Taking Minutes

Minutes are records of meetings. Minutes are not a verbatim transcript of every word spoken. They are a concise documentation of the essential matter discussed.

Ensure that all of the essential elements are noted, date and time, main topics, the main results of the presentations and discussions.

Don't make the mistake of recording every single comment. Concentrate on getting the gist of the discussion and taking enough notes to summarize it later. Think in terms of issues discussed, major points raised and results produced.

If you are an active participant in the meeting, be prepared! Study the issues to be discussed and have your questions ready ahead of time. If you have to concentrate on grasping the issues while you are making your notes, they won't make any sense to you later.

Don't wait too long to type up the minutes, especially while your memory is fresh. Be sure to have the minutes approved by your professor before distributing them to the class.

Don't be intimidated by the prospect of taking minutes. Concise and coherent minutes are the mark of a professional. The very process of recording minutes can give you a deeper understanding of the issues involved in any given topic along with ability to focus on what i's important.

Adapted from: The Meeting Wizard; OSA