How to Manage Meeting Notes Without Losing Time: The 10–15 Minute Debrief Method

You can watch my video by clicking on the graphic below or read my thoughts beneath it:

What are some tips on how to manage meeting notes? That is a question that was placed in one of the comments underneath these videos, so thank you very much for asking that question, and the answer is going to depend on how how you take notes. So if you have access to a recording of the meeting, whether it’s virtual or in person, and you are allowed to access an AI summary, that is one of the easiest ways to take notes, keeping in mind that AI is not 100% accurate.

Another way you can take notes is by typing on your device during the meeting, and then of course you can take notes by hand on a piece of paper or in a specified notebook that you use for meetings. No matter which note-taking system you use, you want to make sure that something happens with those notes.

So every time you have a meeting scheduled, you also want to make sure that you set aside 10 to 15 minutes after the meeting, whether it’s immediately after or later that afternoon or the next day, You schedule 10 to 15 minutes to go through those notes. And what you’re doing is you’re checking for accuracy.

You’re reviewing any actions that came out of that meeting, as well as any calendar items. Now, if calendar items crop up, you want to make sure that those get on your calendar as soon as possible. That’s why it’s really helpful if you can schedule this type of debrief immediately after every meeting.

Which will also help you prevent back-to-back meetings. So people see those little, um, appointments with yourself on your calendar, you’re already booked up. You’ll want to make sure that those calendar items are placed on the calendar. Any action items are placed in your task management system. And then you’re deciding where these notes need to go.

If you’re going to store them digitally, where on your device or where in your platform is it going to go? If you’re taking notes on paper, does that paper need to get scanned and saved digitally, or do you have a paper file system? So no matter which method of note-taking you use, you want to make sure you’ve got that time set aside afterwards for debriefing.

You review any calendar items and task items and get those in the platforms where they need to be and decide where you want to store those notes. So that way you have all of the information where it needs to be. If you have a time management question, anything related to email, calendar, calendaring, saving time, being more efficient at work, please make sure you drop it in the comments.

For more insights on slowing down, improving focus, and managing your time more effectively, check out The Inefficiency Assassin: Time Management Tactics for Working Smarter, Not Longer.