“Note taking” can take you back to earlier days in school, frantically scribbling the instructor’s lecture until your hands cramped. While writing down information by hand can help you remember better, taking notes is more than trying to capture every detail that is said.
Taking notes is a skill useful for any position or situation. Keeping a record helps with time management, information retention, progress tracking, data sharing and much more.
When’s the last time you brushed up on your skills? Here’s a chance to revisit and improve.
Purpose
Why you are taking notes can vary. For instance, note taking for class and note taking for a work meeting are different. When you take notes, first consider their purpose. Are you writing down to help with comprehension or longevity? Who are you taking notes for? Will the content be reviewed later, and for what purpose(s)?
Approach
Everyone takes notes differently. Some people prefer to type in a word document, write down by hand on paper, or annotate via stylus on a touch screen. What’s important is to start in a way that’s comfortable to you, but share them in a way that’s accessible to everyone.
If you’re unsure of the best approach, try multiple ways and experiment! For example, I prefer to type an outline in a Word document using bullet points. When I take notes by hand I’m very picky about the kind of pen I use and don’t write fast enough to capture fast moving conversation.
Getting Started Tips
- Prepare your space so that there are no distractions (phone away, clear desk and area, no extra tabs open if using a computer)
- Have your notebook, word document, or other method prepared.
- If you’re taking notes for someone else, ask them if there is anything specific that needs captured beforehand.
- Think of the in-meeting notes as a draft.
- Underline or mark if you’re unsure of spellings, acronyms, or meanings.
- Circle or question mark next to content that is potentially important but needs revisited.
- Leave space or mark if you think you’ve missed something important.
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
- Clean up and review your notes after the meeting or class.
- Have someone you feel comfortable review or clarify your notes before posting them to a larger audience.
Content
We’ve all been in meetings where conversation circles, there are asides, the speaker is unfocused, or group discussion jumps around. It can be hard to focus or know what to write down. The best tip is to keep the purpose of the notes in mind- you don’t have to capture everything.
For example, if you’re in a history class and the instructor talks about their last vacation you don’t have to write that down. The same goes for meetings that cover purposes beyond the meeting agenda. Unless it’s a brainstorming or innovation meeting, discussion of person matters doesn’t need to be captured in a meeting about project work. Don’t always err on the side of inclusion.
Practice Example
The Office (US) is a well known and well loved television show. They have examples of some of the most outlandish, entertaining meetings. We’ll use Toby’s Health And Safety Meeting as an example. Warning that this video does contain a swear word.
Follow the getting started tips above, start the video, and try to capture what’s said. I’ll meet you below with my notes example.
What did you notice while you were watching this video? Was it hard or easy to follow? What content did you think was relevant?
When I took notes for this I found it hard to follow with the constant interruptions. However, I kept the purpose in mind: Toby presenting tips for office health and safety. While Michael’s big personality took up a lot of the meeting time there was minimal relevant content in his delivery.
Here’s what my notes look like. How do they compare to yours?
Toby’s Health and Safety Meeting
Dunder Mifflin, Scranton
Attendees: The Office Employees, The Warehouse Employees
Date: 4/12/07
Notes by Sonia Reed
Health Recommendation
- Carpel tonal syndrome – 10 min every hour
- Circulation – 10 min every hour
- Eye Strain – 10 min every hour
- Keep something around for warmth
Office Life Risks
- Exploding computers (?)
- Seasonal Effectiveness Disorder
- Sedentary life style
Difference between office health concerns and warehouse health concerns
More Resources
Want more practice? Below is a list of more videos you can use to practice note taking.
Online Portfolio of Sonia Reed 