(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 10, 2010 ) Seattle – Many employees fear and avoid the job of taking minutes at meetings. But when no one takes meeting notes, the time spent in meetings is wasted, with decisions forgotten and action items dropped. In the new online class Meeting Notes Made Easy, Lynn Gaertner-Johnston of Syntax Training (http://syntaxtraining.com) shows how to take meeting notes and minutes easily and efficiently so the time a company invests in meetings pays off. The next note-taking webinar takes place on March 18 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

Based on polls taken in note-taking classes, Gaertner-Johnston says the number one challenge facing note-takers is determining what to record. “Many people who take minutes assume that stating who said what is important, but that level of detail is rarely necessary or useful,” she states. Gaertner-Johnston says most meeting notes need to answer only eight essential questions, among them:

--Which meeting was it?
--What was the purpose of the meeting?
--Who attended?
--Which important points were made?
--Which actions were agreed upon?

In the 90-minute online class in note-taking, attendees receive note-taking templates that help them record just the essential information rather than every comment. They get techniques and tips for taking meeting minutes, and they practice taking notes at a simulated meeting.

“Almost anyone can learn how to take meeting minutes without feeling anxious or overwhelmed,” says Gaertner-Johnston, “because for every note-taking challenge, there is a way to manage it.” For example, to get technical terms and acronyms down correctly in meeting minutes, Gaertner-Johnston recommends reviewing the agenda and any handouts in advance to become familiar with unusual terms.

In the online workshop Meeting Notes Made Easy, note-takers learn to:
--Reduce note-taking stressors by planning for them.
--Follow a rambling discussion, and know which parts of it to include in minutes.
--Get what they need from the meeting facilitator and attendees.
--Record complex information correctly.
--Complete meeting notes and minutes promptly.

The March 18 training program in effective note-taking begins at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (GMT minus 8 hours). The registration fee is $119 per person, with early registration (by February 18) discounted to $99. Enrollment is limited to 18. Participants in the webinar need a high-speed Internet connection, computer, and telephone. For more information, visit http://syntaxtraining.com/upcomingclasses.html or phone Syntax Training at 206-782-8410.

Syntax Training provides employees and managers with tools, tips, strategies, and job aids to help them write better, guaranteed. The company is located in Seattle, Washington, USA, and on the Web at http://syntaxtraining.com.

Contact Information:
Syntax Training
Lynn Gaertner-Johnston
Tel: 206-782-8410
Email us


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