Introduction

As we all know, meetings are an essential part of any team's workflow. They allow us to come together and discuss important topics, make decisions, and collaborate on projects. However, one of the most important aspects of any meeting is taking and keeping accurate notes. These notes serve as a record of what was discussed, what decisions were made, and what action items were assigned.

In this blog post, we will explore the various ways in which teams can take and organize their meeting notes to ensure that they are accurate, complete, and useful. We will also look at some tools and techniques that can help teams to make the most of their meeting notes.

The Importance of Meeting Notes

Meeting notes are an essential part of any team's workflow. They serve as a record of what was discussed, what decisions were made, and what action items were assigned. This information is crucial for ensuring that everyone is on the same page, that important details are not forgotten, and that projects stay on track.

Types of Meeting Notes

There are several different types of meeting notes that teams can take. These include:

• Action Item Notes: These notes focus on the specific tasks that were assigned during the meeting, along with the person responsible for each task and the deadline for completion.

• Decision Notes: These notes focus on the specific decisions that were made during the meeting, along with any relevant details or supporting information.

• Discussion Notes: These notes focus on the general discussion that took place during the meeting, including any key points or ideas that were brought up.

Tools for Taking Meeting Notes

There are many different tools that teams can use to take and organize their meeting notes. Some popular options include:

• Google Docs: This is a simple and easy-to-use word processing tool that allows teams to collaborate on documents in real-time.

• Evernote: This is a powerful note-taking and organizational tool that allows teams to take notes, create to-do lists, and set reminders.

• OneNote: This is another powerful note-taking and organizational tool that offers many of the same features as Evernote.

Techniques for Taking Meeting Notes

There are several different techniques that teams can use to take and organize their meeting notes. Some popular options include:

• The Cornell Method: This technique involves taking notes in three sections: a summary of the main points, a list of key words and phrases, and a space for questions or comments.

• The Outline Method: This technique involves taking notes in an outline format, with main points as headings and subpoints as bullet points.

• The Mind Map Method: This technique involves taking notes in a visual format, with main points as the center and subpoints branching off in different directions.

Keeping Meeting Notes Organized

Once the meeting is over, it is important to keep the meeting notes organized. This can be done by:

• Creating a designated folder for meeting notes: This allows team members to easily find and access the notes when needed.

• Using a consistent naming convention: This makes it easy to identify different meetings and notes.

• Regularly reviewing and updating meeting notes: This helps to keep the information accurate and up-to-date.

Sharing Meeting Notes

Meeting notes should be shared with all relevant team members as soon as possible after the meeting. This can be done by:

• Emailing the notes: This allows team members to access the notes from any device.

• Posting the notes on a shared platform: This allows team members to access the notes and collaborate on them in real-time.

• Printing out copies of the notes: This is useful for team members who prefer to have a physical copy of the notes.

Incorporating Meeting Notes into Workflow

Meeting notes should not just be taken and then forgotten. They should be incorporated into the team's workflow to ensure that the information is used effectively. This can be done by:

• Using action item notes to create a task list: This helps to ensure that all tasks are completed on time.

• Using decision notes to inform future discussions and decisions: This helps to ensure that the team is always moving forward.

• Using discussion notes to inform the direction of projects: This helps to ensure that the team is always working on the right things.

Collaborative Meeting Notes

Collaborative meeting notes are notes that are taken and edited by multiple team members during the meeting. This allows for real-time collaboration and ensures that all important information is captured.

• Utilizing platforms like Google Docs and Asana to take collaborative notes.

• Allowing team members to add their own notes and thoughts as the meeting progresses.

• Encouraging team members to ask questions and provide feedback on the notes.

Meeting Note-taking Best Practices

To make the most of meeting notes, teams should follow some best practices, such as:

• Be Prepared: Come to the meeting with a notebook, pen, and any other tools you might need to take notes.

• Be Active: Don't just passively listen during the meeting, actively engage and participate.

• Be Specific: Use specific language and details in your notes, rather than generalities.

• Be Timely: Share meeting notes as soon as possible after the meeting, while the information is still fresh in everyone's minds.

Meeting Note-taking Pitfalls

While meeting notes are incredibly useful, there are a few pitfalls to be aware of:

• Not taking notes at all: This is the most obvious pitfall, and one that can be easily avoided.

• Not taking enough notes: This can lead to important information being missed, which can have serious consequences.

• Not sharing notes with the team: This can lead to confusion and misunderstandings.

• Not incorporating notes into workflow: This can lead to the information being wasted.

Meeting Note-taking Templates

Meeting note-taking templates can be helpful for teams that want to ensure that they are capturing all the important information during meetings. Some popular templates include:

• Action Item Notes Template: This template includes sections for the task, the person responsible, and the deadline.

• Decision Notes Template: This template includes sections for the decision, the reasoning behind it, and any supporting information.

• Discussion Notes Template: This template includes sections for the main points discussed, key takeaways, and any follow-up actions.

Conclusion

Meeting notes are an essential part of any team's workflow. They serve as a record of what was discussed, what decisions were made, and what action items were assigned. By following the tips outlined in this blog post, teams can ensure that their meeting notes are accurate, complete, and useful. By using the right tools and techniques, teams can also make the most of their meeting notes, and use them to inform their workflow and improve their collaboration. Remember to be prepared, active, specific, timely, and to avoid the pitfalls.

How Hume Can Help

Hume is an interview intelligence platform that can greatly assist with meeting note-taking and management. With Hume, teams can:

• Record and transcribe meetings: This ensures that all important information is captured and can be easily referenced later.

• Summarize meetings: This makes it easy to quickly understand the main points discussed during the meeting.

• Access objective data: Hume provides a more accurate and unbiased record of the meeting, as opposed to relying on individual team members' notes.

• Train interviewers: By using the data provided by Hume, teams can train their interviewers to perform better during meetings.

• Improve team collaboration: By having a shared platform for meeting notes, team members can access and collaborate on the notes in real-time, improving collaboration and communication.

• Streamline the hiring process: By having accurate, detailed and accessible meeting notes, teams can make more informed hiring decisions and move faster through the hiring process.

Hume is an invaluable tool for any team looking to take their meeting note-taking and management to the next level. With its advanced recording, transcription, and summarization capabilities, it can help teams unlock the power of their meetings and make the most of their collaboration.