Thanks Kelly. This is an interesting topic to me as it's something that I struggle with.

After the meeting, I place my meetings notes into my in-basket for processing later, but I find that when it comes time to process them I resist it because of all of the data that's on there. To help out with this, I have created a custom sheet where I have a column on the right hand side for next actions and potential projects. This way, I don't mix up reference and support materials with actionable items.

Now when I process the notes, I collect the NAs and Projects I captured in my notes into my system (Hipster PDA for NAs and Mindjet Mind Manager for 10k Master Projects List). I still find myself resisting it, but separating these two items has made the process a little easier.

I welcome any other ideas you and others have on how to improve this and thank you for your post.

Kelly, does David advocate the use of a formal note-taking template, e.g. Cornell-style? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_Notes).

I found it helpful to write down some global hints, keywords or the like on the margins of the paper, so that I don't need to read the whole page again to find out what was discussed.

Kelly, just curious whether you, David or any other GTD leaders use Jott or something similar for processing notes?

Hi Dave,

I only use Jott for quick mindsweep items:
http://www.davidco.com/blogs/kelly/archives/2007/07/jott_as_a_captu_1.html

One service that I know some people have tried for processing notes is SpeakWrite:
http://www.speak-write.com/web/

Kelly

When it comes to Outlook integration I am a new user and big fan of MS Office OneNote. You can take any appointment and turn it into a notebook file you can then organize in an assortment of exciting ways--especially for the visually minded, such as myself.

Thanks for the refresher Kelly.

I take my notes in a minutes format with next actions in the margin. After the meeting, I put the notes in my in basket, then on processing put all the next actions (and sometimes projects into my system (if it is a project I immediately create a next action even if that next action is "Draft Ideas for Project")). If their are any reference notes I file them in existing appropriate electronic documentation or in my reference file drawer with an appropriate label. I usually don't label based on the meeting but label based on the context of the note.

I have been playing around with meeting outline templates for setting up the meetings before hand and creating the notes during the meeting so I have all the information I need before the meeting in one place rather then on various reports. I will post a thread on the forum when I have come up with some universal template ideas.

Rolf: I asked David about your question, "Does David advocate the use of a formal note-taking template, e.g. Cornell-style?"

David said, "Can't fault the logic of his system. Problem is, the vast majority of notes taken by the vast majority of people don't need or fit that model. I found if the paper and formats are too formal or structured, there's a resistance to taking informal and ad hoc notes. You sort of feel like you need to have thoughts that are worthy of the form!"

Hi Bennie,

Thanks for your comments about OneNote. I've played with it a bit and have heard good things from others about it as well.

Thanks, Kelly

I live out of my Outlook Inbox and I love Adobe Acrobat.

I immediately scan the notes to a PDF and Email it to myself.

I then File it to a folder using the GTD plugin and associate Projects and Subprojects if needed.

I will also create a reminder to "export" any information that I feel needs to go into my contacts, notes, etc.

I try to handle any exporting by the end of the next business day.

Kelly,
Been reading your blog for several months and wanted you to know how much I enjoy it. Great tips.

I have found MindManager to be effective for note taking and transcribing.
What I like best is:
1- Being able to take notes free form, then organize them and publish them as a Word document for those who do not use MM.
2-Being able to link Outlook Tasks directly into the mind maps. This lets me add actions to my projects automatically via the Netcentrics GTD Outlook Add-in.
Works pretty well, but I would appreciate any tips on refining the system.

Hi Anthony,

Sounds to me like you are using MindManager really effectively.

How do you publish them as a Word doc? I don't see that "save as" option.

Kelly

Thanks Kelly for this topic because is something I am interested in. Here's how I solved it - I applied GTD to it: After each meeting that I schedule or I am scheduled by others, I add an adjacent time slot in my Calendar called "To process action from --meeting name here--".

Advantages:
1. my notes get processed
2. ideas are still fresh in my mind
3. for unclear ideas, I can phone participants while still fresh in their minds
4. I can delegate in a timely fashion actions to be done By others, as a result of the meeting, avoiding to out them on the critical path for delivery
5. and Bonus: I avoid being booked in meetings back-to-back, once I processed these notes,I find the calm to focus on the next meeting, if case.

The time slot allocated after, to process notes is usually between a quarter and half of the meeting time. I.e. 1 hour meeting, 15-30 min to process notes after, depending on complexity.

If I am already booked after the meeting, it goes in my Inbox.