How do I use the Cornell note-taking method to stay organized in meetings?

Are the notes from your most recent meeting hard to follow or filled with useless information?

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TheCornell note-taking method can help you streamline your notes and identify any items requiring follow-up. This is an excellent method if you need to document or inform others of what was covered in the meeting.

The Cornell note-taking method (aka "Cornell Notes") breaks your paper up into 3 sections:

• the notes

• the cue

• the summary

  

Less is more when using the Cornell note-taking system!

The goal is to summarize, not write down everything that has been said.

The notes section is where you'll outline the contents of the meeting.

Jot down the main topics and ideas in this section.

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Remember, the goal is to capture the main ideas and important information, not write everything you hear.

In the cue section, you'll note theitems that require follow-up.

Do you need to check the company’s handbook for specific procedures, schedule a meeting, or reach out to another team member? Document those commitments in the cue section.

Using the cue section for action items makes it easy to recall what you need to complete before the next meeting.

In the summary section, you'lloutline the main ideas from the meeting in just a couple of sentences.

Imagine that you need to text your manager about what happened in the meeting. Your summary needs to be short and to the point without missing important information.

When you reference this section, you'll be able to recall the main points of the meeting and the direction moving forward.

Let's pretend the information you read was just shared in your meeting. Which of the following statements creates the best summary?

A. This note taking method is great when you need to share information with others and follow-up before the next meeting.

C. The Cornell note-taking method uses notes, cues, and summaries to help you recall information. It improves follow-up and content sharing.

B. Cornell Notes help organize information and improve follow up by clearly identifying sections of the meeting notes.

D. Cornell note-taking is the best method to use when creating notes in meetings because each section has a designated purpose, which makes it easy for others to understand.

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If you want to get organized in your next meeting with the Cornell note-taking method, try these ideas: