No matter who you are or what you do, whether at work or in the community, you are involved in meetings. Meetings are costly, even if they are held in a company boardroom. To ensure 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 the minutes of a meeting are not accurate, 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? This quick course will enable participants to understand their role as a minute taker and the best techniques for producing minutes that include all the essential information needed. 
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 remedy many of the complaints that beset minute-takers.
• Be able to write minutes that are suitable for formal meetings, semi-formal meetings, and action minutes.
• Be an efficient minute-taker in any type of meeting.
• Be able to prepare and maintain a minute book.

The Role of a Minute Taker
To begin, participants will discuss the role of a minute taker. They will also explore common problems and solutions in small groups. 

The Skills of a Minute Taker
Next, participants will learn about the three key skills that a minute taker must have: an ability to listen, critical thinking skills, and good organization techniques. 

Meeting Agreements
This session will discuss meeting agreements and give participants three templates to take away and customize. 

Styles of Minutes
During this session, participants will look at samples of three types of minutes: formal, informal, and action.  

What Do I Record?
Next, participants will learn what to record during a meeting. 

Techniques for Preparing Minutes
This session will give participants the tools for creating minutes, including organization methods, techniques for writing drafts, and proofreading tips. 

Taking Minutes in an Interactive Meeting
During this session, participants will learn how their role as a minute-taker will be different in an interactive meeting. 

The Minute Book
To wrap up the day, participants will learn how to build and maintain a minute book.