Overview

Taking minutes, whether virtually or in the office, involves more than simply writing notes. Being able to keep up in busy meetings, turn notes into concise minutes and cascade the relevant action points to the right people are all critical skills that minute takers have to master.

Run this Advanced Minute Taking course for your teams In-House to maximise listening and writing capabilities and gain invaluable practice and feedback. Through writing sessions, delegates will gain the confidence to create great meeting notes and turn them into insightful and actionable points.

Through a series of tutor-led sessions and interactive exercises tailored to your organisation, delegates will leave the day confident in their abilities as minute takers and generate tangible results in their role. 

Learning Outcomes

  • Gain a full understanding of the role and responsibilities of the minute taker
  • Improve efficiency and accuracy when writing notes
  • Confidently cascade outcomes and action points to the relevant people
  • Overcome the common pitfalls surrounding minute taking
  • Practice your listening and writing skills to excel within the public sector
All the Understanding ModernGov courses are Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certified, with signed certificates available upon request for event.

Enquire About In-House Training

To speak to someone about a bespoke training programme, please contact us:
0800 542 9414
[email protected]

Agenda

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09:25 - 09:30

Registration

09:30 - 10:00

Trainer’s Introduction and Clarification of Learning Objectives

  • The Chair will discuss delegate experiences to identify personal objectives for the day and tailor the course to specific requirements
10:00 - 10:30

The Poor Meeting

In this session, virtual breakout rooms will be used to help you work with peers, to turn a poor meeting into a good meeting.

  • The purpose of minutes vs. notes and best practice
  • Before, during and after the meeting: what are the roles of the minute-taker?
  • Focus on what can go wrong in a meeting and what you can do to guard against common barriers to minute taking
10:30 - 11:30

Establishing a Partnership with the Chair

Effective minutes happen when the Chair and minute-taker work as a team. This session discusses strategies to encourage closer working for better results.

  • Defining Standard Terms: What do each of the headings on the minutes mean?
  • Discussing what sort of notes you should take: on the values of action minutes, summary notes or verbatim reporting
11:30 - 11:45

Morning Break

11:45 - 12:45

Don’t Just Listen – Hear

Practise writing minutes in pairs (while maintaining eye contact) to test your accuracy and skill. Your minutes will be shared with the trainer to gain invaluable feedback, advice and guidance.

  • Develop interpersonal skills
  • Improve your focus in busy meetings
  • Pick out the key pieces of information from a conversation
12:45 - 13:30

Lunch

13:30 - 13:45

Reflection Session

  • Trainer will review the day’s learning and the next stages of the course
  • Delegates will have time to ask questions and share views with one another
13:45 - 14:30

Writing Concise Minutes

  • How to deal with abbreviations and technical language
  • Practical exercise in taking notes from a filmed meeting
  • Turning notes into legible, concise, well-written minutes
  • Explore different note-taking methods to suit your style
14:30 - 15:00

Workshop: Turn Minutes into Actionable Points

  • Ensure maximum clarity in meetings
  • Making sure action points are easy to find
  • Making sure the relevant parties have been informed
  • Developing attractive layouts that readers want to read
15:00 - 15:15

Afternoon Break

15:15 - 16:00

Workshop: Mind Mapping

  • Alternative ways to capture lots of information
  • Organise your notes in a visual manner to convert them into meaningful minutes
16.00 - 16.15

Round Up and Key Takeaways

Testimonials

“I really enjoyed this course. I found many of the activities useful and the trainer was very good at delivering information whilst keeping my attention. I have certainly learnt some new skills that will make me a better minute taker going forward.”
Advanced Minute Taking Executive Assistant, University of Cambridge
“Fantastic course, trainer and facilitator. I am really pleased I attended the course and have learned new skills and techniques. The course was very informative, interactive and well organised. It was great to hear how the other delegates work and all help each other to improve our skills.”
Advanced Minute Taking Executive Assistant, Saint Francis Hospice