It is two minutes before the weekly sales 
meeting. Before running out of your office, should you grab your laptop or a pen and notebook?
For the majority of people, a recent study shows handwriting notes during a meeting is the better choice. But why?
A quick typist is able to transcribe a meeting word for word without much thinking. This passive approach is fantastic for creating a comprehensive record of a meeting, but it does not result in useful, well-organized notes.
On the other hand, unless you have mastered the art of shorthand, handwriting is simply too slow to record everything people say when they speak at a natural speed. When it comes to taking better notes, slowing down is a benefit. When you are unable to simply transcribe a meeting, you need to actively listen to what is being said. Then you need filter the information to make smart choices about which information is really critical enough to write down.
The results are that handwritten notes are often more organized and easier to refer back to after a meeting than typewritten notes. Not only are handwritten notes more useful and easier to read, but going through the filtering process helps you to remember the most critical information.
Tips for better notes.
Now that you know handwriting notes is better than typing, take advantage of its power by using these tips:- Understand the purpose behind taking notes. Know which information is important and how you plan to use it the future. When you are aware of purpose behind the information, it is much easier to determine which parts are critical, and which parts you can safely ignore.
- Set up for success. Take a few minutes before a meeting to create a template for your notes. If you have access to the agenda beforehand, divide your notepad into labeled sections which reflect the agenda. Give yourself enough space to write down the important information, but avoid too much space which may encourage you to write unnecessary notes.
- Use your own shorthand. There is no need to learn a formal style of shorthand, but you can make your notes shorter and more effective by developing your own constant style. Take advantage of using bullet points, underlining, starring and quoting to make it easier when you review your notes after the meeting.
- Use the right tools. Avoid taking notes on individual sheets of blank paper and instead opt for a standard college-ruled notebook. This will keep all information in one place and make it easier to refer back to older meetings. If you are concerned about wasting paper, consider using a tablet and stylus.
Planning and using the right tools is important for better note-taking. Investing in the right tools for your marketing campaign is also critical for success. ADTACK is a full-service inbound marketing firm with the experience to help your company dominate sales. Find out how we can take your company to the next level by calling 702-270-8772.
