading: Tips for refining minutes for clarity, coherence, and conciseness.

After the Meeting

• Approval Process: Understanding the process for review and approval of minutes.
• Distribution and Filing: Best practices for distributing minutes to attendees and storing them for future reference.

Enhancing Your Skills

• Legal and Ethical Considerations: An overview of the legal implications of minutes and maintaining confidentiality.
• Technology in Minute Taking: Introduction to software and apps that can streamline the minute-taking process.
• Continuous Improvement: Strategies for soliciting feedback on your minutes and improving your skills over time.

Special Cases

• Review Special cases, including in camera sessions, Specialist presentations, multi language meetings and more

Additional Resources

• Recommended reading list on effective communication and organizational skills.
• Access to templates and examples of well-written minutes.
• Forum or community access for ongoing support and knowledge sharing.