Thread by @TfTHacker

1/ Taking Smart Meeting Notes

Do you have recommendations about how to best take meeting notes? Perhaps a method, practice or template?

Tools for thought are good places for such things, since you link them to dates, people, project, etc.

Here is a generic approach I use. #TfT

2/ I have a few generic templates for meetings and projects. They contain a grab bag of all things that I might need. So when I start a meeting, I can just create a new document based on the template.

My templates evolves with experience.

3/ When I create a document based on a template, I usually delete many of the elements, but it at least gives me a set of “reminders” of what are important I frequently need. It looks something like this (I use it in @obsdmd and @msonenote so formatted is adjusted):

@obsdmd @msonenote 4/ I try to prepare briefly before a meeting by creating a document based on the meeting template so it has some of the needed info (especially my agenda items - so I am prepared). But even if I cant prepare, my notes will have structure and reminders because of the template.

@obsdmd @msonenote 5/ Additionally, I include a task in my template to remind me to review my notes for completeness and to log next actions.

I typically do this follow-up review the next morning after the meeting, since it is nice to review and to connect yesterday with a new day.

@obsdmd @msonenote 6/ Why the next day?

I often don't have the juice to work on this after the meeting. Also there is a benefit of the mind processing over the night. A lot of “next actions” I see afterwards are not needed once my mind has cleared up or I see things I missed during the meeting.

@obsdmd @msonenote 7/ What techniques for good note taking during meetings have you discovered?