Minute Taking Made Easier: Making the whole process easier, faster and less stressful

by Tony Atherton

New in 2024 at a low introductory price, Minute Taking Made Easier covers the entire process and is derived from a training course that has benefited over 1000 people. As one of them said, “I’ve been on three minute-taking courses in the past and this is by far the best one; so many practical tips.” Now, all of those practical tips are here for you. As another said, "It will make my life easier." Perish the thought but, as it makes your life easier too, you may even begin to enjoy taking minutes.The book purpose of the meeting and the purpose of the minutes.You and the chair – working with the chair, your roles and responsibilities.Building a crucial relationship – the meeting's ‘management team’.What to do before, during and after the meeting – for you and the chair.Minutes terminology and what it all means.The agenda as a To-Do list and as a control tool for the chair.The purpose, content, detail and formats for agendas.Workable ideas for dramatically improving your note taking.Where to sit.Being selective, identifying key points, the 80:20 rule.Improving your listening skills as a minute taker.Keeping up and dealing with points you have missed.What to do when you are lost.If and when to interrupt.Seeking clarification.Getting summaries.Not being the tea boy/girl or messenger.Formatting the minutes.Styles for minutes and what is best for your committee.How much detail is verbatim, discussion, action.Attributable or non-attributable minutes.A four-point plan for each minute.Following the agenda regardless of what happened at the meeting.Numbering minutes.Speeding up the writing-up process.Converting notes into minutes – with just one draft.Editing the draft minutes into the final versionMany of the most important points are repeated in different sections of the book, where appropriate to that section, so that you will still find them when dipping in and out of the book. There are eleven chapters plus six appendices covering styles, responsibilities, editing, punctuation, a summary and sample minutes.Getting started.How much detail is needed?Working with the Chair.The Agenda.Formatting the minutes.Listening and concentrating.Taking notes.Cornell note-taking method.I do not understand what they are talking about.Practice.From notes to minutes.Appendices.

107 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2024