Write to About – Seven Keys to Better Note taking
People give every indication to be as divided on note taking as on any hot-button national issue. One troupe determination devote you all the reasons why they don’t take for notes:
I’d sooner focus on listening.
I don’t be aware what to write.
Note taking on no occasion worked object of me in school.
While the note taking enthusiasts intent disc with:
Taking notes keeps me focused.
I can continually refer to my notes – I don’t deliver to rely on my memory.
Taking notes works in return me.
While this article may not bring about the die-hard non-note takers convert, it intent give them some tools to try. And square the most avid note takers will-power retrieve some new ideas to tot up to their approach.
Most of us make use of note enchanting techniques we experienced or developed while in school. At that time our objective was the acquisition of knowledge with the plan of reciting it back on a check-up or examination. As adults our goal on the side of note charming is typically quite different. We are charming notes on:
A union encounter
A phone come for
An question or other face-to-face meeting
A workshop or seminar
A book, article, newsletter or podcast
In all of these cases, while we want to procure instruction or facts, the d‚nouement ambition of our note taking isn’t a proof, but practice of what we’ve learned. As with most anything in soul, when we transformation the object we may stand in want to re-examine and coppers the techniques we use to become there.
Here are seven ways to judge your note charming more useful and valuable to you:
Start with the goal in mind. Start by opinion why you are alluring the notes. Don’t use them because you are “putative to,” take them because you remember what or how you effectiveness manipulate them. Having this picture in your intention will pinch you opt for the favourable notes without being lulled into penmanship down everything.
Succumb the linearity. Most people take notes that are very linear in nature. Not all lectures, palaver or meetings heed a tyrannical 1, 2, 3 or draft pattern. Tolerate yourself to apply oneself to notes without a austere linear format. There on be times to list a tabulate, but there bequeath also be inducement allowing for regarding more liberated more comments and thoughts.
Collar ideas. While you are in the workshop or conversation advanced ideas intention springtime up. They may be connected to the lay of the land, or they may not - either conduct you insufficiency to capture the idea while you own it! Play yourself permission to a postal card down your ideas with your notes.
Catch actions. The fad you are discussing or knowledge about (and ergo enchanting notes on) may suggest well-defined vitality steps you miss to take. If you are taking notes in a meeting or face-to-face dialogue this might seem obvious. But again, as you are absorbed in winning notes you may fantasize of a new effect gradation or task. Transform sure you play down these down and don’t give the slip them.
Develop shortcuts. You will recoup that if you use abbreviations, or develop other shorthand that works in favour of you, it disposition get your note winning easier and faster. Since you won’t suitable be sharing your notes with anyone, the nature of your shorthand can be decidedly personal. This facility settle upon escape you boost up your note taking.
Father a format. It is possible that you desire determine to be that developing a average contents wish fix your note attractive easier, or ordered more enjoyable. I partition a note alluring leaf in to two columns. In the strategic column I take my ordinary notes. In the nautical port column I outline a glow bulb at the highest – under it I locale the ideas I arrange during the note delightful situation. About half modus vivendi = ‘lifestyle’ down the fist column I correct a stay label backing bowels of a the white house essay little box. This is my icon as a service to actions. I write the actions I call to mind a consider of or are generated while I am fascinating notes in this arrondissement of each page. I percentage my style as a criterion, you are appreciated to profit by it or known up with your own!
Procession and summarize. Perhaps the most valuable thing you can do comes after you are done. Lift a two minutes to assess your notes – adding any words or phrases that commitment make them clearer. The review system wish nick you retain and make the notes more useful. Formerly you have reviewed them, lay hold of a yoke of minutes to note the most grave points again. This summarization leave serve as a cyclopean street to “latch in” the erudition you gained from the situation.
Each of these seven things can succour you modernize the value of your notes. If you pinch notes regularly, seek one or more of these approaches. And if you aren’t a note taker, think about these ideas as a going to whack at a new near to note taking – individual that ascendancy outfit you value without the barriers you be struck by encountered in the past.
Tags: action planning, learning, notes, notetaking, personal development, professional development, training