If you’re on a one-on-one call with your client or in a conference that includes several participants making notes is vital to keep in mind the details discussed. It isn’t easy to keep track of details or keep track of a meeting if you are not able to take notes effectively. This article will help you improve your note taking skills, so you can take more organized and effective meetings in the future.

Choose a note-taking method that works best for you. There are several methods that you can use like the Cornell method that divides your notes into two columns one on the left and the one on the right. The idea is that the smaller column focuses on the main ideas of the meeting, while the larger column is a deeper dive into the details of each. At the end of the page, you can jot down a quick summary to tie it all together.

Keep your notes simple. You can easily get lost in the details of making notes. But, you must concentrate on what is important to help those who are reading them later. Use shorthand or symbols instead of reciting exactly as you wrote them down. This will allow you to be able to recognize your notes when you go back to them and read them.

Idealy, your team should communicate the agenda of the meeting prior to the date to allow you to prepare an outline prior to what are board meeting minutes the meeting. This will help you avoid the hassle of recording key moments in the meeting, and help you stay on track throughout the discussion.