Human Resources

Management and Staff Development

Taking and Writing Minutes

Target Audience

This one day training course is useful to anyone who has to take minutes as part of their work. Whether you are asked to minute the occasional team meeting or are responsible for minuting formal board meetings, this course will have something for you.

Outline

All organisations need minutes. They are essential if teams, committees and boards are to have a clear record of the decisions they have made and the actions required. Effective minute taking is vital to the efficient organisation and a good minute taker can transform the effectiveness of a team.

This one day training course is a sound introduction to minute taking and equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to write professional minutes.

The aims of the workshop are:

To cover the following:

• The purpose and use of minutes
• Preparation for taking minutes
• The special use of grammar and language for minutes
• Minuting presentations and information briefings
• The difference between informal and formal minutes
• What minutes should include and what should be left out
• The tasks of the effective minute taker
• The role of the chair and how to work with your chair
• Effective listening
• Tips and tricks for note taking
• Practical exercises including real life opportunities to practice taking minutes
• Minutes and the Freedom of Information Act.

Learning Outcomes:

This training course will help you take and write good, clear minutes. You will be able to distinguish between taking minutes and taking notes. It will also help you to work effectively with your chair.

Pre-event Preparation

Each delegate should bring an example of their own minutes or an example from their department.

Format

This one day course involves group discussion, working examples, feedback and minuting a filmed board meeting.

Presenter(s)

Jan Burnell

Jan has worked as a senior manager and chief executive in both the public and voluntary sectors. She set up the first Early Years Coordination Unit for the London Borough of Haringey and went on to become Director of the National Childminding Association. In 1993, she became Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisation before moving to help found the Centre with Tess Woodcraft in 1996. Jan has been a local Councillor as well as serving as trustee for many voluntary organisations and is a member of Essex Adoption Panel. Jan is the Centre's lead consultant for management training and specialises in courses which help people at all levels in organisations to communicate and work together effectively. She has a post graduate diploma in management from the London Business School, has written several training packs and is the author of 'Taking and Writing Minutes' - the Centre's Handbook.

Delegate Feedback

"The practical exercises and open discussions were the most successful bits because they allowed for personal reflection and development, and gave support to the individual"
"Time flew by. Thank-you for a good day!"
"Presenter was a brilliant communicator and i feel very certain this course will help me develop in my career. Enjoyed immensley, very worthwhile"
"Excellent training, very professional and Jan's enthusiasm for the subject kept me motivated and interested."
"The event was very well presented, useful and relaxed, whilst still very informative."
"I feel more confident and I will be using the information and techniques for the next meeting."

Click here for the Management and Staff Development calendar with all available dates.

To book a place on this event, please e-mail msd@port.ac.uk