What are meeting notes?
Meeting notes serve as a written record of discussions and decisions made during meetings. They play a crucial role in ensuring all participants are on the same page and act as a reference point for future actions.
Meeting notes, often confused with meeting minutes, are informal records of a meeting's key points, discussions, decisions, and action items. Unlike minutes, which are a formal record requiring approval in the next meeting, notes are typically used for personal reference, to inform team members who couldn't attend, or in a succint manner to align stakeholders.
They highlight what was discussed, what decisions were made, and what needs to be done next, without the need for detailed transcription.
Benefits of taking (and sharing) meeting notes
Taking meeting notes offers several benefits for team productivity. Firstly, they ensure that no critical information is lost or forgotten, serving as a memory aid for participants.
They also ensure that everyone is aligned on the main takeaways of the meeting, so that next steps and timeline are clear. This fosters accountability, as clearly outlining who is responsible for what action items.
By documenting decisions and assigning tasks in one shared document, all participants benefit from the same level of information and can contribute - even if those who did not join the meeting. All this contribute to smaller, more efficient meetings, where decisions are documented and shared to inform future projects.
Saga enables you to easily create and share meeting notes with your teammates, so that you run more efficient meetings and spend more time focusing on your work.
How to take effective meeting notes?
Taking effective meeting notes is a skill that enhances the productivity and efficiency of meetings. Here are some steps and tips to help you take comprehensive and useful meeting notes:
1. Prepare in advance
Before the meeting starts, review the agenda, previous meeting notes or minutes, and any relevant documents. This preparation helps you to anticipate the topics that will be discussed and the decisions that need to be made.
2. Use a structured format
Start with our free template or structure your notes to include sections for the date, attendees, key discussion points, decisions made, and action items. This organization makes your notes easier to follow and reference later.
3. Be concise but comprehensive
Focus on capturing the essence of discussions, decisions, and action items. You don't need to transcribe everything said, but ensure that you document the key points and outcomes.
4. Highlight action items and decisions
Clearly mark the decisions made during the meeting and the action items assigned, including who is responsible and any deadlines. This clarity helps ensure accountability and follow-through.
5. Review and clarify
If any points are unclear during the meeting, ask for clarification to ensure your notes accurately reflect the discussion. You can also Saga AI to correct any spelling or grammar mistakes and improve the overall clarity of your notes in seconds.
6. Share promptly
After the meeting, review your notes, make any necessary edits for clarity, and share them with all attendees and relevant stakeholders. Easily do this in Saga by tagging your teammates, so that everyone is aligned and informed immediately after the meeting.
By following these steps, you can take effective meeting notes that serve as a valuable resource for your team, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and aware of their responsibilities.
Free template for meeting notes
To get started easily with meeting notes, access our free template. It is designed to be flexible and easy to customize, enabling you to quickly write effective meeting notes.
