Synopses & Reviews
Minutes are vital to the success of meetings. Attendees rely on them for information they may have missed, and they serve as an essential communications tool for non participants. In addition, the action points highlighted in minutes act as a timely reminder for the whole organization. Taking minutes involves listening skills as well as the ability to absorb information and summarize it simultaneously.
Written by training consultant and secretarial education expert Joanna Gutmann, Taking Minutes of Meetings is a no nonsense, self teaching tool instructing the potential committee secretary in the theory and application of proper forms for taking minutes (records) of a meeting. Chapters cover tips for setting up a meeting, personal preparation recommendations, guidelines for taking notes and constructing minutes, how to record decisions and actions in such a manner that any reader will immediately understand what happened, and much more.
This updated edition includes brand new chapters with guidance on using technology to maximize effectiveness, taking minutes for different types of meetings, the difference between notes and minutes, advice on writing for those with dyslexia and how to politely interrupt during a meeting.
Review
- Straightforward guidance on agendas, administration, attendance and structuring and drafting notes for committee secretaries and people assigned to take minutes
- More accessible than most corporate secretary guides, techniques are applicable to taking minutes in any sort of meeting
Praise for the previous edition:
"[O]ne-of-a-kind quick-study tool that can swiftly transform any willing student into a skilled minute-taker." --Midwest Book Review
"The unsung hero of any corporate meeting is the minute-taker, quietly and diligently recording the decisions, big and small, that fuel the engines of business. Minute-taking is not simply the process of scribbling notes on a pad. A skilled minute-taker distills lengthy discussions down to their essential messages, and creates order and harmony from the often discordant process of reaching a consensus. Office communication consultant Joanna Gutmann carefully explains every aspect of the process, from setting up the meeting and distributing the agenda to taking notes and formatting the minutes. …an indispensable reference." --getAbstract
Synopsis
The minute-taker is one of the most important and powerful people in a meeting and they should use this opportunity to develop knowledge, broaden horizons and build credibility within the organization.
Taking Minutes of Meetings, 3rd edition is an easy to read 'dip-in, dip-out' guide which shows you how to confidently arrange meetings and produce minutes. It provides hands-on advice about the sections of a meeting as well as tips on how to create an agenda, personal preparation, best practice advice on taking notes and how to improve your accuracy. Brand new chapters include guidance on using technology to maximize effectiveness and practical help with taking minutes for a variety of different types of meetings.
Synopsis
PAs, executive secretaries, executive assistants, administrative staff, personal assistants, secretaries and small business managers who take minutes themselves
About the Author
Joanna Gutmann is a freelance training consultant specializing in office communication. She has a background in secretarial work and extensive experience in the design and development of courses for secretaries.