COURSE TITLE
THE MINUTE-TAKER'S WORKSHOP
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OVERVIEW  

No matter who you are or what you do, whether at work or in the community, you are involved in meetings. And 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 one-day workshop helps minute-takers understand their role and the best techniques for producing minutes that include all the essential information needed.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES  
  • Recognize the importance of minute-taking.
  • Be able to use minutes to their advantage.
  • 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.
  • Develop the essential skills of an effective minute-taker.
COURSE OUTLINE  
  1. Introduction and Course Overview
  2. The Role of a Minute Taker
    • Problems and Solutions
  3. The Skills of a Minute Taker
  4. Meeting Agreements 
  5. Minutes Styles
    • Choosing a Style
    • Informal Minutes
    • Action Minutes
    • Formal Minutes
    • Recording Motions and Resolutions
    • What to Record
  6. Techniques for Preparing Minutes
    • Top Techniques
    • Writing Minutes
    • Preparing Minutes
    • Editing Minutes
  7. Taking Minutes in an Interactive Meeting
  8. The Minute Book
  9. Developing Your Skills
    • Appearances
    • Listening Skills
  10. Action Plan

METHODOLOGY  
  • Large group discussions
  • Individual work
  • Small group discussion and exercises
  • Individual exercises and practice sessions
  • Lecturettes
  • Case Studies
  • Hands-on practice sessions
WHO SHOULD ATTEND  
  • Any employee who is responsible for taking meeting minutes
PRE-REQUISITES

 

  • Completed pre-assignment
DURATION  
  • 1 Day
CLASS SIZE  
  • .6 – 10