If you have ever trouble deciphering your written record of a meeting's events you could benefit from taking a Taking Minutes course. The decisions made during company get-togethers can have a large impact on firms and their organisations. During meetings workers get the opportunity to voice their feelings on specific matters and actions are decided.

Because of this, it is imperative that the minute taker accurately records the main elements of these kinds of gatherings in case colleagues and employers need to reference them at a later date. In addition, depending on the kind of company you run or work for, these records may help to keep those who cannot attend meetings in touch with your firm and its future actions. Items decided in get-togethers can vary in their importance, in that some have less impact on the business-side of your company, such as who is responsible for organising festive parties, while others are considered vital issues like the running of large campaigns that could help to boost profits.

Whichever kinds of decisions are made within workplace meetings, it is essential, if you are the minute taker, to be as accurate as possible. However, this does not mean that you have to struggle to write down every word that is spoken by all attendees. There are a few guidelines that you can follow, and training courses you can book, which can help you to write down and identify all the necessary information.

Good minute taking practice generally starts well-ahead of the conference that you are attending. It is recommended that you thoroughly familiarise yourself with the type of meeting you will be recording and its aims. This will help you to get prepared so you can be sure that you can recognise the comments and decisions made that ought to be written down. In order to do this you should request an agenda of the meeting, so you can see what is up for discussion. Make sure you are equipped with spare pens and paper, in addition to a list of people who will be attending.

To assist you in writing at speed you may like to think of your own abbreviations before the get-together kicks off, while inserting headings before the event begins can also help to save you time. The main points to include are the time, date and place of the current meeting, as well as the names of those who are unable to make it. Ahead of the conference it may also be useful to bring along previous minutes in case any delegates wish to check decisions made during past gatherings related to the present topic, having these to hand can help avoid interruptions so you can concentrate on making accurate records.

The key to writing down minutes is to record what the relevant decisions are and who is responsible for carrying them out. At times this can prove difficult as others become involved in discussions, which may veer away from the subject. Training courses can help you improve your listening skills so you can be more confident in writing down and identifying the most salient points. If at any point it appears unclear as to what has been decided it is wise to consult the chairperson of the meeting to make sure you are recording the correct information.

If you wish to take part in the meeting but fear you will lose track of what is being side, you may like to ask a colleague to briefly take over the responsibility of minute taking while you voice your opinions. Once the conference is complete you should aim to transcribe all your notes soon after, as they are fresh in your mind. In addition, you should make sure that once you have completed this task, your minutes are given out to all those concerned and a copy is saved for future reference.