Have you ever feverishly taken notes in a meeting, but when you look back at them to find the one thing you are trying to recall, you can’t find it?  I think this happens to most of us.  I recently read an article on inc.com that discussed how to take notes more effectively, and I thought I’d share some of the tips with you.

1.       Don’t limit yourself to words.  Using diagrams or a quick picture can easily summarize something that might have taken you a paragraph to write out.  It’s also suggested to use symbols.  Not only is this quicker than writing words out, but it also utilizes a different part of the brain than writing which can be helpful for recall.

2.       Listen more, write less. Research shows that you remember information better if you verbalize and socialize it. Many people try to write down everything being said, which is nearly impossible, and while you’re writing you aren’t listening.  Try to interact with the speaker or in the meeting.  Ask questions.  This will all aid in remembering the discussion.  Only write down the key points. When you look back at the key points, you’ll remember the conversation around it.

3.       Use a color code. Creating a color scheme for your notes creates an easy way to visually recognize information when you need it.  Maybe the most critical points are in red, but the supporting data is in blue.  It also helps your brain to organize the information if you are prioritizing it as you write.

There are many different methods of notetaking.  Some of the most popular ones are:

1.       The Cornell Method.  This method breaks notes up into easily digestible summaries.  In the Cornell Method the paper is divided into three sections:

• 6” note section – notes taken during the meeting

• 2.5” cue section to the left – after the meeting review your notes and jot down one-word cues or symbols or questions

• 2” summary section on the bottom – write a summary of your notes with main highlights
  
  

2.       The Mapping Method. This method is a more visual way to take notes. The page is organized by topics that then branch out into subtopics.  Details are written under each subtopic.  Generally, the main topic is inside a rectangle and the subtopics are written in circles.  Similar to a vertical flow chart.

3.       The Outlining Method.  This method utilizes headings and bullet points. It’s similar to the mapping method.  The main topic is single bullet point.  You then indent the subtopic below that, and indent it slightly to the right.  Details are then listed under the subtopic.

4.       The Charting Method. For this method, the page is divided into columns.  Each main topic gets its own column.  Details fall below each topic.

5.       The Sentence Method. This method is just simply writing down a sentence or two per each topic.  It is not organized any way other than in the order you hear the information.

6.       Bullet Journaling. This method uses various symbols to represent what each note is about.  For example, a bullet point represents a task, a dash represents a note, and a circle represents an event.  By utilizing this method, you can easily look back through your notes and find what you are looking for much quicker.  If you are looking to see what to-do’s you had from a meeting, you can simply flip through the page and look for the bullet points.

Do you have a specific method of notetaking that works well for you?  I’d love to hear about it.  Email me at [email protected].