I have a special note-taking method for conferences that helps me be most productive with what I learned. It’s a method I’ve developed over time by trying several different things and then landing on the thing that makes me most productive after attending a conference. Its nothing crazy or fancy, but it is the best method I’ve developed for taking great notes at a meeting that leads to action when you return home.

1. At the front of my note section I have 2 pages: First, is a page of “stand out” moments. It might be quotes, projects, differentiating factors, but anything that was an “Ah-Ha” for me goes on that page. It often ends up being quotable moments, but also points that propel me forward.
2. The second main thing I do is put a “TO DO” page at the front. I leave the front and back of this blank. I may write down any specific action I want to tackle when I get back on this page. Then, after the conference when I’m working through that list, I put a dot and circle “first steps” or low hanging fruit I can change quickly. Then, the rest of the items become things I need to tackle over the next YEAR. Yes, you read that right. These are all things I saw and deemed important, but I paralyze myself when I give myself too many things to tackle. So I have to grade their importance and that usually looks like 3 tiers – “Do Immediately, Tackle Next, Then These”. 
3. Star action points – as I take notes, I star anything that is an action step I wan to take. Whether its a follow-up point, research, conversation, or something I actually need to do, this method helps me easily skim through my notes and see what needs to be done. It also makes it easy to strike through it and mark it done. Which my little Enneagram 1 heart needs to see!
4. Dot and circle important things – as I’m writing, I usually use dashes or dots to keep my notes organized. Yes, I write notes in a meeting or conference session as an outline. I learned to take notes listening to sermons from a Baptist preacher, They teach by an outline so its just the method that works for me. So, if I’m writing something that is important or needs to stand out in my notes and I do not have a highlighter, I circle the dot or dash I put in front of that line. I like to take notes in a composition or spiral notebook, so this method on those wide-ruled lines makes each item stand out. 
5. Swap notes – Now, this will blow all the other things I’ve just mentioned in the water, but if you are at a conference and all the sessions are so good (as they should be if you are paying to be at a really great conference), find a buddy and split up the sessions. This will force you to take really good notes because you are going to share them with someone. And, it makes an intentional “date” with that buddy to circle back and exchange your notes and talk through anything that stood out. I’m telling you, this will rock your socks off. 

This is for sure a “know thyself” process and I’ve learned over the years what I need to do to keep myself productive and not paralyzed. I use this method for all meetings I go to, even my local tourism meetings. As I’m working through the meeting, I put stars by anything that is an action point for me and requires follow up work. And then I put a dot and circle by any note that I may need to come back and reference. 

I”m a note-taker in meetings. It helps me remember what we talked about and what stood out; writing it helps it stick. So, I have lots of notes, but these couple things help me stay productive and on task.

BONUS: when I used this method for work, I would come back after the meeting and do anything on those stars that I could do immediately if not, they went on my to-do list to tackle the next day. Then, at the end of each week, I tried to go back to my notes and mark through any “stars” that I had accomplished and made sure that the others were still on a to-do list. Monthly I would set an appointment with myself and my lists (because I like lists) to see what was really doable, what needed to be moved around, who I needed to nudge or re-nudge to help me or just move it off my list if it was not mine to do. These little steps towards the organization helped me be productive, kept me deep in my own business, and helped me always have an idea of what was on my radar to be accomplished. It also gave my project real goals that I could measure and keep working towards. 

What about you? Do you do some of these techniques or have you developed something else that works really great for post-conference productivity?