In a one-on-1 meeting with a customer or a conference call involving several individuals, note-taking abilities are crucial to keep an eye on all the information that’s being discussed. If you struggle to take note-worthy notes, it may be difficult to keep track with the entire discussion or remember important information when you return to your desk. These tips can assist you in improving your note-taking skills so that you’re better able to conduct efficient, organized meetings in the future.
Select a method of note-taking that is most suitable for you. There are several methods that you can use for note-taking, including the Cornell method, which divides your notes into two columns, one on the left, and the other on the right. The smaller column is meant to highlight the key points of the discussion and the larger column is focused on the details. At the bottom of the page, you can write down some notes to tie it all together.
Keep it simple. You are likely to get caught in the nitty-gritty of making notes. However, you should concentrate on what is important to help people who will read them later. Make use of shorthand or symbols instead of reciting exactly as you wrote them down. This will help you identify your notes when you revisit them later and look them over.
Ideally, your team should communicate the agenda of the meeting ahead of time so that you can make an outline prior to the meeting. This will spare you the hassle of logging key aspects of the meeting and allow you to stay focused throughout the discussion.