Good meeting minutes add tons of value to a meeting while bad meeting minutes are a liability. An undocumented meeting is just a waste.
This presentation will teach you the basics of good minute taking and contains links to a short video on the three principles of meeting minutes and the four questions your minutes must answer.
3. WHAT ARE MINUTES AND WHY DO WE TAKE THEM?
WHY ARE THEY CALLED MINUTES?
▸ Not because we are supposed to record what happened
at every minute of the meeting.
▸ Not because we are documenting the meeting in “minute”
detail.
▸ The word comes from the Latin word for small. Minutes are
a small (minimal really) account of what happened.
4. WHAT ARE MINUTES AND WHY DO WE TAKE THEM?
WHAT ARE MINUTES?
▸ They track accountability for actions.
▸ They provide a group memory.
▸ They are a legal record of what took place. Minutes can be
subpoenaed if legal action arises.
5. WHAT ARE MINUTES AND WHY DO WE TAKE THEM?
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MINUTES
▸ They are tied to the meeting agenda. (Your meeting does
have an agenda, right?)
▸ Minutes should reflect the agenda and the agenda
should include the approval of the previous meeting’s
minutes.
6. WHAT ARE MINUTES AND WHY DO WE TAKE THEM?
OWNERSHIP OF THE MINUTES
▸ Minutes belong to the group (not the chair or the minute-
taker) and the group is responsible for their contents.
▸ They should be reviewed, changed, and formally
approved by the group.
▸ Minutes are not complete until they are approved.
7. WHAT ARE MINUTES AND WHY DO WE TAKE THEM?
THREE GUIDING PRINCIPLES
▸ Minutes are not a transcript.
▸ Minutes are not a substitute for being there.
▸ Minutes are the official and legal record of the meeting.
Click here for a short video and printed guide about
these principles.
8. WHAT ARE MINUTES AND WHY DO WE TAKE THEM?
FOUR QUESTIONS MINUTES MUST ANSWER
▸ What actions were taken?
▸ Why (at a high level) were these actions taken?
▸ Who took this action?
▸ What follow-up is required.
Click here for a short video and printed guide about
answering these questions.
9. WHAT ARE MINUTES AND WHY DO WE TAKE THEM?
PARTS OF MINUTES
▸ Motions
▸ Who asked that something should be done?
▸ What reasons were considered?
▸ What questions were asked?
▸ Votes
▸ Action Items
10. TAKING THE MINUTES
SETTING EXPECTATIONS
▸ Talk with chair and group.
▸ Decide on content and level of detail.
▸ Determine if there are to be standing items.
▸ Agree on a timeline and turnaround for draft and
finished minutes.
▸ Agree on an approval process.
12. TAKING THE MINUTES
TAKING THE MINUTES
▸ Decide if you will use a computer or pen and paper.
▸ If computer, take a power cord.
▸ If pen and paper, consider using a copy of the agenda
with lots of extra space in the margins and between items.
▸ Decide if you are going to record the audio.
▸ If you do, make a way to index or time stamp the
recording so you can quickly find the audio if you have
questions.
13. TAKING THE MINUTES
TAKING THE MINUTES
▸ Sit where you can see and hear.
▸ Sit near the chair if possible.
▸ Ask questions if necessary.
▸ If recording audio, announce that the meeting is being
recorded.
▸ Capture things that will help answer the four questions.
▸ Be specific with action items—who, what, by when.
14. TAKING THE MINUTES
TURNING NOTES INTO MINUTES
▸ Include less detail.
▸ Use a template.
▸ Answer the four questions.
▸ Don’t use many adjectives or adverbs and don’t give your
opinions.
▸ Use active voice (remember this is about accountability).
▸ Do not try to be funny.
15. TAKING THE MINUTES
AFTER THE MEETING
▸ Distribute draft meetings to group members and ask for
corrections.
▸ Put minutes approval on next meeting agenda.
▸ Have group approve minutes.
▸ File the minutes.
