Minute Taking Course

Course Overview

To allow delegates to practice the role of a meeting administrator and minute taker, the course is run in the context of a meeting in a ‘boardroom’ format:

Preparing For An Effective Meeting

• Types of meetings

• Duties of a meeting administrator – before, during and after a meeting

• Understanding the role of the minute taker

• Preparing the meeting room – identifying the participants

• Revolving flipchart exercise, review of checklist, facilitated whole group discussion

Meeting Agendas

• Producing agendas and convening notices

• Facilitator presentation, pairs exercise, facilitated group review

Contributing At The Meeting

• Taking notes

• Supporting the chair

• Obtaining clarification assertively

• Facilitated group discussion, pairs practice exercise, facilitated learning review

Writing Minutes

• Format

• Best practice for writing minutes

• Timescales

• Small group exercise, facilitated group review and discussion

Practice Meeting

• Contributing agenda item

• Leading agenda point discussion

• Effective minute taking

• Large group simulated meeting exercise, with facilitated group review

Minute Taking Practice

• Review of notes and preparing minutes

• Converting notes into final minutes

• Individual exercise, facilitated group review

Action Planning And Reflection

• Review of learning and action planning, course feedback

• Individual reflection, action planning exercise with co-coaching, facilitated group review 

The Training Will Be Supported With:

• An optional participant pre-course questionnaire and/or pre-course reading on minute taking

• A colour printed workbook with presentation tips, techniques and space for personal notes

Course Aim

To understand the role of the minute taker in the meeting administration process and to develop practical techniques and skills for effective minute taking.

Course Objectives

By the end of the training, the participants will have:

• Identified all the actions needed to prepare and set up a meeting effectively, to ensure maximum attendance

• Learnt how to write and issue meeting agendas and convening notices

• Worked with the chairman during the meeting, and obtained his/her help with their minute taking

• Discussed how to behave confidently and assertively as a key person at meetings

• Obtained clarification and identified the decisions of the meeting

• Taken accurate notes during a meeting and converted them into effective minutes