The Minute-Taker’s Workshop

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Specific learning objectives include:

• Recognize the importance of minute-taking.
• Develop key minute-taking skills, including listening skills, critical thinking, and organization.
• Be able to resolve many of the complaints that affect minute-takers.
• Be able to write minutes that are suitable for formal meetings, semiformal meetings, and action minutes.
• Be an efficient minute-taker in any type of meeting.
• Be able to prepare and maintain a minute book.

COURSE OVERVIEW & CONTENT:

No matter who you are or what you do, whether at work or in the community, you are likely involved in meetings. Meetings are costly, whether they are held in a company boardroom or at the local coffee shop. 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. It has been said that if accurate minutes have not been recorded, then the meeting may just as well not have taken place.

If people can’t remember or agree on what actually occurred at a meeting, how can the group effectively accomplish its objectives? After this one-day workshop you will understand your role as a minute-taker and the best techniques for producing minutes that include all the essential information needed.

The Role of a Minute Taker

• What is a Minute-Taker?
• Problems and Solutions

The Skills of a Minute Taker

• Three Key Skills That a Minute-Taker Must Have:
  • An Ability to Listen
    • Listening Skills
  • Critical Thinking Skills
  • Good Organization Techniques
    • Organization Skills

Meeting Agreements

• Three Templates To Take Away And Customize

Minutes Styles

• Choosing a Style
• Informal Minutes
• Action Minutes
• Formal Minutes

What Do I Record?

• Recording Motions and Resolutions
• What to Record

Techniques for Preparing Minutes

• Top Techniques
• Writing Minutes
• Preparing Minutes
• Techniques for Writing Drafts
• Editing Minutes
• Proofreading Tips
• Group Exercise

Taking Minutes in an Interactive Meeting

• How Their Role as a Minute-Taker Will Be Different in An Interactive Meeting

The Minute Book

• How to Build and Maintain a Minute Book