There are different schools of thought about note taking and level of detail. In working with other consultants there is always a “getting to know you” period when we have to adjust to each other's styles and preferences.
If you are interviewing is it best to record candidate answers word for word, or to listen to the story being told in order to identify other topics worth exploring? There is not necessarily a right answer, and the answer may change based on individual circumstance and setting.
Ealry in my career I used to record every detail of investment review meetings for a 401k plan. People often noted the thoroughness of my notes. But was this necessarily a good thing? People may have missed key messages while sorting through the minutiae I had recorded. If I were in that situation today, I might limit my notes to key context and decisions made.
The next time you are in a situation to take notes, think about what is most important to record. Is it the story or the details? Is it ideas or the project plan? Do you need to be transcribed, or do you need to be heard?
You decide.
Bonus points if you are old enough to identify what the object is behind the person in the photo.
- Some take notes by hand, some on a tablet or laptop
- Some record every detail while others listen for what isn't being said
If you are interviewing is it best to record candidate answers word for word, or to listen to the story being told in order to identify other topics worth exploring? There is not necessarily a right answer, and the answer may change based on individual circumstance and setting.
Ealry in my career I used to record every detail of investment review meetings for a 401k plan. People often noted the thoroughness of my notes. But was this necessarily a good thing? People may have missed key messages while sorting through the minutiae I had recorded. If I were in that situation today, I might limit my notes to key context and decisions made.
The next time you are in a situation to take notes, think about what is most important to record. Is it the story or the details? Is it ideas or the project plan? Do you need to be transcribed, or do you need to be heard?
- If it is a call to action, you need to be heard
- If it is a product roll out plan, the details need to be transcribed.
You decide.
Bonus points if you are old enough to identify what the object is behind the person in the photo.