In today’s fast-paced, digital-first work environment, minute writing remains a crucial skill for capturing key decisions, action points, and discussions in meetings. However, traditional methods of minute writing are evolving with digital tools that allow for greater accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration. In an era where organizations are increasingly adopting digital tools and holding both in-person and virtual meetings, the need for precise and efficient minute writing has never been more crucial.

Meeting minutes serve as an official record, capturing the discussions, decisions, and action points that drive organizational operations. They are an essential tool for accountability, follow-up, and compliance with both internal policies and external regulations.

The course on Effective Minute Writing in the Digital Age responds to the evolving nature of business communication, where meetings are no longer confined to boardrooms but extend to virtual platforms, and where digital tools offer opportunities to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of meeting records. Participants will be introduced to best practices for writing clear, concise, and actionable minutes while leveraging digital platforms like Microsoft Teams, Google Docs, SharePoint, and other cloud-based tools.

Target Participants

This training is ideal for executive assistants, secretaries, administrative professionals, office managers, and team leaders who are tasked with minute-taking for various types of meetings. The course is also ideal for legal, HR, and governance professionals who manage formal records and need to ensure compliance and confidentiality in meeting documentation.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course the participants will be able to:

• Understand the importance of accurate minute writing and its role in organizational decision-making
• Write clear, concise, and structured minutes that capture key points, decisions, and actions effectively
• Use modern digital tools and platforms (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams) for real-time minute-taking, collaboration, and archiving
• Apply best practices for virtual meetings to ensure minutes are comprehensive and actionable in an online environment
• Tailor minute writing for different meeting types (e.g., board meetings, project meetings, strategic planning meetings) and audiences
• Understand the legal and organizational implications of meeting minutes, focusing on compliance, confidentiality, and record management

Course Outline 

Introduction to Minute Writing

• Overview of minute writing and its importance
• Key roles and responsibilities in minute writing
• Types of minutes: Formal, informal, and action minutes
• Common minute writing challenges and how to overcome them

Structuring Effective Minutes

• Components of well-structured minutes: Agenda, attendees, key points, and actions
• Techniques for summarizing discussions without losing key details
• Writing with clarity and brevity
• Ensuring neutrality and objectivity in minutes

Digital Tools for Modern Minute Writing

• Introduction to digital minute-taking tools: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams
• Collaborative minute-taking in real time using cloud-based platforms
• Formatting and sharing minutes in the digital age
• Managing meeting records and archiving on digital platforms

Best Practices for Virtual Meeting Minutes

• Adapting minute-taking for virtual meetings
• Ensuring accurate capture of discussions in video or audio meetings
• Managing distractions and technical difficulties during virtual meetings
• Using transcription and recording tools for minute-taking

Managing Follow-Up and Accountability Through Minutes

• How to Ensure Action Items from Minutes are Followed Up
• Tracking Progress on Decisions and Action Points Using Digital Tools
• Setting Up Alerts and Reminders for Action Items in Minutes
• Linking Minutes with Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, MS Planner)
• Integrating Minutes with Workflow Automation and Task Management Systems

Tailoring Minutes for Different Audiences and Compliance

• Customizing minutes for different types of meetings: Board meetings, project meetings, team check-ins
• Legal and organizational requirements for minutes: Confidentiality, compliance, and audit trails
• Best practices for distributing, storing, and referencing minutes post-meeting

Introduction to Minute Writing

• Overview of minute writing and its importance
• Key roles and responsibilities in minute writing
• Types of minutes: Formal, informal, and action minutes
• Common minute writing challenges and how to overcome them

Structuring Effective Minutes

• Components of well-structured minutes: Agenda, attendees, key points, and actions
• Techniques for summarizing discussions without losing key details
• Writing with clarity and brevity
• Ensuring neutrality and objectivity in minutes

Digital Tools for Modern Minute Writing

• Introduction to digital minute-taking tools: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams
• Collaborative minute-taking in real time using cloud-based platforms
• Formatting and sharing minutes in the digital age
• Managing meeting records and archiving on digital platforms

Best Practices for Virtual Meeting Minutes

• Adapting minute-taking for virtual meetings
• Ensuring accurate capture of discussions in video or audio meetings
• Managing distractions and technical difficulties during virtual meetings
• Using transcription and recording tools for minute-taking

Managing Follow-Up and Accountability Through Minutes

• How to Ensure Action Items from Minutes are Followed Up
• Tracking Progress on Decisions and Action Points Using Digital Tools
• Setting Up Alerts and Reminders for Action Items in Minutes
• Linking Minutes with Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, MS Planner)
• Integrating Minutes with Workflow Automation and Task Management Systems

Tailoring Minutes for Different Audiences and Compliance

• Customizing minutes for different types of meetings: Board meetings, project meetings, team check-ins
• Legal and organizational requirements for minutes: Confidentiality, compliance, and audit trails
• Best practices for distributing, storing, and referencing minutes post-meeting

Introduction to Minute Writing

• Overview of minute writing and its importance
• Key roles and responsibilities in minute writing
• Types of minutes: Formal, informal, and action minutes
• Common minute writing challenges and how to overcome them

Structuring Effective Minutes

• Components of well-structured minutes: Agenda, attendees, key points, and actions
• Techniques for summarizing discussions without losing key details
• Writing with clarity and brevity
• Ensuring neutrality and objectivity in minutes

Digital Tools for Modern Minute Writing

• Introduction to digital minute-taking tools: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams
• Collaborative minute-taking in real time using cloud-based platforms
• Formatting and sharing minutes in the digital age
• Managing meeting records and archiving on digital platforms

Best Practices for Virtual Meeting Minutes

• Adapting minute-taking for virtual meetings
• Ensuring accurate capture of discussions in video or audio meetings
• Managing distractions and technical difficulties during virtual meetings
• Using transcription and recording tools for minute-taking

Managing Follow-Up and Accountability Through Minutes

• How to Ensure Action Items from Minutes are Followed Up
• Tracking Progress on Decisions and Action Points Using Digital Tools
• Setting Up Alerts and Reminders for Action Items in Minutes
• Linking Minutes with Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, MS Planner)
• Integrating Minutes with Workflow Automation and Task Management Systems

Tailoring Minutes for Different Audiences and Compliance

• Customizing minutes for different types of meetings: Board meetings, project meetings, team check-ins
• Legal and organizational requirements for minutes: Confidentiality, compliance, and audit trails
• Best practices for distributing, storing, and referencing minutes post-meeting

Introduction to Minute Writing

• Overview of minute writing and its importance
• Key roles and responsibilities in minute writing
• Types of minutes: Formal, informal, and action minutes
• Common minute writing challenges and how to overcome them

Structuring Effective Minutes

• Components of well-structured minutes: Agenda, attendees, key points, and actions
• Techniques for summarizing discussions without losing key details
• Writing with clarity and brevity
• Ensuring neutrality and objectivity in minutes

Digital Tools for Modern Minute Writing

• Introduction to digital minute-taking tools: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams
• Collaborative minute-taking in real time using cloud-based platforms
• Formatting and sharing minutes in the digital age
• Managing meeting records and archiving on digital platforms

Best Practices for Virtual Meeting Minutes

• Adapting minute-taking for virtual meetings
• Ensuring accurate capture of discussions in video or audio meetings
• Managing distractions and technical difficulties during virtual meetings
• Using transcription and recording tools for minute-taking

Managing Follow-Up and Accountability Through Minutes

• How to Ensure Action Items from Minutes are Followed Up
• Tracking Progress on Decisions and Action Points Using Digital Tools
• Setting Up Alerts and Reminders for Action Items in Minutes
• Linking Minutes with Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, MS Planner)
• Integrating Minutes with Workflow Automation and Task Management Systems

Tailoring Minutes for Different Audiences and Compliance

• Customizing minutes for different types of meetings: Board meetings, project meetings, team check-ins
• Legal and organizational requirements for minutes: Confidentiality, compliance, and audit trails
• Best practices for distributing, storing, and referencing minutes post-meeting

Training Approach

This course is delivered by our seasoned trainers who have vast experience as expert professionals in their respective fields of practice. The course is taught through a mix of practical activities, presentations, group works and case studies. Training notes and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.

Certification

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued a certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs

Course Booking

Please use the “book now” or “inquire” buttons on this page to either book your space or make further enquiries.