How to Take Notes for Work - Meeting Minutes Explained

[@FirmLearning]

Download Meeting Minutes template (free): link.firmlearning.com/meetingminutes Enroll into Communications & Slide Writing Academy: link.firmlearning.com/slides

[@matheusmascarenhas]

I loved the format from previous video and have been using it for at least 3 years. It helped me a lot to keep track of decisions and actions. Excel format is interesting to transpose to a consolidated action plan quickly, to filter columns, etc. The word format, however, is easier to use indentations, and create a hierarchy of thoughts, ideas, insights, decisions, and actions. Usually take notes with the hierarchy, and during/after the meeting I signal what’s a problem (for the company), pain (for a person), cause, need, possible solution (path to investigate), requirement (for part of the solution), (clear, immediate) to-do.

[@FirmLearning]

Hi Matheus, thanks for sharing your experiences! Indeed, the "word format" (as you call it) is also my go-to format for regular note taking in meetings. This format is intended for more formal meetings for the creation of meeting minutes. Thanks for watching and contributing your knowledge! Best, Heinrich

[@aleksandrreznikov405]

Very cool and useful! Thanks for the work you've done. As a preposition for future content, I'd like to see more applied stuff for consulting work, examples: 1) how relevant information is searched on the internet, e.g. for market assessment, additional facts, etc. 2) How potential market size, company shares in the industry, potential is assessed 3) How client/industry information is structured for further analysis 4) What data is used for the financial model (other than customer data) 5) Time allocation, what should be spent on and what should be neglected

[@FirmLearning]

Thanks Aleksandr for this list, much appreciated! Have added it to my ideas list for future content :) Best, Heinrich

[@CS-si8kl]

This is a great way to maintain meeting notes. I have seen people circulating minutes in word doc, but an excel file makes so much more sense.

[@YOUinConsulting]

Welcome back to KZbin, fellow creator 😀 I personally prefer to take my notes by hand (i.e., not typing them), but of course the general idea behind your approach ("classifying" different types of recorded items) can be applied to handwritten notes, too 👍

[@FirmLearning]

Always great to hear from you :) Thanks for your comment - definitely makes sense! Yes, can also apply to handwritten notes. Best! Heinrich

[@tikpssh]

Thanks for this video, the categorizing of the items although simple, was actually what i needed the most. Will also use it for my handwritten notes!

[@RemiRiviere]

For my minutes, I add a first column on the left with a reference number for each line (I.e. 1, 2, 3...) so people can easier refer to a given item using that number.

[@FirmLearning]

Hi Remi, yes agree, adding an ID to the items is a great addition as well. Best, Heinrich

[@RemiRiviere]

@@FirmLearning Hi Heinrich, thanks for your helpful videos!

[@amyazaire1114]

Awesome! Very helpful! Thank you!🙌😎

[@FirmLearning]

Happy to hear you enjoy it - thanks for watching!

[@amansaxenaa7]

Adding a completion status column using “lean symbols” is also helpful in tracking the action task. 😊

[@FirmLearning]

Thanks for your comment, appreciate it!

[@xxWOLFPACxx]

Great video like always. Thank you for sharing and continue the great work!

[@FirmLearning]

Thanks, super happy to hear you got value from the video. Best! Heinrich

[@Gorlenius]

Looks helpful - will download the template thanks!

[@FirmLearning]

Thanks!

[@7588347953]

Very helpful method🙌

[@FirmLearning]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[@Samueldovale]

Excelent!

[@Pablo-px3ct]

AI should transcribe and summarize in the future. It is one of the more stupid tasks in high paid corporate, consulting, banking jobs to take minutes. Teams and Zoom already transcribe.

[@panosdaras2824]

AI does actually do that. But since people are still getting paid to do these stupid jobs that produce nothing it is good for them to utilize this template and get the most out of it. It is FREE money from outdated boomer corps.

[@FirmLearning]

lol interesting perspective

[@Pablo-px3ct]

My GF works for a US PE owned SaaS; the Teams calls of the enterprise front line sales reps are logged, automatically transcribed and managers review notes post the call in case it is a key client - it is not that far off as you think; @@FirmLearning

[@andyyang4872]

You are correct that in AI in near future will do a better job in transcribe and summarise the meeting and from my understanding note taking is not just summarising but for the person who note take, especially the 1-2 year analyst, will be (1) more attentive and (2) learn quickly how to summarise key ideas from conversations. Which will lead the analyst to be (1) able to reflect on the meeting and (2) remember the meeting more deeply. This is only assuming that the analyst does note taking in a effective and efficient way as explained in the video 🙇‍♂️🙇‍♂️

[@BorisBrenner]

However, this is only possible if the company has its own AI strategy. Otherwise, it is very likely that companies will ban the use of AI for privacy reasons, especially in an area as sensitive as meetings.

[@tolemion1289]

I have all notes of one project in one Sheet with an additional row Date, number and in the row Type also the Type "done". Thats all required to track the Task extending over multiple Meetings.the Meeting Minutes of a specific meeting can also be exported as PDF and send to the participants and stakeholder. Whats more, the template needs to have Filter function

[@FirmLearning]

Thanks for sharing this, interesting method! Appreciating you watching. Best, Heinrich

[@AngloAm]

I'm guessing this is for more formal meetings which minutes are taken - you also had a meeting template for pen-and-ink meetings that might be more informal?

[@abbyw9782]

Excel, not word, is being used for taking the meeting minutes?

[@acgu]

How do we study and analyze in corporate please?

[@FirmLearning]

Can you share some more details on this content idea as well? Always looking for inspiration for new videos :) Best, Heinrich

[@priceandpride]

Need a column for the subject or it can get messy

[@jakuburban6289]

I guess one could shift the ‘type’ column to the right, and create columns for subject hierarchy/thought organisation on the left - one column for the big topic, maybe another for a sub-topic or hierarchy within the topic if needed, and fill those out post meeting or on the go, depending on the circumstances. I’ll try that and see how practical it is.

[@FirmLearning]

Yes! You could add such a column based on the agenda point that is being discussed (depending on length / complexity of the meeting)

[@acgu]

Also how to deal with toxic mentor?

[@FirmLearning]

Interesting topic, thanks for your comment! What would be the angle of this topic you would be most interested in? Best, Heinrich

[@chengliankheng4947]

@@FirmLearning Hi Heinrich, thanks for the content you put out, they are are great help in my career! To further expand on the question on how to deal with a toxic mentor, what would be the escalation tactic that you would employ? There 4 lessons one can gain in Corporate Politics- Driver Seat, Agenda Setting, Paper Trails & Escalation Tactics. In regards to a toxic mentor, these would still be applicable?

[@VincentChukwuemeka-p4c]

Hi