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Everything you need to improve your minute taking
Published about 2 months agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
Wednesday, 8th May 2024
What is inspiring us this week?
Hey Reader
In this issue, we'll explore minute-taking, from capturing key points efficiently to formatting your minutes for maximum clarity and impact. Whether you're scribbling notes in a boardroom or typing away furiously during a virtual meeting, we've got you covered with practical advice to streamline your process and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
But wait, there's more! If you're hungry for even more efficiency tips and tricks, mark your calendars for our upcoming Virtual Summit on the 23rd of May. Join us for a deep dive into all things productivity, where industry experts will share their insights on mastering minute-taking and beyond.
Nicky Christmas
Founder of Practically Perfect PA and The EA Campus
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Tips and Tricks
Creating Effective Minutes
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Before the meeting begins, familiarise yourself with the agenda and any relevant background materials. Understanding the objectives and topics of discussion will help you anticipate key points to capture in your minutes. Additionally, ensure your transcription technology is set up and ready to go to effortlessly capture the meeting dialogue.
During the meeting, focus on active listening to capture the nuances of the discussion accurately. Instead of frantically trying to jot down every word, listen attentively to grasp the essence of what's being said. Use your transcription tool to record the conversation verbatim, allowing you to focus on understanding the context and implications of the discussion.
Rather than transcribing every word spoken, aim to summarise and synthesize the main points and decisions made during the meeting. Focus on capturing actionable items, decisions, and any follow-up tasks assigned to specific individuals. Your transcription tool can assist by providing a reliable record of the conversation, allowing you to distil the essence of the discussion into concise and actionable minutes.
Keep your notes and minutes well-organised to facilitate easy reference and distribution. Utilise features provided by your transcription tool, such as timestamps and speaker identification, to enhance the clarity and structure of your minutes. Consider creating a standardised template for your minutes to ensure consistency and ease of comprehension for readers.
After the meeting concludes, take the time to review and revise your minutes for accuracy and completeness. Compare your notes with the transcript generated by your transcription tool to fill in any gaps and clarify ambiguous points. Additionally, seek feedback from meeting participants to ensure the minutes accurately reflect the discussion and decisions made. By leveraging technology to capture the transcript, you can devote more time and attention to fine-tuning the quality of your minutes.
Workplace stress is prevalent for many professionals, but it can be particularly challenging for Assistants. A recent study revealed that an astonishing 45% of Assistants suffer from workplace stress. This stress can manifest in various ways, including feeling tearful, bored, scared, or unsure. It can also lead to low self-confidence, isolation, and other negative emotions. Recognising these feelings and understanding their triggers is crucial for managing stress effectively. Read more>>>β
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Skills Needed to Work as an Assistant in the Technology Industry
The technology industry is a fast-paced and ever-evolving sector that requires unique skills for those who work as Assistants. Whether you are considering a career change or looking to upskill in your current role, here are some of the skills needed to work as an Assistant in the technology industry. Read more>>>β
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β Meet Geek is a real game-changer for assistants who want to increase their meeting productivity and collaboration. It's got brilliant AI features that make capturing, organising, and sharing key info from meetings a total breeze.
The platform whips up concise meeting summaries for you, complete with action items and highlights, so you can say goodbye to tedious note-taking and really get stuck into those meaningful conversations.
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Overall, it's a real productivity booster that helps Assistants collaborate better and stay in sync across teams without needing extra meetings. We love it!β
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Are you ready to be the smartest Assistant in the office?
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